The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-08-16
OF TIE . -
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

VIZ, flic Dele gates Of the Democratic
Party, in National Convention asSembicd
do here declare tie administration OF the
Federal Government To I've i'll urgent need
of Immediate reform, do hereby enjoln up
on the nominees Of this Convention, and
of the Democratic party III caGiI State,
Jealous effort and corporation to thus emu
aud do hereby appeal TO our feiiow-citlzens
of every former political connections to un
dertake with us this fist and most press
inr patriotic duty. For the Democracy oil
the whole country we do here reatfirn oul
faith in the pernanency of the Federal
Union; our devotion to the Constitution
of the United States with its amendments
universally accepted as final settlement
of the controversies that eHgendcred civil
war, and we do here record our steadiast
confidence III the perpetaity OF republican
self.royernmefit; in absolute acqnieScence
in the will of the majority, the vital prln-
ciple of republics; in the supremacy OF the
civil over the military authority; III the
total separation of Church and State tor
the sake alike Of civil and religious free
dom: in the equality Of all citizens before
lust laws of their own enactment; in the
liberty of individual conduct uhYeXed by
snmptuary laws; in the faithful education
of the rising generation that they may
preserve, enjoy and transmit these best
conditions Of human happiness, and hope
we behold the nobiest products of hun
dred years of changeful history, but While
upboiding the bond of our Union and
great charter of those our rights, it be-
hooves a free people to practice also that
eternal vigilance which is the price OF
liberty.
REFORM IS NECESSARY
to rebuild and establish in tho hearts oil
Tho whole people of the Union, eleven
wears ago happily rescued FROM the dan
ger of q corrupt CentraliSm which, after
inflicting upon ten States the lapaclty OF
carpet.bag tyraunieS, has honeycOmbed
the officers of the Federal Government it.
self with incapacty, waste and fraud, in
fected States and municipalities with the
eontagi0n of misrale, and locked fast the
prosperity of an industrious people in the
paralysis of hard times. Reform is neCeS-
Bary to establish sound currency, restore
the public credit, and maintain the na-
tional honor. We denounce the failure
for these eleven years TO make good the
promise of the legal tender notes, which
are changing standard of value in the
hands of the people, and the non payment
Of which is q disregard of the plighted
faith of the nation. We denounCe the
improvidenoe which in eleven years of
peace have taken from the people in Fede.
ral taxes, thirteen times the whole
amount of the legal tender notes, and
squandered four times this sum in useless
expense without accommodating any re-
servo for their resumption. We denounce
the financial imbeciiity and immortality
of that party, which, during eleven years
of peace, has made no advance toward
resumption; that instead has INSTRUCTED
resumption by wasting our resources aud
eXhaustiBg all our surplus income, aud
while annually. protesting to intend a
speedy return to specie payments. has
annually enacted fresh hinderance there
to. As such a hinderance we denounce
the resumption clause OF the act of 1885,
aud we here
DEMAND IT'S REPEAL.
We demand a judicious system of prepare,
ti0n by public economies, By official re-
treIchmcnts aud by wise finance which
shall enable the nation to insure the
whole world of its perfect ability and its
perfect readiness to meet any of its prom
ises at the call of the creditor entitled to
payment. We believe such system well
devised, and, above all, entrusted to com.
petcnt hands for execution, creating at nc