The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-07-20
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THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
The Centennial Declaration for Liberty
and Reform.

We, the delegates of the Democratic
party of the United States, in National
Convention assembled, do hereby declare
the administration Of the Federal Govern
ment to be in urgent need ofimmediate
reform; do hereby enjoin upon nominees
of this Convention, and of the Democra-
tic party in each State, Jealous effort
and cooperation to this end, and do here
by appeal to our fellow citizens of every
former political connection 10 undertake
with us this first and most pressing patri-
otic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, REPUB-
LICAN SELF GOVERNMENT.
For the Democracy of the whole coun.
try, we do here reafhrm our faith in the
permanence of the Federal Union, our
devotion TO the Constitution of the United
States, with its amendments, universally
accepted as 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 ofRepub,
lies; in the supremacy of the civil over
the military authority; in the total sepa-
ration of church and State; for the sake
alike of civil andreligious freedom, in the
equality of all citizens before just laws of
their own enactment in the liberty of in
dividual conduct unvexed by sumptuary
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 be-
hold the noblest products of hundred
years of changefull history, but while
upholding the bonds of our union and
great charter ofthese, ourrights, it behoo-
Wis free people to practice, also, that
eternal vigilance which is the price of
liberty.
EFoRM-CoRRUPT CENTRALISM.
Reform is necessary to rebuild and es.
tablish in the hearts of the whole people
of the Union, eleven years ago happily
rescued from the danger of a secession
of States, but now to be saved from a cor
rupt centralism, which, after inhicting
upon ten States the rapacity of carpet
bag tyrannies, has honeycombed the
Federal Government itself with incapa-
city, waste and fraud; infected States and
municipalities with the contagion of mis-
rule, and locked fast the prosperity Of an
industrious people in the paralysis of hard
times. ....
REFORM OF THE CURRENCY SPECIEPAY
MENTS.
Reform Is necessary to establish sound
currency restore the public credit, and
maintain the National honor.
We denounce the failure for all these
eleven years of peace to make good the
promise of the legal tender notes which
are changing standard of value in the
hands ofthe people, and the non pay
ment of which is disregard ofthe plight
ed faith of the Nation.
We denounce the improvidence which,
in eleven years Of peace, has taken from
the people in Federal taxes thirteen times
the whole amount of the lagal tender
notes, and squandered four times their
sum in useless expenses with out accumu-
lating any reserve for their redemption.
We denounce the financial imbecility
and immortality of that party which dur
ing eleven years of peace, has made no
advance toward resumption, no prepa-
ration for resumption, but, instead, has
obstructed resumption by wasting our
resources and exhausting all our surplus
income, and, while annually protesting
to intend speedy return to specie pay
ments, has annually enacted fresh hind.
RANGES thereto. AS such a hindrance we
denouuce the resumption clause of the
act of 1875, and demand its repeal.
We demand a judicious system of pre-
paration by public economies, by official
retrenchments, and by wise finance,
which shall enable the nation soon to
assure the whole world of its perfect
ability and its perfect readiness to meet
any of its promises at the call of the
creditor entitled to payment.
We believe such system, we'll devised,
and, above all, intrusted to competent
hands for execution, creating at no time
an artificial scarcity of currency, and at
no time alarming the public mind into a
withdrawal of that vaster machinery Of
credit by which ninety FIVE per cent. Of