The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1876-07-29
THE PLATFORM,

st. Louis, June 28.-The convention
was called to order at 2:l5 p. IN:
Judge Meredith, of Virginia, Chairman
Of COMMITTEES On Resolutions, presented
the report. stating great many resolu
tons were presented, all Of which had
been carefully examined and discussed
before coming to an agreement. He re-
quested Governor Dorshcimer, Of New
York. to read it to the convention; as fol-
lows:
THE PLATFORM;
We, tho delegates Of the Democratic
party of the United States, in National
Convention assembled, do here declare
the administration Of the Federal Gov
ernment to be in urgent need of immedi-
ate reform, do hereby cnjoin upon the
nominees Of this Convention and of the
Democratic party in each State Jealous
eff rt and cd-operatiou to this end, and
do hereby appeal to our fellow citizens
of every former political connection to
undertake with us this first and most
pressing patriotic duty. For the Demo-
cracy of the whole country we do here
reaffirm our faith in the permancncy Of
the Federal Union. Our devotion to the
Constitution of the United States, with
it's amendments universally accepted as a
final settlement Of the controversies that
engendcrcd civil war, and do here record
our steadfast confidence in the perpetuity
of Republican sclf-government; in ahso.
lutte acquiesccnce III the will OF the ma
iority, the vital principles If republics.
in the Supremacy of the civil over the
military authority; in the total sepera-
ton of Church and State for the sake
alike of civil and religious freedom; III
the equality Of all citizens before just
| laws of their own cnactment;
IN THE LIBERTY
of individual conduct, unvexcd by stump
tuary laws. In the faithful education Of
the rising generation, that they may
preserve, enjoy and transmit these best
conditions ofhuman happiness and hope
we behold the noblest products of a hun.
lrcd years Of cllangcful history; but
while upholding the bond of our union
and tho great charter Of these our rights
it belooves free people to practice also
that eternal vigilance which is tue price
of liberty. Reform is necessary to re-
build and establish in the hearts of tho
whole people the union eleven years age
happily rescued from the danger of a cor
rupt centralism which, after intlicting
upon ten States the rapacity of
CARPET-BAG TYRANNIES.
Has hOney-cOmbel the officers Of the
Federal Government itself with incapaci
ty, waste and fraud, infected States ant
municipalities with the c0ntagion of mis-
rule, and locked fast the prosperity of al
Industrious people III the paralysis o
hard times. Reform is necessary to es
tablish a sonnl currency, restore TIL
public credit, and lnaint tain the nationa
honor. We denoilnce the failure for al
these eleven years to make good TIN
promise of the legal tender nStes whicl
are changing standard Of Value in tin
hands Of the people; and the noN:pay
ment Of which is disregard Of tn
plighted faith of the nati0ns We IL
nounce the improvidencc which In clever
years OF peace has taken from the peOpl
in Federal taxes thirteen times the Who'll
amount Of the legal tender notes, AM
squandered four times this sum in Use
less expense without accommodating an
reserve for their redemption. We dc
. nounce the financial imbccility and i'm
morality Of that party which, durin
eleven years of peace has made no ad
vance toward resumption; that instead
has DISTRACTED resumption by wastin
our resources and cxhausting all our SUI
plus income, and while annually profes
sing to intend
A SPEEDY RETURN 10 SPECI
PAYMENTS
P has annually enacted fresh Eindranct
thereto, us such a intolerance VIC dt
:. nonncc the resumption clause "f the az
J. OF 1878, and we here demand its repea
We demand u jndicious system Of pr
paration by public economies, by offici;
retrcncllmeMcs and by wise finance whic
shall enable tho nation to insure til
whole world Of its perfect ability and il
perfect readiness to meet any Of its prom
iscs at the call Of thy creditor entitled
payment. We believe such a system
we'll devised and above all entrusted I
competent hands for execution, creatill
r. at no time All artificial scarcity Of GU
y rency and ut no time alarming the pull
lie mind into q withdrawal Of that va!
ter machinery Of credit by which ninet
five per cent. Of all business transaction
are performed, system open, public al
inspiring general confidence would fro
the day Of its adoption
BRING HEALING ON ITS WINGS
= to all our harrassed industry and set
=, motion the wheels of commerce, man
:. features and the mechanical arts, rcsto
% employment to labor and renew in all
10 national source the prosperity of Il
u people. Reform is necessary in the 81.
aud mode of Federal taxation to the el
that capital may be set free from distre
and labor lightly burdened. We d
nodncc the present tariff levied up
nearly four thousand articles as o mastt
piece of injustice, inequality aud fal
4. preteitse; it yields dwindling; not
n. yearly rising revenue; it las impoSeriS
" ed many industries to subsitlize q fe'
4. it prohibits imports that might purcha
". tho products Of American labor; it Il
= degraded American commerce from t
FIRST to an inferior upon the high sea
:. it has cut down the sales Of
Ia AMERICAN MANUFACTURES
ut homo snd abroad and depleted the
turns Of American agriculture or ind
try followed by half our people; it co
- the people FIVE times more than it p
IS duces to the treasury, obstructs the p
cess Of production and wastes the fru
, Of labor; it promotes fraud and fost
!. smuggling, enriches dishonest oflici
y and bankrupts honest merchants.
demand that all Customhouse taxati
shall he only for revenue. Reformis II
essary in the scale Of public expen
Federal, State aud Municipal; fcde
taxation has swollen from $f6,0OO|
gold in 1860 to s45G, 00o, 900 currency
1870. Our aggregate taxation from 81
nfln OnaA cold 4, 1000 r., 173O (l(lf1 (AM r