The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-10-12
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.

Al bsyfx .v{oin mon thn n0niupes of this conven-
ton, and Of the democratic party IN each state,
Jealous effort and cooperation TO this end, and do
hersy apneal 10 our feliow-CiZens Of every former
political connection 10 undertake with as this FIRST
and most pressing patriotic duty.
TIE UNION, TIE CONSTITUTION, REPUBLICAN sEtF-
GOVERNMENT.
For the democracy Of the whole country, we do
here affirm our faith in the permanence Of the fed
eral union, our devotion TO the constitution Of
the T7nisd States with it's amendments universally
accepted as haal settlement Of the controversies
that engcndersd civil war and do hereby record our
stsadfast confidence in the perpeuty OF republican
THE FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acQuirscouco in the will Of the major
ity the vital principles Of republics; In the suprem-
Soy Of the civil over the military authority In the
total separation Of church and state for the sake
alike Of civil and religious freedom, in the equality
Of all ctizeRs before Just laws Of their own enact
ment in the libe Tty Of individual conduct unvexed
by sumptuaTy Laws In the faithful education OF the
rising generation that they may preserve enjoy and
transmit these hest conditions Of human happiness
and hope. We behold the noblest products OF hun
bred years Of Changeful history, but while uphold
ing the bond of union aud great charter OF these
our rights It bchoOves free people to practice Also
that eternal vigilance which is the price Of liberty
REFoRN-ooRRUPT CEETRALTsM,
Reform is necessary to rebuild and establish in
the hearts Of the whole people the unton eleven
years ago happily rescued from the danger oil Sc
Ceon Of states, but now to he saved from corrupt
centralism which. after iuhicting upon ten states
the rapacity Of CaTpet-bag tyrannies has honey
Combei the offices of the federal government itself,
with inCapacity, waste and fraud; injected states
nd municipalities with the cOntagion Of mis-
ule and locked fast the prosperity Of an indusri-
Gus people in the paralysis Of hard times
REBORN OF THE CURRENCY.
Reform is necessary to establish sound currency.
restore the public credit and maintain the national
We denouuoe the failure for all these eleven years
OF peace to make good the promise Of the legalten
der notes which are changing standard of value in
ha hand nF fhn hp On-nN
which is disregard OF the plighted faith OF the
nation.
We denounce the improvidence which, in eleven
years Of peace has taken from the people in federal
taxes thirteen times the whole amount of the legal
tender notes, and squandeTed four times their sum
in useless expense without aCcumulatng any reserve
for their redemption.
we denounce the financial imbeclity and immor-
atty Of that party which, during eleven years OF
peace, has made no advance towards resumption, no
preparation for resumption, but, instead has OBJ
struCted resumption by wasting our resources ana
eXhausting all our surplus income, and, while an
nualy protesting TO intend speedy return to specie
payments, has annually enacted fresh hindranCeS
thereto As such a hindranOe we denounCe the re-
sumption clause Of the net Of 1875 and demand its
We demand judicious system of preparation by
public economies, by official retTenChments and b.
wise nance, which shall enable the nation soon to
the whole world OF its perfect ability ana t's
perfect readiness to meet any OF its promises at the
cali of the ceditor entitled to payment
We believe such system, we'll devised, and, above
atnE at time artificial scarcity Of currency,
and time alarming the public mind int0a with
draw Al Of that vastCr machinery OF credit by which
uincty-dve per cent. Of all our business trans
actions are pcrfOrmed-a system open. public,
and inspiring general confidence, would, from the
dav Of its adoption bring healing on its wings to all
our embarrassed industries, and set in motion the
wheels Of commerce, manufactures, and the mechan-
&c arts. restore employment TO labor and renew
In all its natural resources the prosperity OF the peo
REFORM OF THE TARIFF.
Reform is necessary in the sum and modes of fed
eraI taxation to the end that capital may be set free
from dstrust and labor lightly burdeHed.
We denOunce the present tariff, levied upon nearly
four thousand articles masterpiece OF injustice
inequality and false pretense ltyieids dwtndling
not a yearly TisiHg, revenue. 1t has impOVerishei
many industries to subsidize few 1t prohibits
imports that might purchase the products OF Amer
lear labor II has degraded American commerce
from the first TO an inferior rank upon the high
seaR. Ii has cut down the sales Of American manu-
fnctures at home and abroad, and depleted the re
Of American agriculture, an industry followed
II costs The pSoplo Ave times more than it produces
10 the treasury, OlHtructs the process of production
and wastes the fruits of labor. II promotes fraud,
fosters smuggling enrilhes dishonest officials and
hankrupts honest merchants We demand that all
custom-house taxation shall be only for revenue
REFoRM-ECOEOMY IN PUBLIC EXPENSE.
Reform is necessary In the scale Of public expense
federal Etats and municipal Our federal taxation
has swOOlen from go 600 900 geld In 1860, to $780,
400 600 currency, in 1870. Our aggregate taxation
fror s54 600 900 gold in 1890 to $3.50 100000 cur
in 1870 or in one decade from less than IS per head
10 more than 9lS per bead. Since the peace, the
people have paid 10 their tax gathcTers more than
thrice the sum 81 the national debt, and more than
twice that sum for the ederm government alone
We demand rigorous fFugality In every depart
ment, and from every officer Of the government.
REF0RM-PUHLIc LANDS TO ACTUAL SETTLERS
Reform il necessary to put stop to the prohigate
waste Of public lands and their diversion from &C
tua settlers by the rty in power, which has squan
derp 200 600 900 OF acres upon railroads alone, and
out Of than thrice that aggregate has disposed
81 less than sixth directly TO tillers OF the soil
RKFoRM-A ADOPTED CITtEENa
Reform Is necessary 10 correct the omission OF
publican congress- and the of our treaties aud
our diplomacy which have stripped our fellOw-citt-
yaps al foreign birth and kindred race re- crossing
the tlautic Of the shield Of American citizenship,
and exposed our brethren OF the Pacific coast 70 the
ineuriuus ri a Tnce not sprung from the same great
parent stock, and, Ia fact, noW 10y law denied Ciu
genship through aturaEluon as being neither aC-
cstomed 20 the traditions 81 progressive civiliEa-
Ron nor exercised in liberty under equal law, We
aeununr. the policy which thus dlsCaTds the liberty
owing German and tolerates revival Of IhG coOIio
trade Ia Monaghan women imported for iqAmOTal
puTposss and A0agolian men, hired 20 Periorm SER
vile labor oontTRCtS. and demand such modification
nj Irraty with the Chinese empire, or such egisla-
zion hy cOnRrosg Within constitutional limitations
shalt prevent the further Importation OF immigration
Of the M0Rg0lian race.
TgIE FAIAE sECTAmAR IssUE-THE FALsE SECTION
At EssBE.
Reform il necessary and can never he effected but
by making IL the controlling issue Of the election
and fitting II shove the two false ISSUES with which
the oiaeo-holding elaRass and the party IN power
seek To smother IT,
FiFsl-The false Issue with which they would en-.
kindie s0ctaran strife In respect toAhe public schools,
al which the estabitshment ana support belong eX-
austvety 10 the sevaBAi statem and which the dem0
eaWtlc party has cherished from its foundation aud
il resolved 10 maintain without Partially prefer
enea for auy class scot on crea aud without contri
sutton from the treasury 10 any.
seeond-The false issue by which they seek to