The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-08-11
National Democratic Platform.

Natlona1 Bemocratic Platform
/ We, the delegates of the Democro,i,
| party Of the United States in 49,; az
| Convention assembled. do bereb- -.
the ADMINISTRATION Of the Federal Govarn
ment to De n urgent need of immedioto
reform, and do hereby enioin 80 = "a :
nominees of this Convention al 20 uN
! Democratic party in each state 49,
effort and co operation to this end al -
hereby appeal to our feIlow-ci,i,a, 80
every former political connection 80 -, ~
dertake with us this first and most 80
sing patriotic duty. For the Demod 80
of the whole country we do bere 80 a; :.
our faith in the permanence of tho FL
eral Union, and our devotion IN the o.
stitution of the United States with 10
amendments, universally accented 10 =
final settlement OF the Controversies tina,
engendered eiNll war, and do here record
our steadfast coincidence in the perpetuitv
of Republican elf-government. In n
resolute acqni escenee in the will of the
majority, the vital principle of republics.
In the supremacy OF the civil over the
military authority, in the total senara,io,,
Of church and State, for the sale al,I,o 81
civil and religious freedom in tho ao,,Ii
ty of all citizens before Just laws II tbsir
own enactment, IN the liberty of indiv;d-
ual conduct unvexed by sumptuarv laws
in the faithful edueation OF the RISING
generation that they may preserve en-.
joy, and transmit these best conditions Of
human happiness and hope, we behold the
modest products of a hundred wears Of
changeful history But while upholdiuc
the bond of our Union and the great char
ter of these our rights, il behooves n free
people to practice also that eternal yigi-
lance which is the price of liberty Re-
form is necessary TO rebuild and establish
in the hearts Of the whole peonIe the
Union eleven years ago happily rescued
from the danger Of a CORRUPT centralism
which. after infietiug upon ten States
the rapacity Of carpet bag tyraumies, has
honey oombed sssbe offices of the Federal
ii ~ With capacity, waste,
and fraud, infecsed States and municipal
tiles with the coulagion of misrule, and
lock ed fast the pres perity of an industri-
Gus people in the paralysis of hard times.
Reform is necessary to establish
sound currency sud restore the public
credit and mpintan the national honor.
We denounce the failure for all these
eleven years to make good the promise of
the lenal-tender mites, which are a chang
ing standard of vaiue in the hands Of the
people, and the noa- payment of which IL
a disregard Of the plighted faith Of the
nation. We denoance the improvldence
which, in eleven years of peace, has taken
from the people ia Federal taxes thirteen /
times the whole account OF the legai-teu-
der notes, and squandered four times this
sum in useless EXPENSE without accumu-
lating any revenue for their redemption
We denounce the financial imbeciiity and /
r.t,r Ftf saA mo
eleven years of peace, has made no adj /
vance toward resum ption, aud no prepar
alton for resumption, but instead has OBJ /
structed resumption by wasting our rev
enues and exhausting all our surplus in I
come, and while annually protesting 10 7.
intend a speedy return 10 specie payments F.
has annually enacted fresh hindrances .
thereto. 4 : such a hindrance we de
nouuce the resumption clause of the act .
OF 1875, and We hereby demand its repeal /
We demand "A judieious system of prepar- .
alton by public economies, by official re-
treuchments, andy wise financial man
lgeInent, which SHALL enable the nation
soon TO assure the whole world Of its per
feet ability and is perfect readiness 10 .
meet any Of its Promises at the call OF The
creditor entitled 70 payment. We believe
hat such a system. well devised, aud
ifDfE htAs ttRt A1ifA ~ I'm -A-i Az @t''aN'~
for execution. creating at no time an ar
ihciaI scarcity Of currency, aud at no
lime alarming tie public mind into a
OF that vaster machinery OF
credit BY which % per cent. of all bust
ness TRANSACTIONS are performed, a sys-
e,n open, public and inspiring general
confidence, would, from the day of its
ldoption, bring tealing on its wings TO All
,ur harassed industries, set in motion the
wheels of commerce, manufactures and
he mechanical arts, restore employment
% labor and renew in all its national
sources the prosperity of the people.
Reform is necessary IN the sum and
node of FederaltaxatI0n, to the end that
,apital may he SET free from distrust and
abor lightly burlened. We dcuoanoe the
present tariff. levied upon nearly four
thousand articles, as a masterpiece Of in
ustice, inrquali'y a7l false pretense. 1t
fields a DIV iazs-T%~-+sat a Yearly rising
'eVeuue- IL hrs isapsSerished many in
lustries 10 spbsiiize& few. 1t prohibits
IMPORTS that mgi purchase the products
4 American labor. 1t has degraded
merican commerce from the first to an
Inferior rank on the high seas. 1t has
ut down the ssks of American manufac-
ures at home htd abroad, aud depleted
he returns of Anerican agriculture, an
Industry followed by hall our people. l.
osts the people five times more than it
reduces to tie treasury, oJstructs the
processes Of production and wastes the
ruits Of labor. i promotes fraud fosters
muggling. enriches dishonest officials
nd bankrupts honest merchants. We
emaud that al eustom-house taxation
hall be only forleyenue.
Reform is necessary in the scale Of pub
a to a "a m ~ IpiT nal
,ur Federal taxation has swollen from
80. O0a. oOJ gold in 1850 to $3.50 000,0OO
urrency in 1870 and our aggregate tax
tion from Sl50.0e0 900 gold in 1860 to
;73O 600 600 currency in 1870 or in one
ecade from less than five dollars per head
o more than eickteen dollars per head.
nce the peace, the people nave pald IN
axes more than thrice the sum of the
ational debt. aud more than twice that
nm for the Federal Government alone.
We demand a rigorous frugality In every \
apartment, and from every oiheer OF the
Government.
Reform is neccssary to put stop to the
rohigate waste Of the public lands ana
heir diversion from actual settlers oy
he party in power. which has Squanaered
wo hundred millions OF acres upon ran ;
Dads alone. and oat Of more than thrice
nat aggregates hss ul9 P"
sixth directly to tillers Of the soil.
Reform is NECESSARY to correct the
mission of a Republican Congress and
he errors of our treaties and our diplo
racy which have stripped orr fellow !
irizens of foreign birth and kindred
ace recrossing the Atlantic of the
held of Americsu citizenship. and have
exposed our brethren OF the Pacific coast
, the incnrsions Of n race not sprung
rom the same crest parent stock, and in
act now by Ias denied citizenship.
hough natGraliaaiion is being neither
to tbe traditions of a pro
ressive civilization nor exercised in
berty under equal laws. We denounce
olicy which ,hss discards the liberty
wing German aui toerates the renewal
+ the Coolie trads in Mongolian women
nported for immora' purposes, and Mon
olian men held 70 perform servile labor
ontracts And ne demand such mndi-