The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-07-06
ST. Louis Conyention.
! SousD PhAfRoRM AND SOUND CAM
DIDArEs-T TiLDEN AND MsNDRIcks--
MEANS VIoToRY AND. RsEoRE.
phATFoRbf.

4 We, tho delegates of tho Democrat
ic party of tho United States, in ma
tional convention assembled, do hore
declare the administration of the Fed.
oral government to be in urgent need
of Immediate reformj do hereby enjoin
upon the nominees of this convention,
and of tho Democratic party In each
States q EeelouP effort and co-opoEa-
ton 20 this end, and do hereby appeal
to our follow oitisens Of every former
political connection to undertake with
us this first and most pressing patriot
ic duty for the Democracy of the
whole country. We do hero reaffirm
our faith in the permanenoy of tho
Federal Union, our devotion to the
constitution OF tho unitod States, with
its amendments universally accepted,
as final settlement of the oontrovor~
sios that ongondorod civil war, and do
hore record oul steadfnst confidence in
tho porpotuity of Republican self gov>
ernmont; in absolute acquioscenoe in
tho will of tho majority, tho vital prin.
ciplo of tho republic; in tho supremacy
of the civil over the military authori-
ty; in tho 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
OVID enactment, in tho liberty Of indi>
vidual conduct, unvexod by sumptuary
laws; in tho faithful education of the
rising generation, that they may pro>
serve, onjoy and transmit these best
conditions of human happiness and
hopo. We bohold the noblest pro-
ducts of hundred years of ohangeful
history, but, while upholding the bond
of our Union and great charter of
those our rights, it bohooves o free
people to practice also that eternal
vigilance which is the prize of liberty.
Reform ls necessary to rebuild and
establish in the hearts of tho whole
pooplo tho Union eloven years ago
happily rescued from tho danger of q
| corrupt UoiiJralism, which, after inhict.
ing upon ten States tho rapaciLy of
carpet bag tyrannies, has honoyoomb-
cd the Offices of tho Fodoral govorn--
mont itsolf with incapaoity, waste and
| fraud; infected States and municipal-
itics with tho contagion of misrulo,
and locked fast tho prosperity of an
industrious people in tho paralysis Of
hard times. Reform is necessary to
establish sound currency, restore tho
public credit ind maintain tho ma
Lional honor. Wo denouuco tho fail
uro of oil those eleven years TO mako
good tho promise Of tho loyal tender
| notes which arc q changing standard
| of value in the hands of tho poopio,
and tho non payment Of which il n
disregard of tho plightod faith Of tho
nation, Wo donounce tho improvi-
dence which in olovon years of poaco
has taken from the people in Federal
taxes thirtoon timos tho whole
amount Of tho legal tender notes, and
squandored four timos this sum in
useless expense, without tho aocumu-
| lation of any reserve for thoir redemp-
tion. We deTounco tho financial im~
bccility and immortality of that party
which during tho eloven years ofpoaoe
has made no advance towards rosump.
ton; that, instead, has obstructed re-
sumption by wasting our resources
and exhausting all our surplus income
and, while annually professing TO in-
tend u speedy roturn to specie pay>
ments, has annually enacted fresh
hindranoes thereto. as suoh o o him
drance we denounce tho resumption
clause of the ACT Of 1876, aud we
hero demand its repeal. We demand
q judicious system Of preparation by
public econimies, by official retFenoh-
monts, and by wise finance, which
shall enable tho nation to assure the
whole world of it's porfoct ability and
it's perfect readiness to moet any of it's
promises at tho call OF tho creditor on
titlod TO payment. Wo bcliovo such
aBystom woIl devised; and, above all on
trusted to competent hands for oxocu>
ton, creating at no timo an artificial
security of currency, and at no time
alarming tue public mind into n
withdrawal of that vastor ma
chinery of credit by which ninety five
per cont. of all business tranaactions
arc performed; systom open, public
and inspiring general confidence,
would, from tho day of it's adoption,
bring healing on it's wings to all our
harrasscd industry, and set in motion
tho whools OF commoroo, manafactur>
os and th. mechanical arts; restore
employment TO labor, and renow, in