The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-07-13
Platform of the National Democratic
Party.

Wo, tho delegates of the Democrat
10 party of the United States, in ma
tional convention assembled, do hero
declare tho administration of the Fed
oral government to bo in urgent need
of immediate reform; do hereby cnjoin
upon tho nominees of tins convention
and of the Democraticiparty'in each
State, q jealous effort and co-opora--
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal
TO our follow citizens of cyery former
political connection to Undertake With
us this first and nlosEpressjng patriot
ic duty for tho Democracy of the
whole country, We do hero roaflirm
our faith in tho pormanency of the
Federal Union, 1ouredeyotion to the
constitution OF tho united States, with
it's amendments universally accepted,
as final settlement of tho controvcr-
sics that engendorod civil war, mddo
hero record oul stoadfast confidence in
tho porpctuity Of Republican self gov~
ornment; in absolute acquicscenco in
tho wilrof the majority, the vital prin.
ciplo of tho republic; in tho supremacy
of tho civil over the military authori-
&y; 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 the liberty of indi>
ridual conduct, invoked by sumptuary
laws; in tho faithful education of the
rising generation, that they may pre-
serve, enjoy and transmit these bost
conditions of human happiness and
hopo. We behold the noblcst pro-
ducts of q hundred years, of changcful
history, but, whilc hpholding tho bond
of our Union 'and groGt charter Of
these our rights, 1T behooves, q free
people to practice also that eternal
vigilance which is the price'0f liberty.
Reform IS necessary, TO rebuild and
establish in the hearts OF the whole
poople the Union eleven years ago
happily rescued'from tho danger-of q
corrupt ccntralism, which, after inflict-
ing upon ten States tho rapacity of
carpet bag tyrannies, has hcnoycomb-
cd tho offices of tho Federal govern
mont itself with incapacity, waste and
fF8Hd; injected States and municipnl-
tiles with the eontagion of misrulc
ahd7locked fast the prosperity of an
Industrious people in tho paralysis. of
hard times. Reform is necessary to
establish sound currency, restore the
public credit and maintain the na>
tional honor. We dchouTc6 the fail.
urc of all these eleven years to mako
good the promise OF the legal tender
notes which arc changing standard
of value in the hands of tho people.
and the non payment of which is a
disregard of the plightod faith of tho
nation, We dcnounce the iinp1ovi~
doncc which in olcvon years of peace
lbs taken from the people in Federal
taXos thirteen times tho whole
amount of the legal tender notes, and
squandored four. times this sum, an
useless expense, without the accumu-
lation Of anyireserye for thoir rodemp.
tion. Wo dcnounce tho financial im-
bccility and immortality of that party
which during the eleven years ofpoacc
has made no advance towards rcsump.
ton; ,that, instead, has obstructed re-
sumption by wasting our resources
aEd cxhausLiDg all our surplus income
Ind, while eannualIy protesting to in
tend, a speedy return to specie pay
incnts, has annually enacted fresh
hndranees thereto, as such n hin
drance we denouncc the resumption
clause Of the Act of 1875, and we
here demand its repeal. Wo demand
ajudieious system ofspreparation by
public cconimies, by official rctrench-
mcnts, and by wiso finance, which
ehaIl enable the nation to assure the
whole world of its perfect ability and
its perfect readiness to meet any of it's
promises at the call of the creditor en-
titIod to payment. We belovo such
asystcm well devised; and, above all on
trugtcd to competent hands for cXccu>
tlOn, creating Vt no time an artificial
security OF currency, and at no time
alarming the public mind into
withdrawal -Of that vastcr ma,
chinery Of credit by which ninety five
pcr cent. OF all business transactions
are performed; Il system open, public
and inspiring general confidence,
would, from the day of It's adoption,
bring healing on its wings to all our
harrasscd industry, and set in motion
tho wheels of commerce, manufacLu,
cs and the mechanical arts; restore
al tn Ia