The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-08-31
The Demo. ratio Platform.

The Demo ratio Platform.
l. We, the delegates of the Democratic
party of the United States in National Con-
ventlon assembled, do hereby declare the
administration of the Federal Government
to be in urgent need of immediate reform;
do hereby enjoin upon the nominees of this
convention, and of the Democratic party in
each State, u Jealous effort and cooperation
to this END, and do hereby appeal to our
| fellOw-citiZens of every former political con-
nection to undertake with US this first and
most patriotic duty.
For the Democracy of the whole country
we do here reaffirm our faith in the per
manence of the Federal Union; our devo-
| ton to the Constitution of The United States,
| with it's amendments universally accepted
as a final settlement of the controversy that
engendered civil war; and do here record
our steadfast confidence In the penpetuity
of republican self-goVernment.
In absolute acquiesccnce in the will of the
majority-the vital principle of republics;
in the supremacy of the civil over the mill
tary authority in the total separation of
church and State, for the sake alike of civil
and religious freedom; in the equality of all
| citizens before just laws of their own en-
ac;ment; in the liberty of individual con-
duct unvexed by sumptuary 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 a hundred years of changeful history
but while unfolding the bond of our Union,
| and great charter of these our rights, it
behooves free people to practice. also,
that eternal vigilance which is the price of
| liberty.
Reform is necessary to rebuild and estab-
lish, in the hearts of the whole people, the
Union, eleven years ago happily rescued
from the danger of Il secession of States, but
now to be saved from corrupt Centralism,
which, after infiicting upon ten States the
rapacity of carpet-bag tyrannies, has honey
combed the offices of the Federal Govern
ment itself with incapacity, waste and
fraud infected States and municipalities
with the contagion of misrule; and locked
| fast the prosperity of an industrious people
| in the paralysis of 'Hard Times"
Reform is necessary to establish sound
currency, restore the public debt, and
maintain the n 4tlonal honor.
| We denounce the failure of all these eleven
| years of peace to make good the promise of
the legal tender notes, which are a chang
ing standard of value in the hands of the
people, and the non-payment of which is
disregard of the plighted 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 accommodating any reserve
for their redemption.
We denOunce the financial lmbecility and
| l,fxr of hat rr7hi
eleven years of peace, has made no advance
toward resumption, no preparation for re-
sumption, but instead has INSTRUCTED re-
sumption, by wasting our resources and ex-
haustng all our surplus income, and while
annually protesting to intend a speedy re-
turn to specie payments, has annually en-
| acted fresh hlndrances thereto. AS such a
! hindrance, We denOunce the resumption
clause of the act of 1875, and demand its
repeal.
We demand judcious system of prep
aration by pubic economies, by official re-
trenchments, and by wise finance, which
shall enable the nation soon to assure the
whole world of its perfect ability and its
perfect readiness to meet any of its prom
Uses at the call of the creditor entitled to
payment.
We believe such system well devised,
|
hsnds for execution. creating at no time an
artificial scarcity of currency, and at NO
time alarming the public mind into with
drawal of that vaster machinery of credit
by which ninety-fve per cent. of all our
business transactions are performed-a sys-
tenn open and public and inspiring general
cOntideuce-would from the day of its adop-
ton bring healing on its wings to all our
harassed industries, set in motion the
wheels of commerce, manufactures and the
mechanic arts, restore employment to labor
and renew, in all its sources, the prosperity
of its people.
Reform is necessary in the sum and modes
of Federal taxation, to the end that CAPT
eai .-A-5 '-----s f-AA -frnm distrust and labor
lightly burdened.
We denounce the present tariff levied
upon nearly four thousand articles as a
masterpiece of injustice, inequAlity and
false pretense. 1t yields q dwIndllng, not
a yearly rising revenue. 1t has impover
ished many industries to substitute few.
1t prohiblts imports that might purchase
the products OF American labor. Ii has
degraded American commerce from the first
To an inferior rank upon the high seas. Ii
has cut down the sales of American man
utacures at home and abroad, aud has de
pleted the returns of American agriculture
an industry followed by half cur people.
Ii costs the people five times more than II
, produces to the Treasury, okstructs the pro
cess OF production and wastes the frul 81
labor. II promotes fraud. fosters SNUG
gliny. enriches dishonest officials and bank
Tapts honest merchants. We demand thai
! ali custom house taxation shall be only fol
revenue.
RsforxR is necessary in the scale of public
expense, Federal, State and municipal.
: Our Federal taxation has swollen from sixt,
millions gold, in 1860, to four hundres
and fifty millions currency in 1870. Oul
aggregate taxation from one hundred ant
ffiy-four millions gold in 1865 to seyeI
hundred and thirty millions currency II
1870; or in one decade, from less than nv
dsIlars per head Ia more than eighties
dollars per head Since the peace the PEG
ME have paid TO their tax-gatherers NOR
snan thrice the sum of the national debt
aod more than twice that sum for the Fed
era government alone. We demand ne
orous fruuality IN every department an
from svery officer OF the government.
Rsform IS necessary to put q stop TO IN
/: nrofitvate waste Of public lands and the
Z diversion from actual settlers by the part
in power. which has squandered two hui
] tired millions Of acres upon railroads aions
{ and out Of more than thrice that sggFegal
has disposed of less than 3 sixth directly
/, the fillers Of the soil