The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-10-05
The Democratic Platform of South
Carolina.

The Democratic party of South Corol;na, in
Convention assembled, announce the following
as irs platfoFmlof principles. l.
owe declare our acceptance in perfect good
faith of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fiji
teenth Amendments to the Federal Constitu-
ton; accepting and standing upon them, wo
turn from the settled and final past TO the
great living and momentous issues of the pres
ent and the future. 10
We adopt the platform Of principles an
nOunced by the National Democratic party
recently assembled at ST. Louis, and pledge
ourselves TO n full and hearty CO cooperation in
securing the election of its distinguished NOM
inccs, Samuel j, Tilden, of New York and
ThOmasA. Rendrick $Of Indiana, sand believe
that under the wise and just administration
of its Distinguishing reform lcader assisted by
the eminently patriotic and able counsellors
by whom he will be surrounded, peace and
prosperity will again bless our country, and
the dlssehsions, confusion and maladministra-
ton Of the past eight years will give place to
concord. good government, and n thorough
restoration of the iUpien, EInaccordanoe with
the'decarahon oftliat platform, and The ut
terances and acts of our distinguished leader,
we demand n genuine and thorough reform in
the State of South Carolina, and call upon
all Of its citizens, irrespective of race color or
previous condition, to rllly with us to it's re-
demption, for iG is IeyidentSthat substantial
and lasting reform is impossible within the
ranks of the Republican party OF this State.
We charge that party with arraying race
against race, creating disturbances and fo.
! menting difficulties; with proStiuting the ell
| ectiop franchise, tampering with the ballot
box, and holding unfair and fraudulent cleo
tlOns, with having accumulated enormous debt
| misrnanaged the finances, and injured the
credit Of the State; with levying exorbtant
taxes and squardering them when collected.
thus winning from the toll and livelihood of
| the honest poor man of the State, large per.
ccntum Of his hard earnings, without giving
in return any compensation therefor, and has
hopclessy involveQi in debt q mGjority4 Of the
counties Of the State. It's management of our
penal and charitable institutions is q shame
and disgrace, We charge its legislation ms
demoralizing, partisan, and ,lisgracclul, and
the vonality snd corruption which have char
acterizcd every branch of the government,
executive, Legislative and judicial have no
parallel in the history of nations. 1t has Gre
atcd a multiplicity ofunnecessary and useless
Offices, complicated in their system, and .un.
necessarily expensive. 1t has attempted to
elevate to the bench two most corrupt and de-
graded men. 1t call never purify itself give
good and impartial government or by its
normal force and character, exercise in its
full sovereignty the law of the land. We do
not charge this cOudilion Of things, which ev-
cry-ratriot most deeply dcplorc, upon the
masses of the party, but upon Iheir leaders,
who have made such fatal use Of their confi-
dcncc and trusts; for it is our firm conviction
that al the good people of the State, of both
races, desire peace and prosperity.
We, therefore, call upon all of our fellow
citizens, irrespective of race or past party
nthIlation, to join with us Ill restoring the
good namo of their State, and to again ele-
vnte 1t to place of dignity and character
among the commonwcallhS of this great coun-
tpIr Il Il.
the reace of the State. and dcnouncc all in
stigators and promoters thereof, and earnest.
ly call upon all Of fellow citizens, irrcs-
pccive of party lines, to exercise forbeal ance
and cultivate good will: and II the government
of the State is committed to our control we
pledge ourselves to protect the persons, rights
and property of all its people, and to speed
liy bring to summary justice any one who
dare violate them.
We desire fair, pcnccable, election, ap-
pealing to the reason and not the passions Of
the people, and demand of the Republican
| party fair showing in the appointment of
! comm issioners of election. Wedemand n fair
election and a fair count call upon all
Of the patrioticjsOns Of Carolina to join us
We ask but trial of committing the State to
our Keeping, and if good government secu.
rity, protection and prosperity do not dawn
IN our over taxed, despoilcd, and disheart-
cned PGoplc, then t;Pive rs from power with
scorn'and Indignation Our object is reform,
rerenchment, and relief, that by honesty
and economy we may reduce the taxes, and
tighten the burhenS of the people; giving at
the salneI time absolute security and proec-
tion to the rights and property of ALL Upon
this paramount issue we cordially invite the
cooperation of every Democrat and Repub-
lican who is earnest and willing in this crisis
of our State, to unite with us in this great
work. .'' ..'' o..