The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-10-05
Platform of the National Democratic
Party.

~ p1IIy vi CHe OHlCcu OIulcS, Ill Hu-
tional convention assembled, do horo
DECLARE the administration Of the Fed.
oral government to bo in urgent need
Of Immediate reform; do hereby onjoin
upon tho 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 citzens of ovory formor
political connection to undertake with
us this first and most pressing patriot
ic duty for tho Democracy of the
whole country. We do here rcaffirm
our faith in the pormanency of tho
Federal Union, our devotion TO the
constitution OF tho united States, with
its amendments universally accepted,
as final settlement of the controvcr-
sizes that ongenderod civil war, and do
here record Oul stoadfast confidence in
tho pcrpctuity Of Republican self gov>
ornment; in absolute acquies cence in
the will of the majority, tho vital prin,
ciplo Of tho republic; in tho supremacy
Of tho civil ovcr the military authori-
ty; in tho total separation of church
and State, for the sake alike Of civil
and religious freedom; in tho equality
Of all cilizons before Just laws of their
OVID enactment, in tho liberty Of indi>
vidual conduct, unvcXcd by sumptuary
laws; in@tho faithful education Of the
rising generation, that they may Drc>
serve, enjoy and transmit these best
conditions Of human happiness and
hopo. We behold tho noblcst pro
ducts Of Il hundred years of changclul
history, but, whilo upholding tho bond
Of our Union and great charter of
these our rights, it bchoorcs free
people TO practice also that eternal
vigilance which is the price OF liberty.
Rctorm rs necessary TO rebuild and
establish in the hearts Of the whole
people the Union eleven yoars ago
happily rescued from the danger of u
corrupt contraIism, which, after inhict-
ing upon ION States the rapacity of
carpet bag tyranniee, has hcncycomb-
cd the. offices Of the Federal govern
Mn,ua52~.&lf With incapucity, waste and
- ~ .e>~ infected States and municpul~
ities, with the oontagion of misruc,
and locked fast the prosperity Of an
industrious people in the paralysis Of
hard umcs. Reform is necessary to
establish a sound currency, restore the
public credit and maintain the na~
tionathonor. We dcnounce' the fail.
Of al 10 al,
good tho promise OF tho legal tender
notes which AFRO changing standard
Of value in tho hands of tho people,
and tho non payment of which is u
disregard Of Tho plighted faith Of tho
nation, We dcnounco tho improvi-
dcnce which in clovon years Of peace
has tai zen from the people in Federal
taxes thirteen times tho whole
amount of tho legal tender notes, and
squandered four times tns sum in
useless expense, without the accumu-
latlOn Of any reserve for their rodcmp.
ton. We dcnOuncc the financial im~
bccility and immortality Of that party
which during the eleven years Ofpcacc
has made no advance towards rcsump.
ton; that, instead, has obstructcd re-
sumption by wasting our resources
ard cXhausting all our surplus income
and, while annually protesting to in
tcnd speedy cturn to specie pays
mcnts, has annually enacted fresh
hlndranccs thereto, rs such a hin
drancc wo dcnounco the resumption
clarso Of tho Act of 1875, and we
hero demand its ropoal. We demand
judlclous system or preparation by
public cconimics, by official rctrcnch-
mcnts, and by wiso finance, which
shall enable the nation to assure the
whole world of its perfect ability and
its perfect readiness TO meet any of its
promises at the call of tho creditor en-
titled to payment. We bcliovo such
asystcm we'll devised; and, above all en-
trusted to competent hands for execu>
ton, creating vt no time an artificial
security of currency, and at no t!mo
alarming the public mind into
withdrawal of that vastor ma
chinery of credit by which ninety five
per cent. OF all business transactions
are pciformcG; asystcm open, public
and inspiring general confidence,
would, from tho day of its adoption,
bring healing on its wings to all our
harrassod industry, and set in motion
tho wheels of commerce. manufactur>
cs and the mechanical arts; restore
employment to labor, and roncw IN
all its national source, the PROSPERITY
Of tho people. Reform is ncccssnrv
in tho sum and mOdO of Fnbor,l t,'