Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-08-19
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
We. the delegates of the Democratic party of the
United States, in national convention assembled. do
hereby declare the administration OF the Fedc al Gov
ernment TO he in great need of immediate reform do
hereby enjOin upon the nominees of the 'ventlon
and of the Democratic party in each State and a. ST.
Iis to make efforts and to cooperate to this end and
political connection undertake with this first and
pressing and patriotic duty for the benefit OF the
We here affirm our faith in the permanency of the
Federal Union devotion to the constitution Gs the
United States with its amendments universally accepted
as final settlement of the controversies that
dered the civil and do here record steadas conf
dence the pepetuity of Republican self government
in absolute acquisition III the will of the majority.
the prcipe of republics; in the supremacy of the civil
over military authority; In the total separation of
Church and State the sake alike of civil and regi-
os freedom in the equality OF all citizens before the just
laws of their enactment; i'll the liberty of indvid-
ua con iuct unvcxed by ,uary laws in the faith.
i education Of the rising generation, that they may
pres rye. enjoy and transmit ;hese best conditions OF
human happiness and hope.
Of changeful history but while uphoding the bond Of
our union and the great charter of these our rights it
iance which is the price OF liberty. Reform is ncces
ary to rebuild and establish in the hearts OF the whole
iral dinger of corrupt centr-m which after infictng
upen States the rapacty OF the carpet tyranny,
Ss ,ncn sef WITH incspscty worse than fraud inflicted
States and municipalities with conagion OF misru:e
and locked the property Industrious people
in the paralysis of har.l times.
Reform is necessary to establish sonnd currency !;
restore the public credit and maintain the national hon.
or We denounce the failure for all these ten years to
make good the promise OF the legal notes which are
changing the standard value in the hands of the people,
and the non-payment Of which is disregard of the
pghted faith Of the nation We denounce the improv
fdencc which in eleven years OF peace has taken from
the people in frauds ten times the whole of the
esa tender notes and squandered four times the sum
In useless expense without accumulang any reserve
iStu Mt
wears OF peace has made no advance towards resump
lion no preparation for resumption, but instead has
exhsustng ali our surplus income; and while equally
protesting to intend speedy return to specie payment
has annually added fresh hindIanccs thereto As such
a hindrance, we denouncc the resumption clause OF
the act Of 1875, and demand its repeal We demand
@ os and by nance which
shall enable the nation to assure the whole world of its
perfect ability and perfect readiness to meet any OF Its
We believe that such system well devised and intrust
ed to competent hands Of execution creates at time
an artificial scarcity 0f currency and at no time alarm
Ing the public mind in withdrawal of that yaster
chnery Of credit by which 95 per cent Of all business
inspiring general confidence would from the day Of its
adoption bring healing on Its wings to all our harrassed
ufactnres and the mechanic arts restore employment
to labor and % to ns sasion 10 he
end that capital be free from disrust and labor
We denounce the present tariff levied upon nearly
4UDO articles as q masterpiece Of injustice and false
pretenses ityieids dwndling yearly rising rev
enue. 1t has impoverished many industries to subs
the products Of the country 1t has reauced American
commerce from the first to an inferior upon the hlgf
lures at home and abroad and deplees the returns
american agriculture and industries followed by half
ae ss he
OF production and vast the fruits Of labor 1t pro
notes Frauds fosters enTses
that custom house taxation shall be only for revenue
Reform necessary in the scale Of public expense ma
swollen from 600 gold. in 1860 to $45OOOO,OO
currency in 1910 Our aggregate !axatsn M has grow
or in one decade from less than Is per head to NOR
than $l8 per head. Since the peace the people nay
amount OF the national debt. and more than twice
that sum for Federal Outlays. Above oil, we denan
fugay in all the departments and every once OF In
Reform is necessary to- put stop to the prom sat
waste Of public lands and their diversion from actus
two hundred millions Of acres upon railroads alone
ont of more than twice that aggregate has disposed
reform is necessary correct the omissions Of r.
publican Congress and the errors Of our treaties and
i"peiSn ybrth and kindred rsce crossing the Atlantic
the shield Of American citizens and exposed our brett
OF the Pacific coast to the incurfions OF race nc
speaking language from the same great parent st0cl
and In fact now by law denied citizenship through mai
uraization as being neither accustomed to the trad
erty under equal laws. We den0unce the policy whc
thus discors the liberty loving German and tolerate
the cooc trade in Mongolian women imported for in
moral purposes and Mongolisn held to perform eel
vile labor contracts, and We demand sucn
81 n the It treaty with nG ia III
shall prevent the further importation, or immgrafio
of the Mongolian race.
bymaking 1t controlling issue OF the elections an
lifting it above the alse issues with which the
crit. i. Tne .sise issue with which they would eI
kude sectarian strife in respect 70 the public schools
vey GSiea to the ine sstes which the
cherished from their foundation, and Il resolved
ee s'u,s oa oresd snd
ury. .. The false issue BY which they seek 10 ~,
anew the dying ember: Of sectional nate between ,n,
in on. indiyisible republic and common destiny.
Reform y In @ o he
ernment business is not possible II its civil service
prize fought at the ballot box, be brief reward
party zeal instead Of posts OF honor assigned for prove
Competency, and held for fidelity in public einplc
That the dispensing Of patronage should neither
ent ,an on Of 'tS their smSon Here again falls.
ded in the performance attest that the party In pow
form is necessary more in higher grades Of publ
seryice-Presdent. Vice Presidents Judges heprese
the naone's seryants Their Offices private
quises they are public trust. When the annals =,
@ show se iad
tatves markeiiugs his rulings as presiding oiiee
Of three Senators proatng secretly Dy tnsir votng
tees of the late House OF Representatives exposed
robbery; bate Secretary Of me Treasury, aofS s
erai Observation-Disclosures public funds; Of Secretary
the Navy enriched OF enrichug friends by percenta
levied Oh the profits OF contractors with ms depa
ment: of an ambassador to England censured FOR q
honorable speculation; Of the Presidents private 2;
retary barely escaping conviction upon trial i0r gu
completely in frauds upon the revenue; OF Secreta
of War impeacaed for high crimes and confessed m
demeanors. The demonstration is complete that !
first step 10 reform must be the peoples choice FOR nc
est men from another party, lest the diseaecof one
making change Of men or party We get no cnanes
crimes That the production Of sixteen yeara OF
cendancy Of the Republican party create necessary
refornl il confessed by the Republicans themfeiv
bur their rcformers are voted down in convention z
displaced from the Cabinet The pays q %asS S o. ON
holders its leaders and guides Reform can only
had By peaceful, civic revolution. we dem .no
change Or parties that We may have cnange oi me
afes and q msu.