The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-10-26
Platform Of the National Democratic
Party,

10 party OF the United States. in ma
tional convention assembled, do here
declare the administration of the Fed,
eral government to be in urgent nn66d
or Immediate reform; do hereby ehjoin
upon the nominees of this, convention
and of the Democratic party in each
State, a jealous effort and coropcga-
tion to this end, and dooherebysappeal
to our fellow citizens of every former
political connection to iGgidertalso with
US this first and most. pressing patriot
ic duty for the Democracy of the
whole country. We do here reaffifm
our faith in the pernaHehcy of the
Federal Union, our devotion TO The
constitution OF the united States, with
Its amendments universally accepted,
as final settlement of the controver-
sizes that engendored civil war, and do
here record oul steadfastf confidence in
the perpotuity of Republican self gov-
ernment; in absol6t6T 8caGies6Gaice in
the will of the majority, the vital prin.
ciplo of the republic; in tho supremacy
of the civil over the military authori-
ty; in tho 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
OVID enactment, in the liberty ofindi>
vidual conduct, unvoxed by sumptuary
laws; in tho faithful oducatiohg of the
rising generation, that they may pro-
serve, enjoy and transmit these best
conditions of human happiness and
hope. We bohold the noblest prD-
ducts Of hundred years of chan gohll
history, but, whiio upholding the bond
Of our Union and great charter of
these our rights, it behooAesL free
people to practice also that eternal
vigilance which is the price of1iberty.
Reform IS necessary to srehuild and
Establish in the hearts of the whole
people the Union eleven years ago
happily rescued from tho danger of
corrupt centralism, which, after infict-
ing upon ten States the rapacity of
carpet bag tyrannies, has. heneyeemb-
Cd the offices Of the Federal govern
mont itsolf with incapacity, waste and
fraud; infected States and municipal-
tiles with the contagion Of misrule,
and locked fast tho prosperity Of an
industrious people in the paralysis of
hard times. Reform is necessary to
establish sound currency, restore tho
public credit and maintain, thex7pa~
tional honor. We denounce~t the fail.
ure of all these eleven years to mako
good the promise Of the legal tender
notes which arc changing standard
of value in the hands of tho people,
and tho non payment Of which is q
disregard of the plighted faith of tho
nation, We dcnounco the improv-
dence which in eleven years of peace
has taken from the people in Federal
taxes thirteen times the whole
amount Of the legal Londor notes, and
squandered four times tnisr sum in
useless expense, without the accumu-
lation of any reserve for their redemp-
ton. We denOunce tho financial im~
becility and immortality Of that party
which during the eleven years ofpeace
has made no advance towards resump-
zion; that, instead, has obstructed re-
sumption by wasting our resources
and exhausting all our surplus income
and, while annually professingsto in
tend speedy return to specie pays
ments, has annually enacted fresh
hindrances thereto, as such a him
drance we denounce the resumption
clause of the Act of 1875, and we
here demand its repeal. Weedemand
a Judicious system OF preparation by
public econimies, by official retrench-
ments, and by wise finance, which
shall enable the nation to assures the
whole world of its perfect ability and
its perfect readiness 10 meet,any of it's
promises at the call of the creditor en-
titled to payment. We belicvo. such
asystem we'll devised; and, above all en-
trusted to competent hands for execu>
ton, creating al no time an artificial
security of currency, and at no time
alarming the public mind into
Withdrawal of that .vaster ma
chinery of credit by which ninety five
per cent. of all business transactions
are performed; system open. public
and inspiring general confidence,
would, from the day Of it's adoption,
bring healing on its wings tosall our
h"rrassod industry, and set in motion
the wheels Of commerce. .manufactur>
es and the mechanical arts; restore
employment to labor, and renew. IN
all its national source, the prosperity
of the people. Reform is necessary