The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-31
THE DAILY NEWS.
TIE NEW DEMOCRACY.
Letter from General Noscerans Doclin-
Ing tho Ohio Nomination-His Plat
forM-Viows on tho Debt, Protection,
Class Legtsistion, Office Tenures, Pat
ronago. Suffrage and tho Caucus.

\ NOnhBcs SuHIH8c anu tho CuuCuss
The Cincinnati Gazette prints General R'se
craps' letter in full. declining tho Democratic
nomination for Governor of Ohio. The letter
Is very lengthy, and tho General reiterates his
sincere devotion to Domocratic principles, and
continued conviction in favor OF Democratic
representative government" as the "best model
the world has 20! seen." He then goes on to
mako some suggestions as to tho fundamental
principles which ho thinks should uuderlie
overy Democratic platform m-docaripg in the
outset that tho country requires the Democratic
party to be "a party Of principle, party OF
lie, CT action and OF progress" that "it ought
to hold high the banner Of universal freedom,
impartial justice and equality bsforo the Law OF
all who live beneath the flag Of our country"
leaving to tho opponents Of Democracy "all
narrow and sectional grounds all monopolies
and fayortism based on class. creed, race,
color or national origin"
In regard to measures called for in tho pre-
sont c1igency, ho refers to tho national debt
currency revenue pr rotection, class legislation,
Office and tonures, executive patronage, suf-
frage and tho caucus system, and thon lays
down the following as his platform:
1. The enormous interest on our public debt
is producing the most fearful inequalities in
the distribution OF capital, bringing tho gov
Vernment into tho money market as o borrower
at IN average OF 11t per cent. per aunum cur
reucy-iDterest 7.30 per cent. premium on
the coin 1.6O. exemption from taxation 2 40
11i6O per cont. TO compete with private bor-
rowers, and, moreover. giving TO bankers
holding It's bonds Eot only this interest. but
the right to ISSUE notes ON their credit md
use them as money under the national banking
law. q. "
This is forcing tho worry life blood OF capital
Tran At,rS-NT T1,An a., ~
eItremities whereits circulation is especially
needed, 10 the great Eastern centres OF CAPT
tai and speculation, and by putting an enor-
nous price on capital in country whose in
dustrlal and business Developments require
great deal OF cheap capital, is gnawing at the
very vitals of industry and business OF the
great mass OF tho people.
ITO arrest these devouring evils demands the
most prompt redemption OF oursbopdB accord
ing to. the law and equity OF their Gissue, and
that national bank notes should be payable. In
minteh our expenses Mt home, establish csnfl.
dence i'll our political aud administrative sta.
blity, and increase our credib abtoad linsl our
bonds In foreign. markets aresNofth what our
ss ils s saS SroSsasa : ssae sas
bearipg. reasonable interest, ssndasuhtects to
reasonable taxation,' promptly redeem, every
existing bond the nome it becomes duo.
mo local declaration inviting popular pre. !
terms of payment OF the national bonds should |
impair the priceless rhlue OF 1.-The public credit |
ut timo when 1t is important to create tho |
speediest means of Kidding the country OF
these enormous expressions. but every Demo.
cratic platform should tond to raise higher |
and higher the public credit ana to sntisry |
the'people Of Europe that The Democratic is |
the last party in the United States that pro- |
poses to whinc or aot reluctantly about paying |
tho public debt, even though present holders |
should have bought it below it's fair value.
2. An irredeemable paper currency, or one |
perpetually Huctuatlng in value, is gigantic |
fraud on the people, a concentration Of the |
evis OF false weights, false measures, and |
worse, injurious to all classes, but especially |
to those who live by labor.
The Democracy should assert, with renewed |
vigor and determination, it's old declaration in |
favor OF specie basis and n paper currency.
convertible ut par into coin ut the will Of tie |
holder, and shonld take prompt and efacacious |
measures to raise our bonds to whero the secu-
ritS icy offer md thu interest thew bear ought
20 70 place them, 30 as to draw greenbacks after
Inem iri. TO par, with the least possible deiay.
n'H VII. re..cYe oil classes, especially tho To-
boring. and. augmenting the value OF our cir
a5ss sseiy ses as
business. and industry:
8. I he fundamental! principle Of FREQ trade |
and that all taxation should fall as directly as
possible on all members of society in proportion |
to their ability to pay have always been held by |
the Democracy: Tho aim Of it's legislation
must, therefore, be as much as possible to re- |
duce the amount and diminish th0s6umber of |
indirect taxes, and levy such as are necessary |
pie that, the wealth OF nation consisting in it's
productive industry, whatever favor5 tho great |
est amount of this In the masses is to be fs-
yored, and whatever fosters special kinds and
classes to it's detriment is to be opposed by i
the Democracy.
4. Democracy opposes all kinds Of class leg |
islation- refusing to rob the rich for the poor. |
or the poor for the benefit Of the rioh-aud views
with equal abhorrence the partisan OF unjust
claims, and the advocate OF the reputation OF |
just. ones. But, knowing that legal provisions
ss sseSsy sss s
cy, without violating individual rights. will al
ways aim to educate and elevate the masses Of
she people. Iic
demanded by necessary public business, and
such salaries be paid as tho nature and import
ance Of the business requires, leaving no just
grounds of complaint or excuse for pecuiation.
Al policy that leads to or requires the multi
plcation of offices is anti idemocratic, unjust
and dangerous to freedom. policy which
changes men 10 Office for individual profs In
rapting and per GUS to the liberties of the
oficial power is trust for the common
good, which NO pu olia officer has ri2h. 10
use for his private benefit, and whosoeyer does
so is q greater scoundrel than he who misap.
plies finds In his trust, because tho official
TRUST l5 more 6acrea ana the wrong more DIM
cult to dotect and measure.
Wh0eOever obtains votes under false pre-
tences is baser knayo than he who obinins
goods under false pretences,; and, on account
OF The greater difficulty ofdetecling and meas
uring the evil done, deserves seVerer punish
ment and Ieprobatfon., O.1
RegaIdinz all officers as servants OF the peo-
pie and Trustees Of power for the cor,mon veal.
Democracy .fayors suoh modes OF appointment
and .tepures Of office as reason and experiente
show best calculated to secure good conduct
and efficiency IN the public service, without
regard TO private interest, public customs OF
individual preteusions. - a q y -; .'"f q
Reason and experience alike condemn fire..
queht And needless changes Of public officers,
aud the generally prevailing practice OF making
them for personal benefit instead Of the pub
c goGa is acting in great ,i,,n matters s Of the
ruin any private b1siness, and. unless correct
ed, will bring The administration OF free gov
eminent into deserved contempt. Hi eesen-