The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-08-31

st. Louis, June 9th, 1876.
We, the delegates of the Democratic
party ofthe United States, in National
Convention n,assembled, do hereby declare
the administration of the federal govern
ment to be in urgent need of immediate
reform, do hereby enjoin 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 un-
dertake with us this first and most pres
sing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, REPUB-
LICAN SELF GOVERNMENT.
For the Democracy of the whole coun-
try we do here reafirm 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 a 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 of all 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 a 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 CENTRAL1SM,
Reform is necessary to rebuild and es
tablsh 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 honeycombed the offices o
the Federal government itself with inca
pacity, waste and fraud, infected state
and municipalities with the Contagion o
misrule, and locked fast the prosperity o
an industrious people in the paralysis o
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 thes
eleven years OF peace to make good tn
promise of the legal tender notes whicl
are changing standard of value in tn
hands of the people, and the non pay
ment ofwhiCh is disregard ofthe plight
ed faith of the nation.
We denounce the improvidence whiCl
in eleven years of peace, has taken from
the people in Federal taxes thirteen time
the whole amount of the legal tende
notes, and squandered four times thei
sum in useless expense without accumr
lating any reserve for their redemption
, We denounce the financial imbecilit
r and immortality ofthat party which, dun
ing eleven years of peace, has made n
advance toward resumption, no prepare
ton for resumption, but instead, has OF
structed resumption by wasting our resc
urces and exhausting all our surplu
| income, and, while annually professin
f to intend speedy return to specie pay
ments, has annually enacted fresh hind
RANGES thereto. AS such hindrance W
denounce the resumption clause of tn
act of 1875, and demand its repeal.
We demand judicious system ofpre
paration by public economies, by offlcia
retrenchment, and by wise finance, whic
shall enable the nation soon to assur
the whole world of its perfect ability, an
its perfect readiness to meet any OF 1t
promises at the call of the creditor EMIT
led to payment
We believe such a system, well dev,
sed, and above all, ihtrusted to compe
tent hands for executive, creating at n
time an artificial scarcity Of currency
and at no time alarming the public min
into withdrawal ofthatvas!er ermachiner
of credit by which ninety five per cen
, of all our business transactions are pei
, formed-a system open, public, and in
spring general confidence, would, tror
the day ofits adoption, bring healing o
its wings to all our harrassed industries
and set in motion the wheels of com
merce, manufactures and the mechani
arts. restore employment to labor, and i
: all its natural sources the prosperity of tn
, people.
REFORM OF THE TARIFF FREE TRADE.
Reform is necessary in the sum an
modes of federal taxation, to the end thu
capital may be set free from distrust an
labor llghtly Duraeheu'
, We denounce the present tariff, levie
upon nearly four thousand articles, as
masterpiece of injustice, inequality an
false pretense. 1t yields a dwindling
not yearly rising, revenue 1t has i'm
/. poverished many industries to subsidiz
a few. 1t prohibits imports that migt
purchase the products of American Labor
1t has degraded American commerc
from the first to an inferior rank upo
the high seas. 1t has cut down the sale
/ of American manufactures at home an
abroad, and depleted the returns
| American agriculture, and industry 70
| lowed by half our people.
1t costs the people five times NOR
than it produces to the treasury, obstruct
| i i .r.ts,