UNITED STATES. 



773 



In November difficulties arose with Hayti 

 in consequence of the seizure and detention of 

 American vessel?, especially the steamer ' II ay- 

 tian Republic," by the authorities temporarily 

 in power in that island. A strife of factions 

 had existed there for several months, and the 

 President, without recognizing any settled gov- 

 ernment, had sent to Haytian waters a war- 

 i for the protection of American people 

 and interests. On being satisfied that the seiz- 

 ure of the " Haytian Republic" was wrongful, 

 he dispatched Admiral Luce with the ships 

 'Galena" and ' Yantic " to demand a return 

 of the vessel. The demand was promptly ac- 

 ceded to, the steamer was surrendered on De- 

 cember 22, and the former amicable relations 

 between the two countries were restored. 



A comprehensive treaty of amity and com- 

 merce with Peru was completed and ratified 

 during the year, and became effective by proc- 

 lamation of the President dated November 7. 



Democratic Convention. At a meeting of the 

 Democratic National Committee in Washing- 

 ton, on February 23, it was voted to call the 

 National Convention to meet at St. Louis on 

 June 5. Some time before the date of the 

 convention. President Cleveland's renomina- 

 tion was universally conceded ; the only ques- 

 tion was regarding the second place on the tick- 

 et. The convention organized by the choice 

 of S. M. White, of California, as temporary 

 chairman, and Congressman Patrick A. Col- 

 lins, of Massachusetts, as permanent chairman. 

 The name of President Cleveland was present- 

 ed to the convention by Daniel Dougherty, of 

 New York, and his nomination unanimously 

 carried amid great enthusiasm. For the Vice- 

 Presidency, Gov. Isaac P. Gray, of Indiana, 

 and Ex-Senator Allen G. Thurman. of Ohio, 

 were the only candidates formally before the 

 convention. 



Before the first ballot was completed, it was 

 evident that Mr. Thurman would easily obtain 

 a majority. The name of Gov. Gray was then 

 withdrawn, and the Ex-Senator was unani- 

 mously nominated. Of the votes cast on this 

 ballot, 690 were for Thurman, 105 for Gray, 

 and 25 for John C. Black, of Illinois. 



The platform is as follows : 



The Democratic party of the United States in na- 

 tional convention assembled renews the pledge of its 

 fidelity to Democratic faith and reaffirms the platform 

 adopted by its representatives in the convention of 

 lf*4. and indorses the views expressed by President 

 Cleveland in his last earnest message to Cong: 

 the correct interpretation of that platform upon the 

 question of tariff reduction, and also indorses the ef- 

 lorts of our Democratic representatives in Congress 

 to secure a reduction of excessive taxation. Chief 

 among its principles of party faith are the mainte- 

 nance of the indissoluble union of free and inde- 

 structible States, now about to enter upon its second 

 century of unexampled progress and renown : devo- 

 tion to a plan of Government regulated by a written 

 constitution strictly specifying every granted power 

 and expressly reserving to the States or people the 

 entire ungranted residue of power; the encourairc- 

 ment of jealous, popular vigilance directed to all who 

 have been chosen for brief terms to enact and execute 



the laws and are charged with the duty of preserving 

 peace, injuring equality, and establishing just: 



The Democratic party welcomes an exacting scru- 

 tiny of the administration of the Executive power 

 which four years ago was committed to its trust in 

 the selection of Grover Cleveland us President of the 

 United States, hut it challenges the most searching 

 scrutiny concerning its fidelity and devotion to the 

 pledges which then invited the suffrages of the people. 

 During a most critical period of our financial affairs, 

 resulting from overtaxation, the anomalous condition 

 of our currency, and a public debt unmatured, it has, 

 by the adoption of a wise and conservative course, not 

 only averted disaster, but greatly promoted the pros- 

 perity of the people. 



It has reversed the improvident and unwise policy 

 of the Republican party touching the public domain, 

 and has reclaimed from corporations and syndicates, 

 alien and domestic, and restored to the people nearly 

 100,000,000 acres of valuable land to be sacredly held 

 as homesteads for our citizen--. 



While carefully guarding the interests of the tax- 

 payers and conforming strictly to the principles of 

 justice and equity, it has paid "out more for pensions 

 and bounties to the soldiers and sailors of the repub- 

 lic than was ever paid before during an eoual period. 



It has adopted and consistently pursued a firm and 

 prudent foreign policy, preserving peace with all na- 

 tions while scrupulously maintaining all the rights 

 and interests of our own Government and people at 

 home and abroad. 



The exclusion from our shores of Chinese laborers 

 has been effectually secured under the provisions of 

 a treaty, the operation of which has been postponed 

 by the action of a Republican majority in the Senate. 



Honest reform in the civil service has been inau- 

 gurated and maintained by President Cleveland, and 

 he has brought the public service to the highest stand- 

 ard of efficiency, not only by rule and precept, but by 

 the example of" his own untiring and unselfish admin- 

 istration of public affairs. 



In every branch and department of the Government 

 under Democratic control the rights and the welfare 

 of all the people have been guarded and defended ; 

 every public interest has been protected, and the 

 equa'lity of all our citizens before the law. without re- 

 gard to race or color, has been steadfastly maintained. 

 Upon its record thus exhibited and upon a pledge of 

 a continuance to the people of these benefits, the 

 Democracy invokes a renewal of popular trust by the 

 re-election of a Chief Magistrate who has been faith- 

 ful, able, and prudent. We invoke in addition to that 

 trust the transfer also to the Democracy of the entire 

 legislative power. 



^he Republican party, controlling the Senate and 

 resisting in both Houses of Con/ress a reformation of 

 unjust and unequal tax laws which have outlasted the 

 necessities of war and are now undermining the abun- 

 dance of a long peace, deny to the people equalitv be- 

 fore the law and the fairness and the justice which are 

 their right. Thus the crv of American labor for a 

 better share in the rewards of industry is stifled with 

 false pretenses, enterprise is fettered and bound down 

 to home markets, capital is discouraged with doubt, 

 and unequal, unjust laws can neither be properlv 

 amended nor repealed. The Democratic party will 

 continue with all the power confided to it the struggle 

 to reform these laws in accordance with the ylecL'Cs 

 of its last platform, indorsed at the ballot-box by the 

 suffrages of the people. 



Of all the industrious freemen of our land the im- 

 mense majority, including even- tiller of the soil, 

 gain no advantage from excessive tax laws, but the 

 price of nearly everything they buy is increased by 

 the favoritism'of an unequal system of tax legislation. 

 All unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation. It is re- 

 pugnant to the creed of Democracy that by such taxa- 

 tion the cost of the necessaries of life sh'ould be un- 

 iustifiably increased to all our people. Judged by 

 Democratic principles, the interests of the people are 



