The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-07-20
Platform of the National Democratic
Party.

- ,,,ni,, Of tho ffn;Iod States in nne
t;nnai oonyention ossemhlod do hore
donl"ro tho odm;nis,roiion Of tho Fed.
orol ,rovernment TO bo in uraent need
of;,1n,o od;oio rofo,.,. do hcroby onio;n |
mon tho nominees of tbs convention
and Of tho Democratic party in each !
Stale n zcalops effort and co-oporo- !
t;on % 70 his ond and do hereby opneol
to orr fnlIow citizons of evely former
political connection to undertake with
ns this first and most pressing patriot.
io dutv for the Democracy of the
whole country. We do here reaffirm
onr faith in The permanenov of tho
Federal Union. our devotion to The
consultation OF The unitod States with
lis omondmonts univcrsallv accented
os n final settlement Of tbe controvor.i
sizes that onrondorod civil war, and do
here record on, stoadfnst confidence in
the perpotuity of Republican self gov.
orumoni. in absolute acnuicsccnco in
The will Of the majority, the vital orin.
OF tho civil over The military autbori-
w; in The total separation OF church
and State, for tho sake alike of civil
and relipjous freedom; in tho equality
of all citizcns before lust laws Of their
own enactment. in tho liberty of indi,
yidual conduct. unvcxod bv snmntuorv
laws: in tho faithful education of the
rising generation, that thoy NAV pro-
servo. onioy and transmit these best
conditions of human bappiness and
hope. Wo behold tho noblest pro
ducts of hundred wears of cbangcful
history, but, whilo upholding tho bond
of our Union and great charter of
these our rights, it behooves free
people to practice also that eternal
Vigilance which is tho price of liberty.
Roform Is necessary 10 robuild and
establish in the hearts of tho whole
people the Union eleven years ago
happily rescued from tho danger of q
corrupt ccntraIism, which, after infiict-
ing upon ton States tho rapacity of
carpet bag tyrannics, has hcneycomb-
cd Tho Offices of the Federal govern
mont itsolf with incapacity. waste and
fraud; infected States and municipal-
itics With the contagion of misrulo,
and locked fast tho prosperity of an
industrious pocplc in tho paralysis of
hard times. Reform is necessary to
establish sound currency, restore tho
public credit and maintain tho ma,
Lional honor. We dcnounco the fail.
uro of all these eleven years TO mako
good tho promise of the loyal tender
notes which aro changing standard
Of value in The hands Of the people,
and the non payment of which is q
disregard of tho plightcd faith of tho
nation, We donounco the improvi-
donco which in clovon years of peace
has taken from the people in Federal
taxes thirtcon tines the whole
amount Of tho legal tender notes, and
squandcrod four times this sum in
useless expense, without tho accumu-
lation of any reserve for their rcdomp.
tion. Wo denounco tho financial inl~
bccility and immortality of that party
which during the eleven years ofpcacc
has made no advance towards resump.
ton; that, instead, has obstructed re-
sumption by wasting our resources
and exhausting all our surplus inooni o
and, while annually protesting to in
tend speedy return TO specie pay
monts, has annually enacted fresh
hindrancos thereto, MS such Il him
dranco we dcnouncc the resumption
clause of tho Act of 1878, and we
hero demand its repeal We demand
iudicious system OF preparation by
public cconimios, by official rotrcnch-
mcnts, and by wise finance, which
shall cnabIo tho nation TO assure the
whole world of its perfect ability and