The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-21

government and the usages necessary to pre-
serve liberty, are of the present, as of the past
and must he of the future
1t is interesting TO hear their orstors as
surfing their followers that the democratic
party is dead. 1t establishes ones genius
for originality! It has not been repeated
mora than one million times! and each time
the followers laugh and cheer; they are so
glad the democracy is dead! They wish it.
but feel that it is not 81. Tho laugh and
cheer are hollow and without joy. II they
we're sure oft, they would say kind and
generous things of so great and powerful an
organization. IL Is not brave or noble to
strike even a dead liODi
But few years since they boasted that
the democrats had no governor in the
Northern states. and but few in the South
but now there are democratic governors in
New Hampshire. Connecticut, Delaware,
Maryland. Ohio. Indiana. Wisconsin,
Oregon, Kentucky. Missouri, Tennessee, vir-
ginia, Georgia and Texas. Arkansas may
now be added to the list of democratic
lot box are broken and scattered.
Organizations may be broken and pass
away, but democracy cannot die. 1t is en-
dOwed with the immortality OF truth and
right. Wherever, i'm all lands, men aspire
to higher, freer. better governments and
purer liberty; wherever there is the senti-
ment that government is made for man and
not man for government. there is the spirit
of democracv that will endure and vet
achieve mans acknowledgements and eieva-
top.
thank you for the honor of my selection
to preside over your deliberations. In the
name of democracy, of conservatism and of
our state, call upon you to aid me in main
tanning decorum and harmony in our pro-
ceedings.
General G.. N. Fitch, of Cas-, chairman of
the committee on resolutions, was called
upon and reported as follows:
Mr.. President AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
C0NvENTION:-As was to have been expect
ed q diversity of sentiment manifested itself
in the committee on resolutions, as it
doubtless exists here. The majority did not
ask, the minority did not yield, any conces-
sion of the time honOred principles and ira
ditions ofour old party, but within those
limits there was diversity of opinion in
elaboration, and a desire for harmony
among themselves brought them finally
to the conclusions which are embodied in
the resolutions and platform, which they
have instructed me to report:
PLATFORM.
1t is the opinion of the democrats OF the
State of Indiana, in convention assembled,
that the present administration has proven
itself unworthy of the confidence of the peo-
pie OF the United States, in proof of which
we submit the following facts:
1t has overthrown, by force, the govern
ment of the State of Louisiana, aud pre-
vented the officers elected by the people of
that state from taking the positions to which
they were chosen; and, for party purposes,
has sustained the usurping state officers in
their unlawful seizure of the government of
that state.
1t has corrupted the sources of public jus
tice by squandering money through the de-
partment of justice, to aid its party in North
Arkansas
III has appointed men to office who have
been proven corrupt and profigate, and has
removed from Office those who assisted in
bringing the defalcations and corruptions of
its appointees to light.
1t has, by gross abuse of power, farmed
out the collection of the revenue to corrupt
and unprincipled men, who have defrauded
alike the government aud the people.
1t has appointed to office in the District of
Columbia. body of men whose corruption
far exceeds any OF which We have record,
and supported them in their oppression and
rObberies OF the people and he government
causing the l, IS of millions ofdollars TO the
government of the United States and the
people OF the District of Columbia
Through the various departments of the
government it has recklessly squandered
the money, resources, and public domain OF
the people, and corrupted the civil service of
the country.
spOnsible for these acts of the administra
ton it placed in, power, and for the credit
mObilier frauds, the enormous increase of
salaries, and the Sanborn contracts; " nile,
as the oppressor of the white people in the
South, and as the origin of the corruption
that weighs like an incumbus upon this
country, il deserves the severest condemna-
ton.
Therefore, this convention asks the peO-
pie to again entrust the Democratic party
with the administration of the 5 ate and
county upon the following principles:
A strict construction of the Constitution of
the United States and its amendments, and
an impartial enforcement of the laws; a
tariff for revenue; a condemnation of all
Official gratulties in the form of retroactive
salaries, State or National; condemnation
of the attempt of the last Congress to muz-
zle the press; securing to every citizen Of
the country the equal protection of the laws
without violating the principle OF local self
government, or interfering with the social
customs of the people.
Opposition to high fees and salaries, either
in the state of Indiana or in the United
States; and we demand reduction of sala-
ries, state and national.
In the state such reduction and adjust
ment OF fees and salaries as will relieve the
people from high state aud local taxation.
Resolved, L. That we are in favor of the re-
demption of the fve-twenty bonds in green
backs, according to the law under which
they were issued.
2. We are in favor of the repeal of the law
of March, 1879, which assumed to construe
the law so as TO make such bonds payable
exclusively in gold.
3. We are in favor of the repeal of the ma
tlonal banking law, and the substitution of
greenbacks for the national bank currency.
4. We are In favor of a return to specie
payment as soon as the business interests OF
the country will permit.
3. We are in favor of such legislation from
time to time as will adjust the volume of the
currency to the commercial and industrial
wants of the country.
6. We are IN favor of a liberal system of
education for the benefit OF the negro as well
as the white children of Indiana, but we are
opposed to the mixture of the black and
white races in our public schools or other
al In ton al institutions