The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-10-01
Platform of the RaSsachuseIfS
Democrats.


their delegates in convention to consider
the public exigency and organize for the
great work of political reform, appealing
to all honest men for cooperation in then
effort, declare the basis of their action:
First-We reiterate the declarations
comprehensively made by the National
Conventions at Cincinnati and Baltimore
in 1872, accepting the recent amend
ments to the Federal Constitution as a
full, final and permanent adjustment OF
the political controversies incident to the
late war.
Second-We demand for the Union
the support in full vigor of all it's consti-
tutional powers as the supreme authority
utterly repudiating all claim of right by
any State to secede from the Union, or to
nulllfy its laws, and we demand for each
State as equally inviolable the right to
govern itself at its sovereign pleasure,
subject only to the limitations and obi
cations of the Federal Constitution.
Ihlrd-ln the interests of public morals,
the nations credit ard the common wei
fare, we oppose any further issue by the
Government Of currency iaconvertble
with gold, the worlds reconized measure
of value, and we favor a speedy return
to specie payments, as essential to the
revival OF the commerce, business and
credit of the country andto the welfare
Of the laboring classes.
Fsurth-We arraign the Republican
party for its eXtravagant expenditure anc
prohigate waste of the peoples money
for it's corruption; for its populations; ton
its contempt of constitutional obligations;
for it's extortiOnate increase of sinecures
and of the salaries of our public officers;
for its oppressive, unjust, and defective
system OF taxation, finance, and currency,
which have degraded public and private
morality, and brought upon US the pres
ent depression in the commercial and in
| dustrial interests Of the country; for It's
Capitalization of power and its encour
agement of monopelies and corporate
| corruption; for its continuance of incom-
| petent and dishonest men in office; and
for its general mismanagement OF both
the State and Federal Governments
Fifth-We view with alarm the increase
in this commonwealth under Republican
administration, of the public debt by
prodigal appropriations for objects not
demanded by the public interests. We
denounce unnecessary taxation as great
crime. We demand reduction of State
expenditures, rigid economy, and the at
most limitatio nof the practice of mortgage
ing the industry of the future for pur-
poses OF doubtful expediency.
Sixth-The interests of capital and la
Dor are identical, and any attempts to
produce Ontagonisms between the two
must be injurious to both. We favor
such legislation as will secure to both an
open field and fair play, and to both
equal rights and just rewards under the
law.
Seventh-We congratulate the good cit
liens ofthe Commonwealth upon the re-
moval of the odious prohibitory law from
the statute books and we confidently ex-
pect that the present law, with such mod
ihcations as experience shall suggest, will
tend to promote public order and mo-
rahty and the best interests of temper
ance.
Eighth-The Democratic party believes |
IN the government b. the people for the |
people, and therefore oppose any consti |
tutional amendments which limit or |
restrict the election of public officers |
by the people.
Ninth-We take an honest pride in the |
cordial and enthusiastic approval by the |
people of the whole country, on the I7th |
of June, 1875, of the policy of reconcile |
ton, peace, and fraternity advocated by |
the Democratic and Liberal Republican |
parties in 1872, and we welcome with
special satisfaction the assurance
that that policy will be Inaugural
ted by the Administration to be placed in
power in 1876,
Tenth-That our present Governor by
the wise and prudent execution of his
high trust, and the dignity aud fairness
which have distinguished his administra-
ton, has merited the appreciation of the
people, and we confidently point to his
spotess record as tie highest assurance
that by this Convention will rebound to
the best interests OF this Commonwealth.
Eleventh have the satisfacr:o Gu to
recommend to this Convention Gen. VIII
lam I, Bartlett, the gallant and modest
soldier, whose wounds in the war have
hardly ceased to bleed. The ability in
civil life, and the stern uprigntness of his
principles on all matters Of public life
and policy, make him peculiarly fit for
the high Office to which he has been
nominated, and we delight to commend
him 10 the people as one who has not
sought the laurelS of civil office, but on
whom they have been spontaneously
thrust by this Convention as tribute tol
his merit.
Twelfth-Tbis Convention commend to
the people OF this Commonwealth the up
right and able gentlemen selected as can,
didates for the other State offices, in con-
fident belief that they will be found com
petent and honest in the trusts for which
ii bova hapu nominated