, 1876-09-23
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
...,,,, NV the Democratic National Gem
xe.,,iou I'm Session at St. Eouis, June
asth, 1876
We the delegates of the democratic party Of the
Tnited Staies. IN national convention assembled, 90
rly declare the administration OF the federal gov
eminent to be great need OF immediate reform Go
hereby euiUn upon the nom inees oi tlS convention
aud Of The democratic party IN eGch SJte ana at ot
louis 70 make efforts, and cooperate 10 tins end
and a hereby appeal 20 our fellow citizens OF every
fr,r ppltical connection 10 undertake with ns tins
first and most pressing patriotic duty for the beneht
OF the whole country -
We herr an our faith IN the perInanency OF the
federal Union; our devotion 10 the constitution OF
tbs limited States with lTs amendments universally
accented aS tiul settlement oi The Controversies
~ rr,anderel The evil war and DO here record our
sfeaitast confidence IN tn Ierpetulty OF repuosin
salfrlyerumrnt IN an absolute atques'zihCt IN Tire
will OF the majority, the prl.cple oi r5pubilcs IN
the SUPREMACY Of the evil over the Hlltail au-
tIrfy IN the Total separation OF church AMI Std:e,
for the sake alike Of clvIl and religious freedom IN
eouaV OF all citZen- before the Just laws o! their
own enactment III the Attliy OF lbulNlduh cenuucN
nnvsX,d by SumptuaTy laws IN the faithful educt-
tiru of the risr generton that they may preserve
epioy and transmit these best Conditions OF human
happiness and hope.
Ne uphold the noblest products OF one hundred
wears of ehangeful history, but while uphodins the
bond of uniOn and the great character OF these
our rights It behooyes free people 70 prsrtlc also
that eternal vigilance which l. the price Of liberty
Reform Is necessary to rebuild and establish IN the
hearts OF the whole people the unOn, eleven years
ago happily reScue from danger OF corrupt central
ism which after lhc~ng upon Ten States the TIac-
Itv OF carpet-htg tyranny, has tCuey-cOmted the
offices the FEDERAL govern nent itself with lncap9 uy
vorsa than fr ud inflicted States and municipalities
with the coutagIon OF misru!e and locke; u'st the
property IlIs:rOJS people ia the paralysis OF
ilrl times. Reform Il necessary 70 establish sound
,lle credit the
national honor.
We ieuounce the f4ilure of all these ten years 20
make good The promises OF The legal tender notes
winch changing the STANDARD of value IN the
hands Of the people, and the non-payment of which
Is disregard the plghted faith OF the nation. We
deuounee ;he ImpfOvldeHoe which IN eleven years OF
peace has taken tIom The people III frauds ten
the OF the Legal tender notes and squIndered
four times the useless expense without ac-
cumulaIIng any reserve Tor their re,itmDtlOn.
We lenuuuce the financial policy and immortality
of that purity which, during clever years OF peace,
has made 10 advancement toward r-SumptIo., no
pTtPiIatlOn Tor resumption, but Instead, has OBJ
structei resumption 10y wasting our reSourc,s
ami eXhaUstmg all orr suGpiuS income; and while
annually protesting to Inteni a speedy return To
specie payment, has auuual.y added tres hinrauCe
thereto As such HIN !ranc- deuounce the re
sumption clause OF the act OF 1875 ana demand its
repeal We demand Iu lic.Ous system of preptra-
tlOn by puf lie eoonoml's; by uicE.l retrenchments
and 10y wise finance whch shall nabie the nation 10
perfect readiness 10 meet any III lis promises at the
call OF its creditor entitled 70 payment.
We believe such Il system we'll devise and intrUSt-
81 70 competent hands 10: execution cr-ttn at no
time artificial scarcity of ncy, and at
alarming the public mind into withdrawal OF that
yaster machinery, OF ere ut by which 95 per of
all business TRANSACTIONS periUrmel--a system
open, public and inspiring general confidence wOui
from the day OF lis adoption brHg healing IFS
winss to all OCr EaIIssed industries; set IN motion
the wheels OF commerce, manufactures md the
mechanic arts restore employment 10 labor IN pros
peTity 10 the people.
Reform IS necessary il the sum and mole of federal
a,ariJn TO the end that capital f set free from dis
trust and labor lightly bur.ene-i. Ne deDouuce the
present tariff LEVIED upon nearly lGuG articles rs
masterpiece ot injustice and false pleterse. IL
yield, a dWIRdlng, not 4 yearly rIsug revenue. Il
has IMPOVERISHED many industries to sulsliZa a few
IL prohibits imports that might purchase the pro
duets uf the country. Ii .s reiuced American com
uercs fom the tTst TO an intsTIuT TaHk upon th-
hlsh sess. IL has lowered tire sale OF American
manufactures at home and abEOtd, AMI depeceS tie
return Of American agriculture and Industry f,!-
lowell by half ct people II costs the people i've
times more than It pr dUcrs to the treasury. II Oh
sJTucts the processes OF pro IOn and wastes the
fruits OF labor. II promotes fraud, fosters SNUG
CLING, enrIches dlSl onest officials and lnkrupts hon.
merchants. We demand that ciscom-hl uss taxa
ton shall b only E'r revenue.
Reform necessary in the scale Of public expense
national, State and mUEirpIl. Our federal tsiNtiJ
las swollen from 500 $50 gUid IN 1860 to $50
GJy,ou0 currency III tSs0, IN decade f.Um less
than - per head 10 than SIS per head SiLca
the peace the people hive pad 20 the tax gathers
mo Z than three uin,s the amount OF the national
debt and more than twice III II federal OUTLAWS
Above ali, We demand truylty every department
Of tie government.
Reform Is necessary 20 put a stop 20 prcAigate
waste OF public lands AMI their diversion from actual
settlers ty the party III power, which has SguteTsd
Two hundred millions of upon railroads alone,
ana out OF more than three that aggregate has di
posed OF less than a sixth 10 tha sIllrIS rf the soil
Reform Il necessary 10 c1rTeCt tie omissions of 4 |
repu lcsIn Congress ard the ct our treaties
and oar diplomacy, winch have striped fellow
"t!z-nS OF foreign birth Gut kiBl."i crossing
the Atlantic of tha shield Of An vi.Jzr;,S an!
have exposed Cur bg- tlr-n 4 the Plr, To- the
iHcursIyns ut a not sIc.kIns language from the
SAM great parent stock and, fact now by aW d.
med CItlzrnslp though naturalization. as laul,
neither accustomed 10 tie traditions Of progressive
ciNIllza.r Eor exercised IN l'rty under eQu.i laws
We cenoEnce the puEcy which thus 4.Sc=,Ils tis-
l2beIty-ovIng German aud toierdtrS the revival ui
the oOOlle tr-1e ia MoH.gl han imported Tor
immoral purposes AMI MougoIsn men held 10 per-
fOTE seTvle labor contracts, ami demand such a
molIfi at on Of the treaty with the Chinese Empire
or such LISiacn 10y Congress within o0nStitut unal
limitations shall prevent th- fur her importation
Or iruIul- ration OF the Monaghan rIce.
Reform Is necessary, and can never be eff,cte! bat
by making It the controlling lssu= OF the elect
and lifting u above the two false issues with which
The OH e0lilng class and the party III power seek
ing 10 smother it.
I. The false issue with which they would eukiulIe
sectrnn STRIFE IN respect TO the public schools Of
which the establishment and support belong eXcu-
sIve!y to the States wIch the democratic party has
cherished from their toUniation, ami resolved 10
MAINTAIN without any ps tIa.lty fOr clss,
creel, anu without CClTbUt OBS from the treasury
,. The false lasur ty wLIfh they seek Ia h-ht |
anew the DYING embtrs Ui sectional nate between
kniTed people once unBaturtHy eStIanae1l, but ROW
united IN one lndlviSlble reiUb!ic aud oomruou
destiny.
r4rf
proves that the etI-l- economical cOntUCt OF the
government IS no. possible II lis civil ,ervIc. be a
prize fought for at The tai!ot box, be bef reward
OF party zeal instead 81 posts ui honor assigned for
proved competency, ami held ilr +: letitv IA public
employ. That the dISqer>.Ry OF patronage should
neIiier te "a tax on tie tiae OF public Tor
the instrument OF their AMBITION. Here again DO
LESSONS 1aiSitri III the per0' that tie
party IN power Row can work cut no practical or ,
satisfactory reform.
Ret IN is Necessary even more in higher g,aIes of
public servIce-Pre-Iient, Wee President, iu igts I
senators, representatives cabinet Olicrs-th,se and
al IN authority are th- paoplr's servants III
cttices are not private perquIstt they are public
uUst- When the annals OF tins republic show the /
disgrace and ceI SURF Of Wee President; cf a late
speaker o the House OF Representatives marketing
his rulings presiding officer If three senators
prohiIus secretly by their votes as law makers Of
I'VE cidIrbth OK the lrd.inE committees If the late
house oi Representatives exposed III robbery of a
ate secretary OF the treasury forcing alanles IN tie
public account OF hate 4ttOrn y neral nisapplu-
t'-'A "a % Sf'lrtiIy ol li4r Ut1NuTy
eirlcLi or tHrIcAInS Irens, by per CeBiase leyIs4l
on the ? ohts Ot with Lis department. Of
an enisssaor To England ceIsured Tor a dIsh0u0rt-
b!e speculation; OF President private secretary
bare; escaping convection upon trial tor guilty COM
Ih ty III frauds upon the revenue: OF a secretary of
war lnpeached Tor LgH and confessed misie-
IneaUUTs.
The demonstration IS complete that the first step in
reform must De the p-oy!ee cGIce Tor Honest men IN
anOi her party, lest the diss= OF one political tr.1
zatlon should inject the body Ioitic, and lest by
III measures and reform Of al these abuses ron
and crimes. That tie pro uCtiuls Of sixteen yaar.