Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-03-23
The Democracy Of the Keystone State
in Convention Sensible and
Genuine Centennial
Platform.
Civil Service Reform Demanded-In-
VestlgatlOn to be Pursued-Am-
nesty - Retrenchment,
Economy and
Reform.
NOn.SeGtarian Public Schools - Hard
Money Has the Old-time Demo.
cratic Ring-A Patri.
Otie Outburst.

Fulton hall. II. B. Wright, chairman
| State central committee, called the con-
| vention to order. Hon. VIM. A. Play
| fard, Of Fsyette, was elected temporary
! chairman by an almost unanimous vote.
! Mr.. Playfsrd returned thanks for the
! compliment, counselled harmony and
advised the exposure OF corruption wher-
! ever il existed. lie said there should be
| no hesitancy in declaring for right prln-
ciples; corruption should be investigated
even if it implicated the President ofthe
| United States.
| The following resolution was adopted
by large majority:
| PesOLUed, That one representative
! from each senatorial district be elected
as q committee on credentials, on per-
maneut organization and resolutions,
aud that the resolution 5 be referred to
the convention without debstej that the
| convention select four senatorial dele
| gates to the National convention, two
representative delegates from each con-
| gressiODal district, and that the cOnven-
! ton select chairman Of the State Gen.
| tral committee,
A call of the roll showed about fifteen
| contested seats, most Of them from Phil
adelphia and Luzerne. After the ap-
| pointment of committee on creden-
| tisls, organization aud resolutions, the
convention adjourned until three
| o'clock.
AFTER RECESS.
Onrea. .sembling Robert E. Monaghan
was ele cted permanent chairman; fifty
vice-pre sident's were chosen. The COM
mittee on credentials not being ready
| to report, recess was taken till half-past
seven O'Clock in the evening.
EVENING SESSION.
On reassembling the following gentle
men were elected as delegates to the
| National convention: VIM. A. Wal
| lace, Hiester Clymer, A. II. Dill and
H, Nj. North. Chas. r Buckalsw was
| chosen to head the electoral ticket in
Pennsylvania. The following platform
| was adopted:
WHEREAS, The Democracy Of Penn
! sylvsnia reasserts its devotion to all the
| provisions of the Federal constitution
| and to a perpe'uh union of the States,
pledges itself to a rigid fidelity to public
| trusts, to pure and economical admin
| istratiOn of the Federal, State and mu'
| nicipal governments, to local self-gov-
| eminent in every section, to the honest
payment of the public debt, and to the
sound preservation of the public fa'th.
| They see with humiliation and alarm
evidences of bribery, fraud and spscu-
| lation in high places; the dis
| tress that prevails and widespread
| financial ruin that impends over the
people OF the State, and they charge
| that these evils are the direct results of
| a personal government, unwise legisla-
| ton, q viciC III financial policy, and the
| extravaganza and corruption of the Re-
| publican party. They declare:
Fifst-rhat the civil service OF the
| government has become corrupt aud is
made an object Of personal gain and
| infidelity t. Ihe public trust has become
| the rule and not the exception. We be-
lieve that honesty, capacity and fidelity
| are the only tests Uf fl mess for public
station, sand that wholesome penalties
| should be used with Tigor to enforce Of
| ticial accountability.
SecOnd--That the recent and repeat
exposures of fraud aud corruption in the
| administration OF public affairs call for
| q searching and thorough Investigation
OF every branch Of the public service, to
| the end that all corrupt practices may
| be brought to light, and all who have
abused and betrayed their public trusts,
| whatever may be their station, mSy be
exposed and punished; and we urge
! those in charge OF this subj ect at Wash
ington TO prompt, thorough and ex-
! haustive examination Of their respective
! fields Of labor.
| Third-That retTenchment and econ
| omy are indispensable in Federal,
State aDd municipal government as es-
sentiaI means toward lessenilg the bur-
dens Of the people, and we commend the
| efforts Of the majority id the house Of
representatives for the reduction Of eX-
penditures OF the Federal government to
q just standard, and their determination
| to lessen the number Of useless officials.
Fourth-That general amnesty to all
persons implicated in the late rebellion
against the government Of the United
States, who have not been relieved from
their disabilities by the action Of con-
gress and of the President, would be
an allowable and proper exercise Of gov
ermental power in the year Of Gen.
tennial celebration of American inde-
! pendence, and 8 recommendation of
/ euch measure by President Grant in
public message, and its Endorsement
and passage by q Republican house of
representatives at former session, con-
stitute full proof that such q measure is
| fit, judiciOus and timely.
FIflh-ApprOves Of the provisions of
the State constitution, which protect
not only school funds, but other public
money from appropriation to sectarian
uses, and that they titly illustrate that
doctrine OF separation Of church and
State which al gays has been cardinal
one with the Democratic party.
SiXth-That the statute for the re-
sumption Of specie payments on the first
of January, 1879, is impossible; to ex-
ecute it is q deliberate proclamation that
| TnfF mil
into bankruptcy; it paralysis industry,
creates distrust Of the future, turns the
laborer and producer out of work, is 8
standing threat on business men, and
| ought to be forthwith repealed.
Seventh-That gold aud silver is the
only true basis for the currency Of the re-
public, anl that congress should take
| such steps for the resumption OF specie
payment IS will most surely and speed
lily reach that result without destroying
the business interests Of the people.
Eighth-The present depression Of all
our national industries, which checks
the Who'll jme flow OF capital through
channels Of enterprise, and denies to
honest labor decent livelihood, is the
direct and inevitable fruit of the extTav-
agance Of reckless and dishonest RepuO.
licsns tampeIing with the finances of the
COUNTY,, al q We uenOunce tDe authors
! of that legislation ss TIE officials who
have aEt etJltd the foundations alike OF
State and of nome. We call OD the peO-
ple to aid US TO halt them in this fatal
career, and to set their faces on the de-
tectiOh of practicable measures which
shall eventually enable the treasury of
the United States to keep its plighted
faith with the rich and poor alike. We
demand legislation through the power
Of the Federal government which shall
give US performance FOR promises, and
restore solvency to the nation by re-
storing prosperity to the people.
ResOLUed, That in common with the
people Cf cur sister States, We rejoice in
the opportunity to celebrate the Centen-
nial Of the proclamation OF our emanci-
patton from the government o. the
British crown, making, "a 1t did, the
greatest event in modern history, and