The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-09-22
N4TIONAL DEMOCRAT TIC
PLATFORM.

PL1 TFOhM.
We the delegates of the democratic party OF thS
rri,ad States in national convention assembled, DO
ra,v declare the administration oil the federal gov
nnsnt to be in urgent need OF immediate reform )
~ hereby enjon upon the nominees OF TINS cohNeh-
10 and Of the democratic party in each state, a
"aious effort and corporation 10 TINS end ana 90
hv sppeal to our fellow-eitizens OF every former
iitieal connection TO undertake with us TINS hrsl
md most pressing patriotic duty
TRE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, REPUBLICAN, skLf-
To- GOVERNMENT.
T., tho democracy OF the whole country, we do
To arm onr faith in the permanence of the fed
III nnion our devotion TO the constitution OF
he Uniled States with its amendments, universally
1e,otaJ as a final settlement OF the controversies
sbt enrendered civil war and do hereby record our
s,sadfast confidence in the perpetmty OF republican
sei-so' ei'''-'-' TnE FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acauleseence in the viii of the major
a., the vital principles OF republics; IN the suprein-
acy OF the civil over the military authority 10 the
s;;oi ssparatisn of church and state for the sake
sIite of civil and religious freedom IN the equaIlty
~ ali citizess before Just laws OF their own enact
ent in the libe rty Of individual conduct unYeXei
by sumptuary laws in the faithful education oil the
Using generation that they may preserve ENJOY ana
transmit these best conditions OF human happiiness
and hope. We behold the noblest products OF nun
3red wears Of changeiul history, but Whie upnoi"-
inc the bond of union and great charter OF these
oIY rights it behOoves free people to practice also,
that eternal vigilance which is the price Of liberty
REFoRM-coRRUPr CESTRALIsM
Reform is necessary To rebuild and establish IN
the hearts of the whole people the union, eleven
rssrS ago happily rescued from the danger of Sc
ssion Of states but now TO be saved from corrupt
eentraIisn which. after inhicting upon ten states
the rapaciiy OF carpet-hag tyrannies, has honey
7 with ineapacity, waste and fraud infected states
nd municipalities with the eontagion Of mis-
ME and locked fast the prosperity OF an industrl
/ Gus people in the paralysis OF hard times
REFORM OF THE CURRENCY.
Reform is necessary TO establish a sound currency
restore the public credit and maintain the national
Ne denounce the failure for all these eleven years
Of peace to make good the promise Of the legal-ten-
der notes which are changing standard OF value II
the hsnds OF the people, and the non-payment o
which is disregard of the plighted faith OF 'h'
natIon;
years of peace, has taken from the people in fedora
taxes thirteen times the whole amount OF the lega
tapdrr NOTES. and s'luunicred four times their suu
muscles expense without accommodating any resery
: IOrtheir redemption.
We depounce the financial imbecility and immor
atty Of that party which, during eleven years O
peac,, has made no advance towards resumption, ~
Preparation for resumption, but, instead mas Oh
/ strucled resumption ~ wasting our resources ant
eNhausting all cur surplus income. and, while an
nuay protesting TO intend speedy return 10 Speci
payments, has annually enacted fresh hindrance
thereto. As such a hindrance We denounce the re
sumption clause Of the act Of 1875, and demand II
reveal ,,,s,.,,,. .v.ton % Dr.,,r,,ior y,
public economies. by official retrenchments and h.
wise nance, which shall enable the nation soon L
assure the whole world Of its perfect ability and
perfect readiness To any of its promises at tn
call OF the eeditor entitled TO payment
We believe such system, well devised, and, HbOv
all intrused 10 competent hands for execution, ere
ating at time an artificial scarcity Of currency
and At no time alarming the public mind into with
drawal Of that ysser machinery OF credit by which
nincty-hve per cent. of all our business trans
/ actions Performed system open, public
and inspiring general confidence, would, from IN
day Of its adoption bring healing on its wings to al
our embarrassed industries, and set in motion tn
wheels OF commerce, manufactures, and the Inechan
sc aIts restore employment 10 labor ana renew
pie.
REFORM OF THE TARIFF.
Reform IS Necessary III the sum and modes of fed
eral taxation, 10 the end that capital may be set fire.
from distrust and labor lightly hurdened.
We denounce the present tariff levied upon nearly
four Thousand articles masterpiece of injustice
inequality and false pretense. 1t yiedS dwindling
not yearly rising, revenue. It has imPoverishe
many industries 10 sibsiiize few II prohibit
imports that IBight purchase the products Of Amer
icar labor. 1t has degraded American commerce
from me hrst 10 an inferior rank upon the biSl
seas. 1t has cut down the sales Of American manu-
lectures at home and abroad, and depleted the re
turns Of American agriculture industry followed
by half our people.
10 the people i've times more than it produce
to the treasury Ohstructs the process of production
AMI wastes the fruits of labor. II promotes fraud
fosters smuggling euri, hes dishonest officials anC
l,ankruuts honest merchants We demand that nj
custom-houss taxation shall be only for reyeaue.
REFoRM-ECONoMY ~ PUBLIC EXPENSE.
Reform is necessary in he scale of public expense
federal aud municipal. Our federal taxation
has swoolen from 500 100000 geld, in 1860, TO $780,
00O,0 600 currency, in 1870. cur aggregate taxation
from Sl5fO0O 600 gold in 1860 To $3.50 600 600 cur
in 1870, in decade from less than s. Per head
to more than SIS per head Since the peace, the
people have paid to their tax gatherers more than
thrice the sum Of the national debt, and more than
twice that sum for the edersl government alone
We demand rigorous trugalty IN every depart
ment, and from every officer OF the government
REFORM-PUBLIc LANDS TO ACTUAL SETTLERS.
Reform is necessary to put stop 10 the prOhigate
waste OF public lands, and their diversion from ac-
tual settlers by the rty in power which has squan-
dered 200 100000 Of acres upon railroads alone and
out Of more than thrice that aggregate has disposed
Of less than sixth directly 10 tillers Of the soil
REFoRM-ADoPTED CITIZENS
Reform is necessary 10 correct the omission of
publican congress- and the errors Of treaties and
our diplomacy which have stripped our fellow-cti-
zens OF foreign birth and kindred race crossing
the Atlantic of the shield of American citizenship.
and exposed brethren OF the Pacific coast the
incursiOns of a race sprung from the great
parent stock and. in fact, now by law denied cti-
custoped 10 me traditions OF tr,grssiva civiil9-
tion nor exercised IN liberty under equal law We
denOunce the policy which thus dscards the liberty
owing German and tolecateS revival Of the coolie
purpos s, and Monaghan men, hired 10 perform
vile labor contracts. and demand such modification
OF treaty with the Chinese empire, such legiSla-
zion by congress within constitutional limitations as
shall prevent the further Importation or immigration
Of the Monaghan race
THE FALSE sECTARIAs IssUE-THE FALSE SECTION
Al ISSUE
Reiorn IS necessary and can never nc effected but
by making it the controlling issue Of the election
and lifting it above the two false issues with which
the oiiiee-hoiding classes and the party in Pewer
seek TO smother 1t.
First-The false issue with which they would en-
knde ecarian strife in respect to the public schools
OF which the establishment and support belong ex-
elusiyey TO the several states and which the deme-
cratic party has cherished from its foundation and
IS resolved to maintain without partiality prefer
ence for any class sect or creed and without contr
button from the treasury to any.
SecOnd-The false issue by which they seek to
iSht anew the dying einbers OF sectional hate be-
tween kindred people once unnatuTally estranged
but now reunited in one indivisible republic and
Ommon destiny
REFURM-rHE CIVIL SERVICE
Reform Is necessary in the civil service Expert
ence proves that efficient economical conduct Of the
government business Is not possible if its civil
wee sun CT 10 change at every election, lie
prize fought for az the baOt-box he q brief reward
proved competency and held for fidelity in the pub
lie employ; that the dispensing of patronage should
Relther be tax upon the time Of our public men
nor the instrument OF their ambition here, ageiu,
professions fasifed in the performance attest that
the party in poser can work out no practical sal
tary reform.
MISREPRESENTATION OF HIGH PUBLIC OFFICERS
keiorm Is Necessary, even more in the higher
grades OF public service. President, vice-president
these and all others in authority the peoples
SCI ants Their offices are not PRIV lie perquiste
hey are public trust.
hen the annals OF this republic show the dis
grace and censure Of yiee-presdent late speaker
o the house OF representatives marketing his rulings
y presiding officer; three senators protting Sc
cIetly by their votes law makers five chairmeu
OF The leading committees Of the late house Of repre-
Seatsiives exposed in jobbery; late secretary Of
tue treasury forcing balances in the public accounts
late attorney general Incorporating public
ihnds; a secretary of the navy enriched or enrich
Ing MS friends by percenta levied of the profits
o. contractors with his department; ambassador
20 England eensDed to a diShonorabe speculation
tne presidents private secretary barely escaping
convection upon trial for guilty completely in frauds
upon the revenue; secretary II war impeached for
hlgh crime sad INTERCHANGEABLE demo nstrs tiOu
Is complete that the first step in reform be the
peoples choice Of honest men from another party.
lest the disease OF political organization infect
the body polite, and lest by making no change Of
men or parties get no change of measures and
no reform.
observation-disclosures.
All these abuses, wrongs and crimes, the product
OF sixteen years aseendsucy of the republican party,
create necessity for reform, confessed by republic
cans themselves; bat their reformers voted
down IN ntions, and displaced by the cabinet
The Iarty's II honest voters is powerless To
sst me eighty thousand Office holders, its leaders
Reform can only be mad by peaceful civic revo-
ution. We demand change at system, n change of
chan eof party, that may have
change Of measures and OF men.
FRIpIY, IHERTC4'S LUCKY D4l.
There is popular superstition against