The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-07-26
PL OR Nj
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 he in urgent need
of immediate reform do hereby enjoin up
on the nominees of this Convention, and
of the Democratic party in each State, a
Jealous effort and cooperation to this end,
and do hereby appeal to our feliow-citizens
of every former political connection to I'M
dertake with us this fist and most press
ing patriotic duty. For the Democracy of
the whole country we do here reatfirm our
faith in the permanency OF the Federal
Union: our devotion tn Tie Constitution
Of the United States with it's aue dments
universally accepted as a final settlement
of the controversies that engendered civil
war. and we do here record our stead;ast
confidence in the perpetnty of republican
self-eovenment:An absolute acquiescence
in the will OF the ma orty, the vital prin
ciple of republics; i'll the 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
Sslnptuary laws: III the faithful education
Of the rising generation that they may
preserve. enjoy ard transmit these best
! conditions Of human happiness. and hope
we behold the noblest products of hum
| ,lred years of changeful history. but while
upholding tho bond of our Union and
great charter of those orr rights, it be-
hooves a free people to practice also that
eternal vigilance which is the price OF
| iiborty.
| REFORM is NECESSARY
to rebuild aud establish in the hearts OF
the whole people of the Union, eleven
years ago happily rescued from tie dan
ger of II corrupt centralism which, after
| inflicting upon ten States the iapaclty OF
carpet-bag tyraunies, has hOneycombed
the officers of the Federal Government it.
self with incapacity, waste and fraud, III
fected States and municipalities with the
cOntagiOn of m!srule, and locked fast the
prosperity of an industrious people in the
paralysis of hard times. Reform is neces
sary to establish sound currency, restore
the public credit, and maintain the na
tioual 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 ths
hands OF the people, aud the non payment
of which is disregard of the plighte(
faith of the nation. We denounce thu
improvidence which in eleven years o
peace have taken from the people in Fede
raj taxes, thirteen times the whole
amount of the legal tender notes, ant
suuandcred four times this sum in useless
expense without accommodating any re
serve for their resumption. We denounc'
the financial imbecility and immoralit,
of that party, which, during eleven year
of peace. has made no advance TOWARD
assumptions; that instead has obstructet
resumption by wasting our resources ant
exhausting all our surplus income, ant
; while annually protesting to intend
speedy return to specie payments, ha
annually enacted fresh intolerance there
;. the resumption clause of the act Of 1875
{ and we here
DEMAND IT'S REPEAL.
: We demand a judicious system of prepare
ton by public economies, by official re
. trelchments and by wise finance whicl
, shall enable the nation to insure til
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 system wei
, devised, and, above all, entrusted to CON
petent hands for execution, creating at n
time an artificial scarcity of currency an
I, at no tine alarming the public mind int
r withdrawal OF that vaster machinery c
D credit by which IS per cent. of all bushes
n transactions are performed-a syster
\ open, public and inspiring general conf
dence would from the day of its adoptio
y bring healing on its wings to all our hal
assed industry and set in motion tn
t wheels of commerce, manufactures an
the mechanical arts, restore employment
E to labor, aud renew in all its nati0ns
+ source the prosperity of the people. r.
form is necessary in the sum and mode {
Federal taxation, to the end that capt.;
may be set free from distress and labt
lightly burdene6.
n WE DENOUNCE THE PRESENT TARIFF
levied upon nearly four thousand article
as a masterpiece of injustice, inequalit
and false pretence 1t yields dwindlin!
not a yearly rising revenue; it has impo'
erisbed many industries TO snbsidize
!, few; it prohibits imports that might pu
Il chase the products of American labo
!. it has degraded American commerce fro
n the first to an inferior upon the high sea
it has cut down the sales of America
manufactures at home and abroad, ar
depleted the returns of American agrlcu
ture. an interest followed by half O,