The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-07-20
The White Mans Platform
Adopted by the Ohio Dc.
niOcracy. at Columbus, July =,
1869.

l. REsoLvED, That the exemption from tax
alton of twenty FIVE hundred million Of dol
lars in Government bonds aud securities is un
just to the people, and ought not he tolerated,
and that we are opposed to any appropria-
tiou for the payment of interest OH the Fed
eral bonds until they are made subject to
Federal taxation.
@ RESOLVED, That the claims of the bond
holders that bonds bought with greenbacks,
and the principal of which is by law payable
in currency, should nevertheless he pail in
gold, is unjust and eStortiouate, and # persis-
ted in will inevitably force upon the people
the question OF Reputation.
8. RESOLVED. That we denounoe the ma
tional banking system as one of the worst
unnecessarily increases the burden of the
people thirty millions of dollars annually,
and we demand its immediate repeal.
4. RESOLVED, That we denounce the pres
ent high protective tariff enacted in the in
terests Of the New England manufactures for
its enormous imposition of duties on salt,
sugar, tea, coffee, and other necessaries as
are oppressive, especially upon the people of
the West, and that We demand its repeal ,and
the substitution of another based upon reve-
nue. principles alone, approximatiDg free
trade as closely as possible.
5. RESOLVED, That the Democratic party of
the United States has always been pre-emi-
nently friendly to the rights and interests of
the laboring man; that it is in favor OF a
limited number of hours of labor in all Gov
eminent workshops, hours dictated by the
physical and mental well being of the labor
ers; that it, is in favor of the most liberal
laws in regard to household and homestead
exemptions from sale and execution; that 1t
is also in favor of liberal grants of land from
the public domain TO actual settlers without
cost, and opposed to donating these lands to
swindling railroad corporations, and is gene
rally friendly to the measures advocated by
the Labor and Industrial Congress, and as a
party, pledges, if restored to power; its in
fuence TO give them practical application.
6. RESOLVED, That it is the right of each
State to decide for itself who shall possess
the elective franchise within it. and that the
attempt to regulate suffrage in Ohio by means
of the so-called Fifteenth Constitutional
Amendment, is subversive of the principles
of the Federal Constitution.
I. RESOLVED, That the policy and legisla-
tion of the Radical patty tend to destroy all
the reserved rights of the States, and con-
verts the Republic into consolidated despot-
ism; that such despotism, whether exercised
by President, Emperor, or a Congress. is
fatal 10 liberty and good government; that
consolidation in this country means the alb
solute dominion of monopoly and aggregated
capital over the lives, the liberty and the
property of the toiling masses.
8. RESOLVED. That the numerous palpablt
and high handed usurpations of the party in
power, and their many public and private
acts of tyranny, trampling under foot the
civil law and the guarantees Of the Consti-
tuition, and their continuing to deprive the
Southern States ofrepresentation in Congress
governing States by military rue, prove
them to be The party of despotism and un-
worthy the confidence and support of a free
people. s..-5.
9, RESOLVED, That the trial and sentence
of death by military commission of citi
en- of Texas, not in the military service
while the civil courts are in the unobstructed
exercise Of their functions IN that State. and
in time of profound peace, and the approval
of that sentence by President Grant, are il
violation of the most sacred rights Of Amer
lean citizens guaranteed by their Constitution
both State and Federal, and deserve and
should receive the severest condemnation ol
every lover Of liberty and constitutional gov
etilioepfs