The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-07-27
Platform of the National Democratic
'-''" Party.

10 party of the United States, in ma
,fti0hal convention nSassornbied, do hero
declare tbp ADMINISTRATION of tho Fed
eral government to 80 I'M urgont need
of immediatp reformj do hereby onion
upon THO nominees of this convention
Ind of tho Democratic party in each
State, O jealous offort and co-opora-,
ton TO this end, and do hereby appeal
to our fellow citizons Of cvory forrnmor
political connection to undertake with
ns this first and most pressing patriot,
10 duty for tho Democracy of tho
Gtshole countryH SWeldoIheroO raafirm
our faith in tho perm9penoy of tho
Federal Uni6n, our devotion TO tho
constitution OF tho united States, with
= It's amendments universally accepted,
as q final settlement of the controycr~
sizes that epgendorod civil war, and do
hore record oul steadfast confidence in
the perpotuity of Republican, self gov.
crnment; in absolute acquiesconce in
the will of the 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 tho sake alike of civil
aRaTeligious freedom; in tho equality
of all citizens before just laws of their
OwD enactment, in the liberty Of indi>
vidual conduct, unvoxod by sumptuary
laws; in tho faithful education of the
. rising generation, that they may pro-
\. servo, enjoy and transmit these best
conditions of human happiness and
hope. We bohold the noblcst pro-
ducts of hundred years of changoful
history, but, whilo upholding tho bond
of our Union and groat charior of
these our rights, 1t bohoovos froo
people to practice also that otornal
vigilance which is tho price of lbcrty.
Reform IS necessary to rebuild and
establish in tho hearts Of tho whole
-pooplo tho Union eleven years ago
happily rescued from tho danger of q
oorruptcentralism which, after infict-
ing upon ton States tho rapacity of
carpet bag tyrannies, has hcnoycomb-
cd tho offices of the Federal govern
mont itsof with incapacity, waste and
sfpaud; injected States and municipal-
itics with tho contagion Of misrulo,
and locked fast the prosperity of an
industrious poopio in tho paralysis of
hard times. Reform is necessary to
Establish sound currency, restore the
lRpblic credit and maintain tho ma
Itional honor. We denouuce the fail.
ure of all these eleven years to mako
good tho promise of tho loyal tcndor
notes which nro changing standard
of value in tho hands of tho people,
RDdSthe non payment of which is q
disregard.of tho plightcd faith of tho
nation, I'VE denouncc tho improvi~
dence which in elcvon years of peace
has taken from the people in Federal
taxes .thirtoon times tho whole
amount of tho legal Lcndor notes, and
squandered four timos this sum in
Yuscless expense, without the accumu-
,lation of any reserve for thoir redomp.
tion. We dcnOunce tho financial i'm,
bccility and immortality of that party
whiehduring tho elevon years ofpoaco
has made no advance towards rcsump-
ton; that, instead, has obstructod re-
sumption by wasting our resources
and exhausting all our surplus income
end while annually protesting to in
'tcnd n spoody loturn to spoco pay>
ments, has annually enacted fresh
'hndrancos thereto, as such him
'dranco we donounco the resumption
clause of tho Act of 1875, and VIC
hero demand its repeal We demand
ajudicioas a systom of preparation by
public oconmics, by official rotronch-
ments, and by wso finance, which
'shall onablo the nation to assure Tie
whole world of its perfect ability arI
it's perfect readiness to meet any of its
promises at tho call of tho creditor on
titled to payment. We bcliovo such
.asystcm we'll devised; and, above all on
trusted to competent hands for cxocu>
lion, creating at no time an artificial
security of currency, and at no tlmo
alarming tho public mind into
withdrawal of that vastor ma
chinery of credit by which ninety five
pcr cent of all business transactions
arc performed; system open, public
"nd inspiring general confidence,
would, from the day of its adoption,
bring healing on its wings to all our
harrasscd industry, and set in motion
tho whocls OF commerce, manufacturs
cs and tho mechanical arts; restore
.cmploymcntto labor, and ronow, in
all its national source, the prosperity
of tho pcoplo. Reform is necessary
in tho sum and mode of Federal taxa
ton, to the ond that capital may be
sot FREQ from distrust and labor light
ly burdenod. Wo dcnounco tho pres
,cnt tariff imposed upon noarly 1000
articles as master piece of Injustice,
inequality and false prctcnco. 1t
a