The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-10-12
Platform of the National Democratic
Party.


tional convention assembled, do hore
declare the administration of tho Fed.
eral government TO bo in urgent need
of immediate rcformJ do hereby cnjoin
Dpon the nominees of this convention
and of tho Democratic party in each
State, a Jealous effort and co-opora-
tion to this end, and do hereby appeal
to our fellow citizens of every formor
political connection to undertake with
Ws this first and most pressing patriot
70 duty for the Democracy of tho
whole country. We do horo reaffirm
our faith in the permanency Of the
Federal Union, our devotion to the
consultation OF the united States, with
It's amendments universally accepted,
rs q final settlement of the controvcr-
sios that engendered civil war, and do
hore record om stoadflst confidence in
tho perpotuity Of Republican self gov
ernment; in absolute acquioScence in
tho will Of the minority, the vital prin.
ciplo Of the republic; in tho supremacy
of the civil over the military authori-
ty; in tho total separation OF church
and State, for the sake aliko of civil
and religious freedom; in the equality
of all citizens before just laws of their
OVID enactment, in tho liberty of indi>
vidual conduct, unvcxcd by sumptuary
laws; in tho faithful education Of the
rising generation, that they may pre-
serve, enjoy and transmit these bost
conditions of human happiness and
hope. Wo bohold tho noblcst pro
ducts of hundred years of changcful
history, but, while upholding tho bond
of our Union and great charter of
these our rights, it behoovcs free
people to practice also that eternal
vigilance which is the price of liberty.
Reform, IS necessary to rebuild and
establish in the hearts of the whole
peoplo) tho Union eleven years ago
happily rescued from tho danger OF
corrupt centralism, which, after nfict-
infss upon ten States the rapacity of
carpet bag tyrannies, has hCncycomb-
Cd tho offices Of the Federal govern
mont itsolf with incapacity, waste and
fraud; infected States and municipal>
ities with the contagion of misrulc,
and locked fast tho prosperity of an
Industrious poople in the paralysis Of
hard times. Reform is necessary to
establish q sound currency, restore the
public credit and maintain the na~
tional honor. We dcnouuco tho fail.
ure of all these eleven years to mako
good tho promise of the legal tender
notes which arc changing standard
of value in the hands of tho people,
and the non payment Of which is Il
disregard of tho plightcd faith Of the
nation, We dcnounco tho improvi-
donee which in eleven years of peace
has taken from the people in Federal
taxes thirteen times The whole
amount of tho legal Lcndcr notes, and
squandered four times tnis sum in
useless expense, without the accumu-
lation Of any reserve for thoir redomp
tion. Wo dcnounco tho financial im-
beclity and immortality Of that party
which during tho eleven years ofpcace
has made no advance towards rcsump.
ton; that, instead, has obstructed re-
sumption by wasting our resources
ard cXhausting all our surplus income
and, while annually protesting to in
tend speedy return to specie pays
mcnts, has annually enacted fresh
hindranceS thereto, as such q him
dranco wo dcnounce the resumption
clause of tho Act of 1875, and we
here demand it's repeal. We demand
ajudicious system or preparation by
public eConimics, by official rctrcnch-
ments, and by wiso finance, which
shall enable the naIion to assure the
whole world of its perfect ability and
its perfect readiness 10 meet any of its
promises at the call Of tho creditor en-
titled to payment. We believe such
asystcm we'll devised; and, above all en-
trusted to competent hands for cxecu>
ton, creating at no time an artificial
security OF currency, and at no time
alarming the public mind into
withdrawal OF that vastcr MAJ
chinory Of credit by which ninety five
per cent. of all business transactions
are performed; system open, public
and inspiring general confidence,
would, from the day of its adoption,
bring healing on its wings to all our
harrnssed industry, and set in motion
the wheels OF commerce. manufactur>
es and the mechanical arts; restore
employment TO labor, and renew. in
ali its national source, tho prospcutv
OF the people. Reform is necessary
in tho sum and mode of Federal toxo,