The Hillsborough recorder., 1876-07-12
PLATFORM or THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATICPARrY.


We, the delegates Of the Democratic
party Of the United States. III National
Convention assembled, do hereby declare
the administration fthe Federal Govern
ment To be In urgent need of Immediate
reform, and 10 hereby enjoin upon the
nominees oftlis Convention. aud Of the
Democratic party In each State, jealous
effort aud cooperation to this end. and
dol,sreby appeal to our fellow-citizciis of
every former political connection TO un-
derihke with us tins first aud most pressing
patriotic duty for the Democracy Of the
wlolc country.
We do here reaflirni our faith In the per-
inanency Of the Roderal Union, our de-
votion 10 the Constitution of the United
States. witi,its amendments universally
accepted asa final settlement ~ the con-
trovesies that engen,lered civil war; aud
do here record our sleadfast confidence In
the ,erpetldfy Of Republican selfgovern-
nient; In the absolute acquiescellce In the
will Of the majority. the vital principle Of
the republic; Ia the supremacy Of the civil
over the military authority; the total So
paration of church aud State, for the sake
alike ofcivil and religious freedom; In the
equality ofall citizens before just laws OF
their own enactment; In the liberty o:in-
dividual conduct, unvexed By sun,ptuary
laws; the faithful education Of the rising
generation, that they may preserve,
enjoy and transmit these hest conditions
of human happiness, and hope we behold
the noblest products ofa hundred years
OF changefui history. But while uphol-
ding the Dond Of our union and great
character Of these. onr rights. II bellooyes
a free people % prnciice also that eternal
vigilance which rs the price of liberty.
Reform Is necessary to rebuild and es-
tabIlsh Ia the hearts Of the whole people
Of this Union. eleven years ago happily
rescued froui the danger ofa secession Of
States, but now to be saved from corrupt
centralisnl, which, after infiictlng upon
ten States the rapacity ofcarpet-bag tyran-
niles, has honeycombed the Offices Of the
Federal government itself with incapacity.
waste aud fraud, infected States and mu-
inequalities with the contagion Of misrule,
and locked fastthe prosperity ofan In
dustrious people 10 the paralysis Of hard
times.
Reform Is necessary to establish sound
currency, restore the public credit and
maintain the nationsl honor. We de
nounce the failure for all these eleven
years 10 make gvod the promise Of the
legal tender notes, which are changing
standard Of value In the hansls softhe peo-
Pile, and the non.payment Of which is a
disregard Of the pllghted faith 81 the ma
tion. We denounce the improyidence
which In eleven years Of peace, has taken
from the people in Federal taxes thirteen
times the whole amout Of the legal tender
notes and squandered four iimes this SUM
Is useless expense, without occumulating
any reserve for their redemption. We
denounce The financial imbecility and Inn
morality o. the party which during eleven
years Of pesce. has made no advance to-
ward resumption; that instead, has OBJ
structed resumption by wasting our re-
sources and exhausting all our surplus In
come; and while annually protesting To
Intend n speedy return 10 specie payment,
has annually enacted fresh hindrance
thereto. As sucha hindrance we de-
nounce the resumption clause Of the act OF
1875, and We here demand its repeal
We demand q judicious system of prerara
lIon by public economies by official re-
trcnchmenls, and by wise finanee, which
shall enable the nation 20 assure the whole
world Of It's perfect ability and It's perfect
readiness TO meet any Of lis promises at
Die call of the creditors entitled 20 pay
ment. We believe such a system, well
devised, aud, above all. entrusted TO
competent bands for execution. creating
nj no time an artificial scarcity ofcnrrency,
and al no time alarming The public mind
INTO d Withdrawal oftiat vaster machinery
Of credit by watch nincty-liye per cent
OF all business transactions are periofiued,
a system open, pablo and inspiring
general confidence, would from the day
Of liz adoption, bring healing on ITS Wigs
40 all oul harrassed industry. and SET in
motion Tie wheelsof commerce., manu-
facturc- and the mechanical aris; restore
employment to lalor, aud renew in ali ''s
national sources of property of the people
Iefnr,n is necessary In the SUM ami n'oue
of TAXATION. To- the end that capital may
he sct free from dIstust and labor lightly
burdcned. We dencunce the present tarif,
levied upon nearly 1000 articles, as 2
master piece Of injustice, inequality ana
false pretenae. Il yields dwlndl'ng, NOT
yoarly-rising revenue; 10 has im--
poyerished many Industries 70 sul'sidIse .
few; IL prohibits Imports that might pur-
chase the products Of American labor,
ami, u has degraded American commerce
from the nrst to an inferior rank upon The
high seas; iths cut down the sales Of