The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-08-23
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OF THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY,

We, the Delegates of the Democratic
Party, in National Convention assembled,
do here declare the administration of the
Federal Government to lie in urgent need
of immediate reform, do hereby enjoin up
on the nominees of this Convention, and
of the Democratic party in each State,
Jealous effort and cooperation to this end,
aud TO hereby appeal to our fellow citizens
of every former political connection to un-
dertake with us this first and most press
ing patriotic duty. For the Democracy of
the whole country we do here reaffirm our
faith in the permanoncy of the Federal
Union; our devotion to the Constitution
of the United States with it's amendments
universally accepted as u final settlement
of the controversies that engendered civil
war, and we do here record our stcadfast
confidence in the perpetuisy of republican
eif.governmeut; in absolute acgnescence
in the will of the majority, the vital prin-
ciple of republics; in tho supremacy of the
civil over the military authority; in the
total separation of Church and State for
the sake alike of civil and religious free
dom; in the equality of all citizens before
just laws of their own enactment; in the
liberty of individual conduct unvexed by
snmptuary 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 hum
dred years of changeful history. but while
unfolding the bond Of our Union and
great charter of those our rights, it be-
hooves 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 people Of the Union, eleven
years ago happily rescued from the dan
ger of a corrupt centralism which, aftcr
inficting upon ten States the Iapaclty of
carpet-bag tyrannies, has honeycombed
the officers of the Federal Government it,
self with incapacity, waste and fraud, in-
fected States and municipalities with the
contagion of misrule, and locked fast the
paralysis of hard times. Reform is neces-
sary to establish a sound currency, restore
the public credit, and maintain the ma
tional honor. We denounce the failure
for these eleven years 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 payment
of which is disregard of the plighted
faith Of the nation. We denounce the
improvidence which in eleven years OF
peace have taken from the people i'll Fede-
raj taxes, thirteen times the whole
amount of the legal tender notes, and
squandered four times this sum in useless
expense without accommodating any re.
serve for their resumption. We denounce
the financial imbecility and immortality
of that party, which, during eleven years
of peace, has made no advance toward
assumptions; that instead has obstructed
resumption by wasting our resources and
exhausting all our surplus income, and
while annually protesting to intend a
speedy return to specie payments. has
annually enacted fresh hinderance there
to. As snch a hinderance we denounce
the resumption clause Of the act of 1875
and we here
DEMAND ITS REPEAL.
We demand a judicious system of prepare
ton by public economies, by official re.
trenchments and by wise finance which
shall enable the nation to insure the
whole world of its perfect ability and its
perfect readiness to meet any Of it's prom
ises at the call of the creditor entitled tc
payment. We believe such system well
devised, and, above all, entrusted to com
petent hands for execution, creating at nc
time an artificial scarcity of currency and
at no tine alarming the public mind into
a withdrawal OF that vaster machinery Of
credit by which IS per cent. Of all business
transactions are performed--a system
open, public and inspiring general conf
deuce wonld from the day of its adoption
bring healing on its wings to all our har
assed industry aud set in motion the
wheels of commerce, manufactures ant
the mechanical arts, restore employment
to labor. aud renew in all its nationa
source the prosperity of the people. Re
form is necessary in the sum and mode o
Federal taxation, to the end that capita
may be set free from distress and labOl
lightly burdene6.
WE DENoUNCE THE PRESENT TARIFF
levied upon nearly four thousand articles