The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-03-25
OREGON DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM,
ADOPTED AT Albany, MARCH %, 1870.


The Democracy of the State of Oregon, through
their delegates In convention assembled in accord
anee with long established usages. proclaim the
following rs the articles of their faith
lst- That they are unaltcrably attached 10 the
principles of cur Republic, as expounded by its
founders, and that the paramount oljec; Of their
organization shall ever be to uphold and maintain
those principles inyiolare.
End That they hold those political partizans
who, occupying positions Of trust claiming to be
representatives of the people, havo usurpcd the
authority eondded to them, maliciuusly trampied
under foot our sacred hill Of rights, made civil
law subordinate to military rule. perverted II
functions of government and cnieaYcrci to con-
centrate its powers in the hands of an o!igarrhr
wholly dlsreGarled the will and wishes Of their
constituents, and insiuousiy endeavorci T., dis
parage, dePose aad stigmatizc the once proud IL
tie of American citizenship. enemies TO tie best
interests of the Conlnorwca
Bird. That the so-cal,eI reconstruction measures
attempted to be carried mt by tie present party
in power Is 4 HefariOus scheme. revolutionary in
design. reasonable in execution one which If ac-
quie>ced in rghtiui exercise OF authority will
Establish a most danzcro precedent and i.nperil
the safety and perpetuity of our form of govern
ment; and that the present Senators in the Con-
greSs OF the United States, fIem this State, in
supporting those Measures, have m;sreprescuted
the wishes and outraged the sentiments of the
people of Oregon.
4th- That the systematic efforts made bv that
10 African. Tie Indian and the
Cinnamon, all the civil and political rights and
privileges enjoyed by the white race eyinces a de-
sign on the part OF its leaders to destroy the hyh
estimate placed upon that invaluable heritage and
render despotikm less Objectionable and more
easy Of aeeomp. ishmeat.
5th- That the ratification of the recently pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution of the United
States. extending the right of suffrage to the De-
nighted negro and Indian. and which opens the
door fer its enjoyment t" the heathcnish Ching
THs0 rS I-raur
most earnestly protest against the passage by the
United States Congress of the pending act des-
igned to enforce the obnoxious and Illegal pro-
vision.
9th. That they urge and cutreat repeal of the
recent treaty concluded between the United States
and China, which guarantees TO the latter nation
such extensive privileges and immunities without
co-rerp0nding BENEFITS to Amerieen citizens ofF.rs
70 its hories of semi barbarians such favorable in
dueemcnts to swarm in upon us OCCUPY our min
eral and agricultural districts, create ruinous
competition with la5oring Masses establish va
fious pursuits, disgusting rites, ceremonies and
practices n our towns, discourage and repel the
immigration of our own race, decrease the white
population, retard thrift, impede the advancement
OF education and enlightenment abstract from cur
resources and send away our valuable mineral
woaith, and de.n0raize and apostgtizc cur commu-
nifty; and they resolve, that party who viii sus-
tain policy 80 unwise, runous aud ruthless, az
that which uplelds such Infamous bargain,
unworthy tn, support of white men.
9TH. That in the management of the municipal
affairs, they urge judicious application of the
principles of sound political economy, a faudabie
encouragement to agricultural. mineral, manufac-
turing and commercial interests, just and equi-
table protection to tine laborer and tho capitalist
and the faithful exercise of system of rigid re-
trenehment, that the government should be ad-
ministered for the people, and not against them
in protecting their rights and interests and not in
fostering monopoiics to prey upon them and des-
poll them of their substance. That q system Of
taxation which has for its object the establishment
of privileged orders under the government, either
by prcferring class to another, or by imposing
gricvous burdens upon the taxpayers while con-
ferring fayors, exemptions and immunities upon
the holders of government securities, deserves no
other name than legal;zed public plumber.
Sth. That the continual payment of the semi
annual interest on the bonded debt of the United
States, without abatement, together with other
Tn ,rmous expenses for which the people taxed,
make burden too intoieTable 10 be borne without
effort to find some speedy means Of relief That
the amount Of the bonded debt is increased more
than two fold, by the vena, illegal and uDjustif-
able terms of its contraction that their is neither
justice wisdom in the repeated payment of the
principle by the continued payment Of tie interest
That tits part good policy or good government
to eE,barrass theenerges oflabor, and alfbusiness
enterprise by excessive and oppressive taxation for
the exclusive benefit of a combination of untaxed
capital that to relieve the country and to restore
prosperity. faVo. an equitable adjustment of
the bonded debt Of tae United States.
9th. That the desire of the present Congress. as
manifested by its proceedings, to secure to the
wealthy bosd-hoider payment In coin on account
of indebtedness growing ont of loans to the Uni
ted States of treasury notes when worth loss than
one-haf their coin value after the holders there
of have received exorbifant interests thereon and
at the same time leaving the pensions due upfor-
tunate soldiers their wives, children or other kim
dred to be paid in depreeated currency, exhibits
spirit of injustice unsurpassed in the history of
class legislation, and fully demonstrates the ex-
istence of design on the part of the moneyed ar
isteeracy of the country to influence the establish
ment of o policy favorng the aggrandizement of
the rich at the expense of the poor policy which
has for its object the aggregation of wealth, opu-
ie'lce and power on the one hand, and misery,
poverty and slavery on the other, a policy fitted
eniy to a aonerchical form of government
10th. That the Democracy of this State
now, as heretofore, strenuous advocates
of a tariff for purposes of revenue only. That the
principle of protection for the sake of protection
Is at war with the diversified interests of the peo
ple-of the States, and experience has shown its
tendency to aggrandize class in the community
st tie expense and to the injury of the producing
eJd laboring millions, taxing industry, equal