The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-08-29
THE PLATFORM
OF THE
National Democratic Party

National Democratic Parity
REFORM A PATRIOTIC DUTY.
We, the delegates of the Democratic
party of the United States in National
Convention assembled, do hereby declare
the administration of the Federal Gov
eminent to be in urgent need of imme-
diate Reform; do hereby enjoin upon the
nominees of this Convention, and OF the
Democratic party IN each State, a Jealous
! effort and cooperation 10 this end; and
do hereby appeal to our fellow. citizens
of every former political connection, to
, undertake with US this first and most
pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION AND CONSTITUTION.
For the Democracy of the whole coun-
try, we do here reshrm our faith In the
permanence OF the Federal Union, our de-
vo.ion to the Constitution of the United
States with its amendments universally
accepted as a final settlement OF the con-
troversies that engehdered civil var, and
do here record our steadfast confidence IN
the perpetulty of Republican Self-Gov-
eminent.
NOBLE PRODUCTS OF HUNDRED YEARS
In absolute acquiescence in the will of
the msjority-the vital principal OF Re
publlcs;
In the supremacy of the civil over the
military authority;
In the total separation of Church and
state, for the sake alike Of civil and relig-
ious freedom;
In the equality of all citizens before
lust laws OF their own enactment;
In the liberty of individual conduct,
unve1ed by sumptuary laws;
In the faithful education of the rising
generation, that they may preserve, en-
! ioy, and transmit these best conditions Of
hannah happiness and hope;
We behold the noblest products OF q
hundred years of chsngeful history.
But while upholding the bond of our
Union and great Charter of these onr
/ rights, it behooves free people to prac-
/ tee also that eternal vigilance which is
the price of Liberty.
MISRULE AND HARD TINES
Reform IS necessary TO rebuild and es
tablish in the hearts of the whole people,
the L Mon, eleven years ago happily res
cued from the danger of Secession of
States; but now to be saved from cor
rupt Centralism, which, after inflicting
upon ten States the rapscity of carpet bag
tyrsnnies, has honeycombed the Offices OF
the Federal Government itself with in
capacity, waste, and fraud; infected States
and municipalities with the cOntsgiOp of
misrule. and locked fast the prosperity of
an industrious people in the paralysis of
Hard Times"
SOUND CURRENCY.
Reform, IS necessary to establish sound
currency, restore the public credit and
maintain the national honor.
We denounce the failure for all these
eleven years Of peace 10 make good the
promise OF the legal.tender notes, which
are changing standard of value in the
hands of the people, and the non pay.
ment of which is disregard Of the plight
! ed faith of the nation.
We denounce the improvidence which,
! in eleven years OF peace, has taken IRON
| the people in Federal taxes, thirteen
! times the whole amount of the legsl-ten-
der notes, and squandered four times their
sum in useless expense, without accumu-
lating any reserve for their redemption.
RETRENCHMENT AND RESUMPTION.
We denounce the financial imbeciilty
and immortality of that party which, dur
! ing eleven years Of peace, has made no
advance toward resumption, no prepare
! ton tor resumption, but instead has oe-
structed resumption, by wasting our re-
sources and exhausting all our surplus in
come; and, while annually protesting to
/ intend q speedy return to specie pay
nents, has annually enacted fresh him
ORANGES thereto. As such hlndrance
we denounce the Resumption clause OF
the act of 1875 and demand It's repeal.
We demand judicious system OF pre-.
paration by public economies, by official
retrenchments, and by wise finance
which shall enable the nation soon to as
sure the whole world of its perfect ability
and its perfect readiness to meet any OF
its promises at the call OF the creditor en-
titled TO payment.
We believe such system, we'll deVls-
ed, and, above sll, intrusted to competent
hands for execution, creating At 40 time
All artificial scarcity of currency and at
no time alarming the public mind into a
withdrawal Of that vaster machinery OF
credit by which IS per cent of all bust
ness transactions are performed-a sys-
tenn open, public, and inspiring general
confidence, would from tho day of its
adoption bring healing on its wings to
all cur hsrsssed industries, SGT In motion
the wheels of commerce, manufactures,
and the mechanic arts, restore employ
ment to labor. and renew in all its nstu-
raj sources the prosperity of the people.
REFORM IN FEDERAL TAXATION.
Reform IS necessary in the sum aud
modes of Federal Taxation, TO the end
that capital may be set free from distrust,
and labor lightly burdened.
We denounce the present Tariff, levied
upon nearly 1000 articles, as master
piece of injustice, inequality, and false
pretense.
1t yields dwindling, not yearly ris-
ing, revenue.
Il has impoverished ma ny industries to
subsidize few.
It prohibits imports that might pur'
chase the products Of American labor.
1t bias degraded American commerce
from the first TO an inferior rank on the
high seas.
II has cut down the sales OF American
manufactures at home aud abroad, and
depletsd the returns of American agrl.