The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-07-14
The Democratic Platform.

The Democratic Platform.
We, the delegates of the Democratic
party of the United States, in National
Convention assembled, do hereby declare
the administration of the Federal Gov
ernment to be in urgent need of immed-
late reform; do hereby enjoin upon the
nominees of this Convention, and of the
Democratic party in each State, zeal
ons effort and cooperation to this end,
and do hereby appeal to our fellow-citi-
zens ofeverv former political connection
to undertake with us this first and most
pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, RE-
PUBLICAN SELF GOVERNMENT.
For the Democracy of the whole
country, We do here reaffirm our faith in
the permanence of the Federal Union,
onr devotion to the Constitution of the
United States, with its amendments, uni
versally accepted as final settlement of
the controversies that engeniered civil
war, and do here record our stead fast
confidence in the perpe,uity of ofrepublican
self government.
THE FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquieseence in the will of
the majority, the vital principles of Re-
publics; in the supremacy of the civil
over the military authority; in the total
separation of Church and State; for the
sake alike ofcivil and religious freedom,
IN the equality of all citizens before just
laws of their own enactment; in the lib
erty of individual conduct unvexed by
snmptuary laws; in the faithful ednca-
ton of the rising generation, that they
; may preserve, enjoy and transmit these
best conditions of human happiness and
hope. We behold the noblest products
of hundred years of changeful history
but while uphulding the bond of oul
union and great charter of these, oul
rights, 1t behooves free people to prac.
tice. also, that eternal vigilance which i.
tue price OF liberty.
REFoRM-CoRRUPr CENTRALIsM.
q Reform is necessary to rebuild and es
!. tablish in the hearts of the whole peopl,
h the Union, eleven years ago happily
). rescued from the danger of a secession o
n States, but now to be saved from cor
: rnpt centralism, which, after lnHictin,
It upon ten States the rapacity of carpet
g bag tyrannies, has honeycombed tn
J. offices of the Federal Government itsel
n with incapacity, waste and fraud; infect
p ed States and municipalities with tn
" contagion of misrule, and locked fast tn
II prosperity of an industrious people i
/ the paralysis of hard times.
II REFORM OF THE CURRENCY-sPECI
IF PAYMENTS.
y, Reform is necessary to establish
sound currency, restore the public cree
it, and maintain the National honor
We denounce the failure for all thes
- eleven years of peace to make good tt
- promise of the legal-tender notes whic
are changing standard of value in II
= hands of the people, and the non pa,
g ment of which is disregard of tt
plighted faith of the Nation.
~ We denounce the improvidence whic
~ in eleven years of peace, has taken fro
the people in Federal taxes thirtet
~ times the whole amount of the lega
tender notes, and squandered four tim
their sum in useless expense without a
cumulating any reserve for their REDEEM
:" ton.
We donounce the financial imbecili
and immortality Of that party whic
during eleven years of peace, has mat
no advance toward resum ption, no pr
* paration for resumption, but, instea
= has obstructed resumption by wastir
be our resources and exhausting all o.
to surplus income, and, while annual
Of protesting to intend speedy return
70, specie payments, has annually enact,
- fresh hindrances thereto. As such
"a hindrance we denounce the resumptit
clause of the act of 1875, and demand
repeal.
We demand jndicious system
preparation by public economies, by {
p" icial retrenchments, and by wise fnant
he which shall enable the Nation soon
ID assure the whole world of its perfe
ne ability and its perfect readiness to me
III any of its promises at the call of t
al creditor entitled to payment.
:, ~ We believe such system, well dev
ed, and, above all, intrusted to comp
tent hands for execution. creating at
time an artificial scarcity of current
,' and at no time alarming the pub
mind into withdrawal of that vasl
:, machinery of credit by which ninel
7ed
actions are performed-a system op.
- public, and inspiring general confiden
~ would, from the day of its adoptic
- bring healing on its wings to all G
harassed industries, and set in mott
ee the wheels of commerce, manufactur
-a, and the mechanic arts, restore emplt
ment to labor, and renew in all its
lar tural sources the prosperity of the p,
an, pie.
al REFORM OF THE TARIFF-FREE TRAI
to Reform is necessary in the sum a
ont modes of Federal taxation, to the e
! to that capital may be set free from d
ged trust and labor lightly burdened.
al We denounce the present tariff, lev
ner npon nearly four thousand articles, a
airy masterpiece of injustice, in equality a
ion false pretense. Ii yields dwindli
'rto not a yearly rising, revenue. 1t has
to poverished many industries to subsid
'ar- a few. 1t prohibits imports that mi,
lie purchase the products of American
'ers Dor. 1t has degraded American co
ex- merce from the first to an inferior ra
nth upon the high seas. 1t has cut down
nb- sales of American manufactures at ho