The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-07-07
THE PLATFORM.

ST. LOUIS, June 2S.-lhe Convention was
called to orderat 2.lj. Judge Meredith, of
Virginia, chairman of the committee on reso-
lutlons, presented areport, stating that great
many resolutions were presented, all of which
had been carefully examined and discussed
before coming to an agreement. He then re-
quested Mr.. Dorsheimer, of New York to
read the report to the Convention as fol-
lows
We, the delegates of the Democratic party
of the United States in national convention
assembled, do hereby declare the administra-
ton of the Federal government to be in ur-
gent need of immediate reform do hereby
enjoin upon the nominees Of this convention,
and OF the Democratic party in each State,
Jealous effort and cooperation to this end.
and do hereby appeal to our fellow-citizcns of
every former political connection to undertake
with US this first and most pressing patriotic
duty. For the Democracy of the whole coun-
try, we do here reafHrm our faith in the per-
manency Of the Federal Union, our devotion
to the Constitution of the United States, with
its amendments universally accepted as a final
settlement Of the controversies that engen-
dered civil war, and do here record our stead
fast confidence in the perpetuity of republican
government; in the absolute acquiescence
in the will of the majority; the vital princi-
piles of republics; in the supremacy of the
civil over the military authority; in the total
separation of Church and State, for the sake
alike of civil and religious freedom; in the
equality Of all citizens before Just laws of their
own enactment; in the liberty of individual
conduct unyexed by sumptuary laws; in the
faithful education OF the rising generation,
that they may preserve, enjoy and transmit
these best conditions Of human happiness and
hnna No Iahnll tl. ,nlJn.4 4. Il
hundred " ars of changeiul history, but while
upholding the bond OF our union and great
charter Of these our rights it behooyes free
people to practice also that eternal vigilance
which is the price Of liberty.
4 Need Of the Hour.
Reform is necessary to rebuild and establish
in the hearts of the whole people the Union,
eleven years ago happily rescued from the
danger Of secession of States, but now to
be saved from Il corrupt centralisn, which,
alter infiictlng upon ten States the rapine of
carpet-bag tyrannies has honey-combed the
ofhces OF the federal government itself with
incapaclty, waste and fraud, infected States
and municipalities with the contapion of
misrule, and locked fast the prosperity of an
industrious people in the paralysis of hard
| times Reform is necessary to establish n
, sound currency, restore the public credit and
| MAINTAIN the national honor.
RepubiieR Finance Denounced.
We denounee the failure for all these eleven
years to make good the promise of the legal
tender notes, which are Il changing standard of
value IN the hands OF the people, and the non
payment of which is disregard of the plirbt-
ed faith of the nation, We denounce the i'm
providence which in eleven years of peace has
taken from the people in Federal taxes thir
teen times the whole amount of the legal ten.
der notes, and squandered four times this
sum III useless expense without accommodating
any reserve for their redemption. We de-
nounce the financial mbecility and immortality
OF that party which during eleven years Of
peace has made no advance toward resump-
tlon that instead has obstructed resumption
by wasting our resources and exhausting al
our surplus Income, and while annually pro.
Tossing to intend speedy return to specl,
payments, hasannually enacted fresh hindran
ces thereto. As such hndrince we denounc,
the resumption clause Of the act of 1878, anl
we here demand its repeal
What is Demanded.
We demand judicious system of prepara
} ton by public economies by official retrench
t ments and wise fnauce, which shall enable tn,
nation soon to assure the whole world of il
perfect ability and its perfect readiness TO NEE
any of its promises at the call of the credito
entitled to payment We believe such sys
tenn, well devised aud above all entrusted t,
competent hands for execution, creating at n,
time an artificial scarcity, and at no tim,
alarming the public mind into with
, drawal of that yaster machinery of credit b,
which ninety per cent. of all busines
transactions are performed system open
aud inspiring general confidence would from
the day of its adoption bring healing ON il
wings 10 all our harrassed industry aud set il
motion the wheels of commerce, manuiac
lures and the mechanical arts, restore employ
ment to labor and renew in all its naiiona
] source the prosperity Of the people.