Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-09-23
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
We the delegates Of the Democratic party of the
Uui.ec States, national convention assembled. do
hereby declare administration OF the Fede al Gov
rnment to be in great need of immediate reform; do
hereby enjon upon me nominees & VI 'Se n m on
Louis to make efforts and to cooperate TO this end ID
do hereby appeal to our fellow citizens OF every .rner
noiiica connection undertake with us this first and
most pressing and patriotic duty for the benefit OF the
whole country. So
Federal Union devotion to the constitution of the
United states with its amendments universally accepted
a. final settlement of the controversies that enscn
Jered The civil war and do here record seadast conf
dencc in the perpetuty of Republican self government
in an absolute acquisition in the will OF the majority
The prciue of republics; in the supremacy of the civil
over military authority; in the total separation OF
Church and State for the sake alike Of civil and IeS-
os freedom in the equality of all citizens before the Just
laws of their own cment in the liberty indid-
ual luct unvexed by sumptuary laws in the faith
m enox W and transmit these best conditions oi
human happiness and nope.
Ne uphold the noblest products of hundred years
of changeful history, but while uphoi:r. the bond OF
or union and the great charter OF iiesc CUR rights 1t
bhooves free people to practice also that eternal v
;auce which is the price of liberty. Reform is ncces
sary 10 build and establish in the hearts OF the whole
people Union. eleven years ago happily rescued
from danger of corrupt centrasm which after inticng
upcn ten States the rapacity Of the carpet tyranny
has heney-combed the offices of the Federal Govern
States and municipalities with con.agion OF misrue
and locked fast the property Of an industrious people
in the paralysis Of hard times: ., ....
the public credit and maintain the national hon.
or We denounce the failure for all these ten years to
make good the promise Of the legal notes which are
chang. the standard value in the hands of the people
and The non payment Of which is disregard of the
idence which in eleven years of peace has taken from
the peopc in frauds ten times the whole amount OF the
sa notes snc any
for their redemption. We denOunce the financial poll
cy and immortality OF that party which during eleven
wears of peace has made advance towards resump-
Iion no preparation for resumption but instead has
obstructed resumption by wasting our resources and
Processing to intend speedy return to specie payment,
has annually added fresh hindances thereto Az such
a bindrsnce. we dcnounce the resumption clause OF
the act Of 1876 and demand its repeal We demand a
judicious system Of prepaa nation by public economies
Shall enable the nation to assure the whole world Of
perfect ability and perfect readiness to meet any OF
promises at the call OF its creditors entitled to
I've believe that such system well devised and intrust
ed 10 competent hands Of execution creates at no time
artificial scarcity Of currency and Ct no time alarm
chinery of credit by which 96 per cent of all business
transactions are performed-a system open public and
adoption bring healing on its wings all harrassed
industries set In motion the wheels OF commerce. man
and the a. G RIm T.
sary the sum and mooe OF Federal taxation 10 the
end that capital be Get free from dstrust and labor
lightly burdcned.
We denounce the present tariff levied upon nearly
1850 articles as masterpiece of injustice and false
pretenses Ityields dwindling not yearly rising rev
enue It has impoverished many industries to subsi-
die few. It prohibits imports that might purchase
the products of the country. has reduced American
seas it has lowered the sale Of American manufac-
lures home and abroad and depletes the returns 0
American agriculture and industries followed by half oi
our people It costs the people five times more than
produces to the Treasury o9sructs tne processes
and uae enrches dishonest
officials and bankrupts honest merchants We demand
that custom house taxation shall De only lor revenue
reform is necessary in the scale Of public expense,
iiona State and municipal Our Federal taxation has
swollen from $60OOO0OO gold. in 1860 to O0O
from siSo 90 gold in s5 to $7aO 900 currency
or in one decade from less than IS per head to more
pad q their pr tax sa,herers than three times the
amount OF the national debit and more than twice oi
that sum for Federal outlays Above all, we demand
fruyality all the departments and every Office OF the
Reform is necessary to put stop to the probate
two hundred millions Of upon railroads alone and
less than q sixth to the tillers Of the soil.
Reform necessary to correct the omissions Of Re-
piomacy. which have stripped our fellow citizens Of
foregn birth and kindred race crossing the Atlantic OF
the shield Of American citzens ana our oren
speaking language from the same great parent stock
and fact now by denied citizenship through matt
tons of progressive civilization nor exercised in lib
erty under equal laws We denounce the policy which
thus dscords the liberty loving German and tolerates
the cooe trade in Mongolian women imported for i'm
moral purposes and Mongolian men held to perform ser
vie labor contracts and We demand sucn modinca1n %
ton by Congress within Constitutional limitations as
shall prevent the further importation, or immigration
Reform is necessary, and never be effected but
bymasing it the controlling issue Of the elections and
fcehodng class and the party in power seek to smoth
crit. /. Tue ,alse issue with which they would en-
Of which the establishment and support belong e1cu.,
sivey to the States, which the Democratic party has
cherished from their foundation, and Is resolved to
maintain without parality preference for any class
sect or creed and without contribution from the Treas
ury. 2, The false issue by which they seek to light
the dying embers Of sectional hate between kim
dred people unnaturay estanged, but now united
in ons ndiyisible republic and q common de.tiny.
proves that the ecient economical conduct Of the
eminent business is not possible If its civil service be
apize fought for at the ballot box be brief re- reward o
competency. and held for fidelity in public employ
That the dispensing Of patronage should neither Be
ment OF their ambition Here again profession fassi
fed in the performance attest that party in power
form necessary even more higher grades OF public
service-Presdent Vice Presidents Judges Represen-
the peoples servants Their offices not private per
9uistes, they public trust When the annals OF
IL shSw ... The s % Hd
tIves markeDgs his Rulings as presiding oftcer
OF three Senators pr0ng secretly by their voting as
law makers; of ave chairmen Of the leading commit
tees of the ate House Of Representatives exposed in
robbery Of late Secretary Of the Treasury forcing
balances in the public accounts Of late Attorney Gen
eral misappropriating public unds Of Secretary Of
tne navy enriched or enrichng friends BY percentage
levied of the profits Of contractors with his depart
ment OF an ambassador to England censured for dis
honorable speculation; OF the Presidents private sec
reary barely escaping conviction upon trial for guilty
completely in frauds upon the revenue; Of Secretary
ol War impcached for high crimes and confessed mis-
demeanors. The demonstration is complete that the
nrst step u reform must be the peoples choice for hon
est men nom another party lest the disease Of one
te: orgaization infect the body polite and lest BY
making no change OF 0rparty we get no change Of
measures ard reform Of all these abuses wrongs and
Crimes. That the production OF sixteen years OF as
cendancy Of the Republican party create necessiy fol
reform is confessed by the Republicans themeelves
PAT their reformers voted down in convention and
displaced from the Cabinet. The partys mass Of the
eonest voters is poweress 70 resfst te 5000 ONCE
SsS SSSdders is esdsIs and guides Reform ca only ,.
ares and Of mm.