The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-07-12
PLATFORM
OF THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY

OF THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
WE, the Delegates Of the Demo
cratic Party, in National Convention
assembled, do here declare the adj
ministration Of the Federal Govern
ment to be in urgent need Gimme
diate reform, do hereby enjoin upon
the nominees Of this Convention, and
Of the Democratic party in each
State, a Jealous effort and co-opera-
ton to this end, and do hereby ap-
peal to our fellow citizens of every
former political connection to under
take with US this first and most
pressing patriotic duty. For the
Democracy of the whole country we
do here reaffirm our faith in the per-
manency of the Federal Union; our
devotion to the Constitution Of the
United States with its amendments
universally accepted as final settle
ment Of the controversies that en-
gendcred civil war, and dc here re-
cord our steadfast confidence in the
perpetuity of republican self-govern-
ment; in absolute acquiescence in
the will of the majority, the vital
principle Of republics; in the supre-
macy 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 citizens before just
laws of their own enactment; in the
liberty of individual conduct unveX.
ed by sumptuary laws; in the faith
full education of the rising generation
that. they may preserve, enjoy and
transmit these best conditions of hu
man happiness, and hope we behold
the noblest products Of hundred
years of changeful history, but while
unfolding the bond Of our Union and
great charter of those our rights, il
behooves free people to practice also
that eternal vigilance which is the
price ofliberty.
REFORM IS NECESSARY
to rebuild and establish in the hearts
of the whole people Of the Union
eleven years ago happily rescued
from the DANCES of corrupt central
ism which, after inaicting upon ter
States the rapacity of carpet bag ty
rannies, has honeycombed the officers
of the Federal Government itsel
with incapacity, waste and fraud, in
fected States and municipalities will
the contagion of misrule, and locked
fast the prosperity Of an industrious
people in the paralysis of hard times
Reform is necessary to establish
sound currency, restore the publ
credit, and maintain the nationa
honor. We denounce the failure 70
these eleven years to make good tn
promise of the legal tender notes
which are changing standard c
value in the hands Of the people, an
the non-paymeut Of which is a disrf
gard of the plighted faith Of the nj
tion. We denounce the improv
dence which in eleven years OF peac
have taken from the people in Fedf
Z, raj taxes, thirteen times the who
amount Of the legal tender notes, an
squandered four times this sum
; useless expense without accumnl'
ting any reserve for their resuml
I I ton. We denource the financial in
e becility and immortality of that pa
y ty, which, during eleven years
peace, has made no advance towa1
~ resumption; that instead has o
: structed resumption by wasting o
resources and exhausting all our su
= plus income, and while annually pr
d Tossing to intend a speedy return
D specie payments, has annually ena'
E. ed fresh hinderances thereto. !
such hinderance we denounce t
= resumption clause of the act OF III
}. and we here
" DEMAND ITS REPEAL.
Of We demand a judicious system
preparation b. public economies,