The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-10-19
AUSTIN.
Ihe Demo. ratio Platform.


administration of the Federal Government
TO be in urgent need of immediate reforHj
do hereby enjoin upon the nominees Of this
convention, and OF the Democratic party in
each State, Jealous effort and cooperation
to this END, and do hereby appeal 10 our
fellow-citizsns Of every former political con
Dertion to undertake with us this first and
st patriotic duty.
For the Democracy Of the whole country
~e do here Tesfhrm our faith Ia the per
nAnence q. the Federal Union; our devo-
tion to the Constitution of he United States,
with its amendments universally accepted
as a final settlement of the controversy that
enRendered civil war; and do here record
our steadfast confidence IN the perpetuity
OF republican self-goVernment.
In absolute ac9uiescence 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-
actment; 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 u hundred years of changeful history
but while upholding the bond of our Union,
and great charter of these our rights, il
behooves free people to practice. also,
that eternal vigilance which is the price of
liberty.
Reform is necessary to rebuild and estab.
fish, in the hearts of the whole people, the
Union, eleven years ago happily rescued
from the danger of Il secession of States, bus
nOw IN bp avpd frnm "a cOrrupr (entralism
which, after inhictlng upon ten STATES the
rapacity Of carpet-bag tyrannies, has honey
combed the offices Of the Federal Govern
ment itself with incapscity, waste and
fraud; infected States and munich Qualities
with the contagion of misrule; and locked
fast the prosperity of an industrious people
in the paralysis of 'lIard Times"
Reform is necessary to establish a sound
currency, restore the public debt, and
maintain the National honor.
We denouncc 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 Imbecility and
immortality of that party which, during
eleven years of peace, has made no advance
toward resumption, no preparation for re-
sumption, but instead has obstructed re-
sumption, by wasting our resources and eX
haustinE all our surplus income, and while
annually protesting to intend IA speedy re-
turn tn specie payments, has annually en-
acted fresh hindrances thereto. AS such d
bindrance, we denounce the resumption
clause of the act of 1875, and demand lis
repeal.
We demand judicious 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 it
perfect readiness to meet any of its prom
Uses at the call of the creditor entitled t.
payment.
We believe such a system we'll devised
and, above all, entrusted to competen
hsnds for execution. creating at no time al
artificial scarcity of currency, and at NJ
time alarming the public mind into with
drawal of that vaster machinery of credi
by which ninety-fve per cent. of all on
business transactions are performed-a sys
tenn open and public and inspiring genera
contidence-would from the day Of its adop
ton bring healing on its wings to all GU
harassed industries, set in motion tn
wheels of commerce, manufactures and tn
mechanic arts, restore employment to labo
and renew, in all its sources, the prosperit,
of its people.
Reform is necessary in the sum and node
Of Federal taxation, to the end that CAPT
tai may be set free from distTust and labo
lightly burdened.
We denounce the present tariff levieC
upon nearly four thousand articles as
masterpiece of injustice, inequality AM
false pretense. 1t yields dwlndling, no
yearly rising revenue. 1t has impoveI
ished many industries to substitute "a few
1t prohibits imports that might purchas
the products of American labor. 1t ia
degraded American commerce from the frs
TO an inferior rank upon the high seas. |
has cut down the sales of American man
ufactures at home and abroad, and has de
- pleted the returns of American agriculture
an industry followed by half our people
Il costs the people five times more than i
produces to the Treasury, obstructs the pro
cess of production and wastes the fruits u
labor. 1t promotes fraud, fosters SNUG
Cling, enriches dishonest officials and bank
rupts honest merchants. We demand tina
oil custom house taxation shall be only fo
revenue.
Reform 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 hundre,
and fifty millions currency in 1870. Oul
aggregate taxation from one hundred ant
tifiy-four millions gold in 1865 to sever
hundred and thirty millions currency il
1870; or in one decade, from less than fiv
dollars per head-to more than eighteen
dollars per head. Since the peace the peo
pie have paid to their tax gatherers NOR
than thrice the sum of the national debt
and more than twice that sum for the Fed
eral government alone. We demand rig
orous fIugality IN every department an'
from every officer of the government.
Reform is necessary To put a stop to thu
prohigate waste of public lands and thei
diversion from actual settlers by the part,
In power, which has squandered two hun
dred millions of acres upon railroads alone
and out OF more than thrice that aggregate
has disposed of less than sixth directly {,
tillers of the soil.
Reform is necessary TO correct the omis
sions of Republican Congress and the ,r
rors of our treaties and our diplomacy, which
have stripped our fellow. citizens of foreig,
birth and kindred race, re-crossing the AT
lantic, of the shield of American cit ,zenship
and has exposed cur brethren of the Pacif
coast 10 the IN urs, ms of race not sprun.
from the same grea parent stock, aud il
fact now by Law de ned citizenship through
naturalization as being neither accustome,
to traditions of progressive civilization
nor exercised in liberty under equal laws
We denounce the policy which thus dis
cards the liberty SLOWING German, and tolcr
ates the revival of the Coolie trade, in Mon
golian women imported for immoral pur
poses, and Monaghan men held to perform
servile labor contracts.
RsTorm is necessary. and can never b.