The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-09-07
The Democratic Platform of South
~ Carolina,

|
The Democratic party of South Carolina in
Convention assembled, announce thefollowing
as It's. platform Of principles
awe declare our acceptance in perfect good
faith of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fif-
teenth Amendments to the Federal Constitu>
ton; accepting and standing upon them, wo
turn from the settled and fual past to the
great living and momentous issues Of the pres
ent and the future.
We adopt the platform of principles an
nounced by the National Democratic party
recently assembled at ST. Louis, and pledge
ourselves to q full and hearty cooperation in
securing the election of it's distinguished nom-
lnees, Samuel j. Tiden, of New York and
Thomas a. Hendrick, of Indiana, and believe
that under the wise and just administration
of its distinguished reform leader, assisted by
the emlnently patriotic and able counselors
by whom he will be surrounded, peace and
| prosperity will again bless our country, and
! the dissensions, confusion and maladministra-
ton OF the past eight years will give place to
concord, good government, and O thorough
restoration of the Union. In accordance with
the declaration of that PLATFORM and the ut
| terances and acts Of our distinguished leader
we demand genuine and thorough reform in
| the State of South Carolina, and call upon
all of its citizens, irrespective of race color or
previous condition, to rally with us to it's re-
dempton, for it is evident that substantial
and lasting reform is impossible within the
ranks of the Republican party of this State
| We charge that party with arrayiug race
| against race, creating disturbances, and fo-
mcnting difficulties with prostituting the ell
| ection franchise, tampering with the ballot
| box, and holding unfair and fraudulent cleo
| lions, with having accumulated enormous debt
mlsmanaged the finances, and Injured the
credit of the State; with leyying exorbitant
taxes and squandering them when collected
! N inn Grf,Y, k-.1 q
the honest poor man of the State, q large per
| centum OF his hard earnings, without giving
| III return any compensation therefor and has
| hopclcssly involved in debt n majority of the
| counties of the State. It's management OF our
| penal and charitable institutions is q shame
ana disgrace, We charge its legislation as,
dCmOral!zlng, partisan, and disgraccful, and
the vcnality snd corruption which have char
| acterlzed every branch Of the government,
| executive, Legislative and judicial, have no
parallel in the history of nations 1t has Gre
| ated multiplicity Of unnecessary and useless
Offices, complicated in their system, aud un-
| necessarily expensive. 1t has attempted to
elevate to tile bench two most corrupt and de-
graded men, 1t can never purify itself give
good and impartial government, or by its
| normal force and character, exercise in its
full sovereignty the law of the land. We do
not charge this condition of things, which ev-
cry patriot most deeply dcplore, upon the
| t"''0"So VI tlc PilllJ, DuI upon tnGlr leaders,
| who have made such fatal use Of their conf-
dcnce and trusts; for it is our firm conviction
that all the good people of the State of both
| races, desire peace and prosperity.
We, therefore, call upon all of our follow
citizens, irrespective of race or past party
atiiliation, to join with us in restoring the
good name of their State, and to again ele-
Sate it to place Of dignity and character
among the commonwealths of this great coun-
| try. We discount cuance all disturbances of
| the Peace of the State, and denouncc all in
sugators and promoters thereof and earnest
| ly call upon all of fellow citizens irres-
Ar~-i-,'". .. - e., -3roc7rT T
and cultivate good will; and if the government |
Of the SIate is committed to our control, Wc |
pledge ourselves % protect the persons rights |
and property Of all its people, and to speed |
lily bring to summary justice any one who
dare violate them.
We desire q fair, peaccablc, election, ap-
pcallng to the reason and not the passions of |
the people, and demand of the Republican
party fair showing in the appointment of |
conn issiOners of election. We demand a fair
election and a fair count. We call upon all
OF the patriotic sons of Carolina to Join US
We ask but Il trial of committing the State to
our keeping, and if good government, secu.
lity, protection and prosperity do not dawn
in our over taxed, despoiled, and disheart-
cncd people, then drive from power, with
scOrn and indignation Our object is reform
rctrGnchment and relief, that by honesty
and economy we may reduce the taxes, and |
tighten the burthens of the people; giving at |
the same time absolute security and protec-
ton to the rights and property of oil. Upon |
this paramount issue we cordially invite the |
cooperation of every Democrat and Repub |
hcan who is earnest and willing in this crisis |
of our State, to unite with us in this great
work.