The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-08-03
Platform of the National Democratic
Party.


tional convention assembled, do horo
declare the administration of the Fed
eral government to be in urgent need
of immediate REFORM do hereby onjoin
upon the nominees of this convention
and of tho Democratic party in each
State, q Jealous effort and co-opora-
tion to this end, and do hereby appeal
to our fellow citizens of evory formor
political connection to undertake with
us this first and most pressing patriot
10 duty for the Democracy of the
whole country. Wo do hore reaf1irm
our faith in tho permanency Of the
Federal Union, our devotion to tho
constitution OF tho united States, with
its amendments universally accepted,
ns final settlement of the controvor-
sizes that engendorod civil war, and do
here record oul stoadfast confidence in
tho pcrpotuity of Republican solf gov>
ornment; in absolute acquioscenco in
the will of the majority, tho vital prin.
ciplo Of tho republic; in the supremacy
of the civil over the military authori-
ty; in tho total separation of church
and State, for the sake aliko of civil
and religious freedom; in the equality
of all citizens before just laws of their
OVID onactmont, in tho liberty of indi>
vidual conduct, unvcXod by sumptuary
laws; in tho faithful education of the
rising generation, that thoy may pro-
servo, enjoy and transmit these bost
conditions of human happiness and
hope. Wo bohold the noblcst pro-
ducts Of hundred years of changcful
history, but, while upholding the bond
of our Union and groat charter of
these our rights, it bohoovos q froc
people TO practice also that eternal
y vigilance which is tho price of liberty
Reform Is necessary to rebuild and
establish in tho hearts Of the whole
pooplo the Union eleven years ago
happily rescued from tho danger of q
corrupt centralism, which, after inflct-
inE' upon ten States tho rapacity Of
carpet bag tyrannics, has hcnoycomb-
cd tho offices of the Federal govern.
ment itself with incapacity, waste and
fraud; infected States and muncipal-
tiles with the contagion Of misrulo,
and locked fast the prosperity Of an
industrious people in the paralysis of
hard times. Reform is necessary to
establish q sound currency, restore the
public credit and maintain tho na~
tional honor. Wo denouucc tho fail
nre of oil these eleven years to mako
good the promise of tho legal tender
notes which arc changing standard
of value in the hands of the people,
and the non payment of which is n
disregard of the pIightod faith Of tho
nation, We donounco tho improve
donce which in eleyen years of peace
has taken from the people in Federal
taxes thirtoon times tho whole
amount of tho loyal Lendcr notes, and
squandered four times this sum in
useless oxpenso, without the accumu-
lation of any resorvo for their rcdcmp-
tion. Wo denounco tho financial inn,
becility and immortality of that party
which during tho elevon years of peace
has made no advance towards resump-
tion; that, instead, has obstructcd re-
sumption by wasting our resources
and exhausting.alI our surplus income
and, while annually protesting to in
tend spcody eturn to specie pay>
monts, has annually enacted fresh
hindrances thcroto, rs such hin
drance wo dcnounco the resumption
clause of the Act of 1875, and we
hero demand its repeal. We demand
ajudicious n systom of preparation by
pubic cconimics, by official rotrench-
ments, and by wiso finance, which
shall onablc the nation to assure tho
whole world of its perfect ability and
its perfect readiness TO meet any of its
promises at the call of the creditor en-
titlcd to payment. We bclic2c such
n asystcm well devised; and above all en-
trusted to competent hands for cxecu>
ton, creating at no time an artificial
security of currency, and at no time
alarming the public mind into
withdrawal OF thai vastcr ma
chincry 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 to all our
harras9cd industry, and set in motion
the wheels of commerce, manulactur>
os and tho mechanical arts; restore
employment to labor, and ronow, in
all it's national source, the prosperity
of the poopIc. Reform is necessary
in tho sum and mode OF Federal taXa>
ton, to the end that capital may be
set FREQ from dstrust and labor lpht-
ly burdcned. We dcnounco the press
ont tariff imposed upon nearly 1000
articles as master piece of injustice,
inequality and false prctcnCe. IL