The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-08
THE PLATFORM
OF THE
National Democratic Party
REFORM A PATRIOTIC DUTY.

diate Reform; do hereby enjoin upon tn
nominees of this Convention, and OF tn
Democratic party In each State, zealou
effort and cooperation 10 this end; ant
do hereby appeal to our fellow citizen
of every former political connection, u
undertake with us this first and mos
pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION AND CONSTITUTION.
For the Democracy Of the whole coun
try, we do here reaflirm our faith In the
permanence of the Federal Union, our de
vo.ion to the Constitution of the United
States with its amendments universally
accepted rs q final settlement OF the con-
troversies that engenaered civil var, and
do here record our steadfsst confidence In
the perpctmty OF Republican Self-Gov.
eminent.
NOBLE PRODUCTS OF A HUNDRED YEARS
In absolute scquiescence in the will OF
the msjority-the vital principal OF Re
publlcs;
In the supremacy of the civil over the
military authority;
In the total separation of Church and
state, for the sake alike of civil and relig-
ious freedom;
In the equality of all citizens before
lust laws OF their own enactment;
In the liberty of individual conduct,
unvexed by sumptuary laws;
In the faithful education OF the rising
generation. that they may preserve, en-
10Y, and transmit these best conditions OF
hannah happiness and hope;
We behold the noblest products OF q
hundred years of changeful history.
But while unfolding the bond OF our
Union and great Charter Of these onr
rights, it behooves FREQ people To prsc-
tlce also that eternal vigilance which is
the price of Liberty.
MIsRULE AND HARD TINES
Reform is necessary 10 rebuild and es-
tablish in the hearts of the whole people,
the Union, eleven years ago happily res
cucd from the danger of Secession oil
States; but now to be saved from cor
rupt Ccntralism, which, after intiictlng
upon ten States the rapaclty OF carpet bag
tyrannieS, has honeycombed the offices oil
the Federal Government itself with IN
capacity, waste, and fraud; Injected States
and municipalities with the contasion oil
misrule, and locked fast the prosperity OF
sn industrious people in the paralysis OF
Hard Times
SOUND CURRENCY.
Reform as necessary 10 establish sound
currency, restore the public credit and
maintain the national honor.
We denounce the failure for all these
eleven years of peace to make good the
promise OF the logal.tender notes, which
are changing standard OF value In the
hands of the people, and the noh.pay'
ment of which is a disregard OF the plight
cd faith of the nation.
We denounce the imRrovldence which,
in eleven years of peace, has taken iroW
the people in Federal taxes, thirteen
times the whole amount of the legal-ten
der notes, and squandered four times thelI
sum in useless expense, without accumu-
lating any reserve for their redemption
INFRINGEMENT AND RESUMPTION.
We denounce the financial imbecility
and immortality of that party which, dur
ing eleven years OF peace, has made nc
advance toward resumption, no prepare
ton for resumption, but instead has OBJ
structcd resumption, by wasting our re-
sources and exhausting all our surplus IN
come; and, while annually protesting 10
intend u speedy return to specie pay
ments, has annually enacted fresh him
ORANGES thereto. AS such a hindrance
We denouncc the Resumption clause OF
the act of 1875 and demand its repeal.
We demand judicious system of pre-.
paration by public economies, by ofiIch'
retrenchments, and by wise finance
which shall enable the nation soon To as-
sure the whole world of its perfect ability
and its perfect readiness to meet any oi
its promises Mt the call OF the creditor en-
titled to payment.
We believe such system, well devils
ed, and, above all, intrusted to competent
hands for execution, creating nj no Tune
An artificial scarcity of currency ana ri
no time alarming the public NINA INT" y
withdrawal OF that vastcr machinery oi
credit by which 95 per cent of all bust
ness transactions are pertormed--a sys.
TEN open, public, and inspiring general
confidence, would from the day OF Its
Abortion bring healing on its wings To
all our harasscd industries, set IN motion
the wheels at commerce, manufactures,
and the mechanic arts, restore employ
ment to labor and renew in all Its natu'
raj sources the prosperity OF the people
REFORM IN FEDERAL TAXATION.
reform as necessary in the sum and
modes of Federal Taxation, to the END
that capital may be set free from distrusl,
and labor lightly burdened.
We denounce the present Tariff, LEVIED
upon nearly 1000 articles, Ms master
piece of injustice, inequality, aad lalSe
preLense.
1t Yields dwindling, not yearly ris'
ing, revenue.
srtsiiize II few.
IL prohibits imports that might pur'
chase the products OF American labor.
1t has degraded American commerce
from the FIRST To an inferior rank on the
high seas.
II has cut down the sales oil American
manufactures at home aud abroad, and
deple,cd the returns of American sgrl,
cuiture-an industry followed by hall
our people.
1t costs the people five times more than
it produces To the Treasury, "hStrnc's the
processes OF production, and wastes INT
fruits of labor.
1t promotes fraud, fosters smuggling
enrichas dishonest officials, and bankrhpt'
honest merchants.
We demand that all Custom House tax
alton shall be only for Revenue,
REFORM IN PUBLIC EXPENSES.
Reform is necessary in the scale oil fuo
tic Expense Federal, State and Mun'ci
pal.
Our Federal taxation has swollen iron
90 millions gold, in 1850, to $50 million:
currency,in 1870; our aggregate taSatlof
rom l54 millions gold in 1850, to '5'
millions currency, in 1870; ar IN one de
cada. from less than 50 per head TO NOR