The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-10-01
Democratic D[ll31 I'll Platform.

Democrat Platform
The Democratic party in National Convention
assembled, reposing its trust in the intelligence
patriotism, discrimination and justice of the
people; standing upon the Constitution as the
foundation and limitation of the powers of the
Government, and the guaranteeing the liberties
of the citizen, and recognizing the questions of
slavery and secession as having been settled for
all time to come by the war, or the voluntary
action of the Southern States in Constitutional
Conventions assembled, and never to be renewed
or reagitated. tlo'with the return of peace, de-
mand s;;{I asiiHfrasgi 31;t ii1.g -
First The immediate restoration of all the
States TO their rights in the Union under the
Constitution, and OF civil government to the
American people, f.si.i iia8Jgu H5fltH .-bH
Second. Amnesty for all past political often
ces and the regulation of the elective franchise
in the States by their citizens. '5'5i .i'ai 9u5
Third The payment of the public debt of the
United States as soon as practicable; and that
all moneys drawn from the people by taxation,
except so mitch as IS re,site for the necessities
of the Government economically administered;
be honestly applied to such payment; and where
the obligations of the Government do not ex-
pressly state upon their face, or the law under
which they. were issued does not provide that
they shall be paid in coin, they onght, in right
and in justice, to be paid in the lawful money
of the United States. [Thunders of applause ]
FourttE Equal, taxation of every species of
property according to its real value, including
Government bonds and public securities. IRE
newed eheering.l i@i hiif. 4.'l.i 81
Fifth. One currency for the Government and
the people, the laborer and the holder, the
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the
bondholder. [Greas cheering, and cries Of
Read it again9iJ The Fifth Resolution was
again read and again cheered, a-s.5 !f.. -,
Sixth, Economy in the administration of the
Government, the reduction of the standing ar
my and navy, the abolition of the Freedmen's
bureau, tGreat cheering and all political instru-
mentalities designed to secure negro suprema-
cy, siiilpIifcation Of the system and discontin-
uance of the, inqtiisitoriaI modes of assessing
and collecting the Internal Revenue, SO that the
burden of taxation, may be equalized and
lessened, thescredit of the Government and the
currency made good; the repeal of all enact
menes for enrolling tho State Militia inte-Na-
tionaE forces i4,time; of peace, and tariff for
revenue upon foreign imports, and such equal
taxation under the Internal Revenue laws as
will afford incidental protection to domestic
manufactures and as will, without impairing
the revenues, impose the least burden upon, and
best promote and encourage the great industrial
10
Seventh. Reform of abuses in the admins
tration, the expulsion of corrupt men from Of
fee the abrosation of useless Offices the resto-
ration of rightful authority to. and the inde-
pendence of the Executive and Judicial De-
partments of the Government, the subordina-
ton Of the military to the civil power; to this
end, that the usurpations of Congress and the
despotism of the sword may cease. s5oi;-
Eighth. Equal rights and protection for nat.
uralfzed and native born citizens Mt hoIie and
abroad.the assertion OF. A Aineriean nationalitv
which shall command the respectof foreign
powers and furnish an example and encourage.
ment to people strug gglmg for national inteeri
ty, constitutional liberty and individual rights.
and the maintenance of the rights of natural.
lied citizens aainstthe obsolete of M
r,utslle o1lao;a,,cs onsfs4ho = : 80: u
,o,ros 20 7,;s,, a.. c,o,,o..a,
mitted bavond tbci, in.;si;nt;er, T.-s,,aa -.
In demSndinb tbeSeI measures and ,sfn,-.a,s f-a
we ar1,afpn the radical na,.t,, for. is ,;s.r.s =,
of right and. the upparalleled o,nress;o, on,
tvranIffvS which Have marked its career fte, =
most solemn and iIinanimeus I,le,loei az Io+b
Houses of Congress. to Tproseeute tbesJvar exc,u-
sively for the maintenance of the Government
and the preservation of the Union under the
Constitution, it has repeatedly violated the
,,o.t e.o,o,i. -, aIs..,,.s
that NOBLE volunteer army which, carried our
flag to victory; instead of restoring the Union
it hasso far as in its power dissolved it and sub
jected teniStgtes in time of profound peace to
military. despotism and negro supremacy II
has nuIliHadI Itba i.;gbf of t,,iaI nv ;n.,, r. ba
abolished the habeas' corpus, that most sacred
writ of liberty 1t has overthrown the freedom
OF speech, Il mas substituted arbitrary seizures
and arrests, and military trials and secret Star
onameef lnquisitions fer.the constitutional 'tri-