South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-07-07
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM,

The following is the platform Of prin.
ciples adopted by the st. Louis Con.
vention:
We, the delegates Of the democratic
party of the United States in national
convention assembled, do hereby declare
the administration of the federal govern
ment to be in urgent need Of Immediate
reform; do hereby enjoin upon the no.
mlnees of this convention and of the de-
mocratic party in each State Jealous
effort and cooperation 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 democra.
cy of the whole country. We do here
reaffirm our faith in the permanency OF
the federal Union, our devotion to the
constitution or the United States. with
its amendments, universally accepted rs
ilnal settlement Of the controversies
that engcndered the civil war, and do
here record our steadfast confidence in
the perpetuity Of republican self-govern.
ment; in absolute acquiescence in the
will OF the majority, the vital principle
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 free
dom, in the equality OF all citizens be.
fore just laws of their own enactment. in
the liberty of individual conduct unvex.
ed by sumputary laws in the faithful
education of the rising generation that
they may preserve, enjoy and transmit
these best conditions Of human happi.
ness and hope, we behold the noblest
products Of hundred years Of change.
ful history; but while upholdino the
bond Of our Union and great charter OF
these, our rights, it behooves n free peo
pie TO practice also the eternal vigilance
which is tho price Of liberty.
Reform is necessary to rebuild and
establish in the hearts OF the whole pco
pie the Union eleven years ago hap2ily
/ rescued from the dangers Of a secession
! OF states, but now 20 be saved from n
corrupt ceniralism which. after inhictinr
/ upon ten States tho rapacity Of carpet.
+ baS tyrannies, has hOneycombed the Off
COS OF tire federal government itself Will
/ incapacity, waste aud fraud. infected
\ states and municipalities with the con
tagion Of misrule, and locked fast tho
I prosperity Of an Industrious people in
the paralysis Of hard times. Reform {,
necessary to establish sound currency
/ restore the public credit and maintain
the national honor We denouncc the
failure for all these eleven years TO make
good the promises Of the lcgal.tendei
notes. which arc q changing standard oil
value in the hands Of the people, and the
non-payment OF which is n disregard oil
the plighted faith Of the nation. We
denounce the improvidence which ir
eleven years OF peace has taken from
the people in federal taxes thirteen times
the whole amount OF the legal.tender
notes, and squanderod four times thi,
sum in useless expense without accumu
lating any revenue for their redemption
We denounce the financial imbecilit,
and immortality Of that party which dur
ing eleven years Of peace has made II,
advance toward resumption: that in
stead has obstructed resumption b,
wasting our resources and exhaustini
all our surplus income. and while annu
ally protesting TO intend speedy re
turn TO specie payments has annual,