The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-10-19
Arh6faL
PLATFORM.
OF THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRACY,
ADOPTED AT
st. Louis, June eth, 1876.

We, the delegates of the Democratic
party ofthe United States, in National
Convention;assembled, do hereby declare
the administration of the federal govern
ment to be in urgent need of immediate
reform, do hereby enoin upon the no.
minees Of this convention, and of the
Democratic party in each state jealous
effort and cooperation to this end, and
do hereby appeal to our fellow citizens Of
every former political connection to UNI
dertake with us this first and most pres
sing patriotic duty.
THB UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, REPUB-
LICAN SELF GOVERNMENT.
For the Democracy Of the whole coun-
try we do here reaffirm our faith in the
permanence of the Federal union our de-
votion to the Constitution of the United
States, with its amendments, universally
accepted as final settlement of the con-
troVersies that engendered civil war, and
do here record our steadfast confidence
in the perpetuity of Republican self gov
ernment.
THE FIRST CENTURY,
In absolute acquiescence in the will of
the majority, the vital principle of Re-
publiCs, in the supremacy Of civil over
military authority; in the total separation
ofchurch and state, for the sake alike of
civil and religious freedom; in the equ-
ality ofall citizens before Just laws of
their own enactment; in the liberty Of
individual conduct unvexed by sumptu
airy 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 noblest products of hundred years
Of Changeful history, but while upholding
the bond of our union and great charter
of these, our rights, it behooves free
people to practice, also, that eternal vigi.
lance which is the price Of liberty
REFoRM-CoRRUPT CENTRALISM.
Reform is necessary to rebuild and es.
tablish in the hearts Of the whole people
in the union, eleven years ago happily
rescued from the danger of a secession
of states, but now to be saved from cor.
rupt centralism, which after inhicting
upon ten states the rapacity of carpet bag
tyrannies has honey combed the offices Of
the Federal government itself with inca
pacity, waste and fraud. infected state
and municipalities with the contagion of
misrule, and locked fast the prosperity of
an industrious people in the paralysis of
hard times.
REFORM OF THE cURRENCY-SPECIE PAY.
MENTS.
Reform is necessary to establish
sound currency, restore public credit,
and maintain the national honor.
We denounce the failure for all these
eleven years of peace 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 pay
ment Of which is disregard ofthe plight
ed faith of the nation.
We denounce the improvidence which
in eleven years of peace, has taken from
the people in Federal taxes thirteen times
the whole amount of the legal tender
notes, and squandered four times their
sum in useless expense without aCcumu-
lating any reserve for their redemption.
We denounce the financial imbecility |
and immortality ofthat party which, dur.
ing eleven years of peace, has made no
advance toward resumption, no prepara-
ton for resumption, but instead, has OBJ
structed resumption by wasting our reso-
urces and exhausting all our surplus
income, and, while annually protesting |
to intend speedy return to specie pay
ments, has annually enacted fresh hind
RANGES thereto. AS such hindrance we
denounce the resumption clause Of the |.
act of 1875, and demand its repeal.
We demand a judicious system ofpre-
paration by public economies, by official
retrenchment, and by wise finance, which
shall enable tie nation soon to assure
the whole world of its perfect ability, and
its perfect readiness to meet any of its
promises at the call of the creditor entit-
led to payment.
We believe such system, well dev-
sed, and above an, ihtrusted to compe-
tent hands for executive, creating at no
time an artificial scarcity of currency,
and at no time alarming the public mind
into withdrawal Of that vas!er machinery
of credit by which ninety five per cent.
Of all our business transactions are per-
formed-a system open, public, and in
spring general confidence, would, from
the day ofits adoption, bring healing on
its wings to all our harrassed industries,
and set in motion the wheels of COM
merce, manufactures and the mechanic
arts, restore employment to labor, and in
all its natural sources the prosperity ofthe
people. ."a.
REFORM OF THE TARIFF FREE TRADE.
Reform is necessary in the sum and
modes of federal taxation, to fhe end that
capital may be set free from disrust and
labor lightly burdened. l
We denounce the present tariff, levied
upon nearly four thousand articles, as
masterpiece of injustice, inequality and
false pretense. 1t yields dwindling
not yearly rising, revenue. 1t has i'm
poverished many industries to subsidize
a few. 1t prohibits imports that might
purchase the products Of American labor
It has degraded American commerce
from the first to an inferior rank upon
the high seas. 1t has CUT down the sales
Of American manufactures at home and
and depleted the returns Of
American agriculture, and industry fol-
lowed by half our people.
1t costs the people five times more
than it produces to the treasury, obStructs
the process of production, and wastes the
fruits of labor. 1t promotes fraud, fos-
ters smuggling, enriches dishonest Off
cials, and bankrupts honest merchants.
We demand that all custom house tax
alton shall be only for revenue.
REPoRM-EcoNoMY IN THE PUBLIC Ex-
PEESE.
Reform is necessary in the scale of
public expense, federal state and muni-
,ipal. Our federal taxation has swollen
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