The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-09-21
The Democratic Platform Of South
--------c. Carolina.

The Democratic party of South Carolina, in
Convention assembled, announce the following
as It's platform Of principles Il =
1--WE declare our acceptance in perfect good
faIth OF the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fif-
teenth Amendments to the Federal Constitu-
ton; accepting and standing upon them, wo
turn from the settled and final past TO the
great living and momentous issues of the pres
lent and the future.
We adopt the PLATFORM of principles an
lnounced by the National Democratic party
recently assembled at ST. Louis, and pledge
ourselves to q full and hearty cooperation in
securing the election of its distinguished nom-
inees, Samuel j, Tilden, of New York and
Thomas A. Hendrck. Of Indiana, and believe
that andsr tho wise and just adfainist stcatjon
of itsyaistfhgufshedjr jrefpFm leader, assisted sBy
the .eFhineptl%pattjoto and able acouhselIofs
10y whom he will be surrounded, peace and
prosperity will again bless our country, and
! The dlssensions, confusion and maladminstra-
tlon of the past eight years will give place to
concord. good government, and n thorough
| restoration Of the Union. In accordance, with
the declaration of that platform, and the ut
| terances and acts of our distinguished leader
we demand genuine and thorough reform in
the State of South Carolina, and call upon
all of its citizens, irrespective of race color or
| previous condition, to rally with US TO it's re-
demption, for it Is evident that Substantial
and lasting reform is Impossible within the
ranks of the Republican party of this State
| We charge that party with arraying race
| against race, creating disturbances, and TO-
menting difficulties; with prostituting the ell
ection franchise, tampering with the ballot
box, and holding unfair and fraudulent cleo
tions, with having accumulated enormous debt
mlsmanaged, the finances, and injured the
credit Of the State; with levying exorbitant
taxes and squandering them when collected,
thus winning from the toll and livelihood of
the honest poor man Of the State, large Der
centum of his hard earnings without giving
in return any compensation therefor, and has
hopclessly involved in debt q ma ajorty of the
counties of the St6ts.N It's management of our
penal and charitable institutions is q shame
and d;sSr&Ge, We; charge its legislation as
demorallzlng, partisan, and disgraceiul and
the venality snd corruption which have char
@cterized every branch Of the government.
executive, Legislative and judicial, have no
parallel in the history Of nations. 1t has cro-
ated multiplicity of unnecessary and useless
Offices, complicated in their system, and un-
necessarily expensive. 1t has attempted TO
elevate to the bench two most corrupt and de-
graded men. 1t eau never purify itself, give
good and impartial government, or by its
normal force and character, exercise in its
full sovereignty the law Of the land We do
not Charge this condition Of things, which ev-
cry patriot most deeply deplore upon the
masses of the party, but upon their leaders.
who have made such fatal use of their conf.
dence and trusts; for it is our firm conviction
That all the good people of the State, of both
races, desire peace and prosperity.
We, therefore, call upon all Of our fellow
citizens, irrespective Of race or past party
athliution, to join with us in restoring the
good name of their State, and to again ee-
Vate 1T 10 q place of dignity and character
among the commonwcalths of this great ccun~
Try We dlscOurtenanco all disturbances of
the peace of the Stnlo, and dsnounos oil in
stgntors and promoters thereof, and earnest
~ call upon all Of our fellow citizens, irres-
pcctlvc of party lines, to crcisc forbear ance
and cultivate good will; and it the government
Of he State is committed to our control we
pledge ourselves to protect the persons, rights
! and property fall its people, and to speed
lly bring to summary justice any one who
dare violate them.
We desire n fair, penceable, election, ap-
pcaling TO the reason and not the passions of
the people, and demand Of the Republican
party fair showing in the appointment Of
comm issioners Of election. We demand a fair
election and q fair count. We call upon all
Of the patriotic sons Of Carolina 10 join us.-
We ask but trial Of committing the Slate to
our keeping, and if good government, secu-
Pity, protection and prosperity do not dawn
In our over taxed, despOiled, and disheart-
ened people, then drive us from power with
scorn and ndignetons' zOars object is reform,
retrenchment, and relief, that by honesty
and economy we may reduce the taxes, and
Tighten the burthens of the peoples giving at
The same time absolute security and protec-
tion to the rights and property of all. Upon
this paramount issue we cordially invite the
cooperation Of every Democrat and Repub-
fcan who is earnest and willing in this. crisis
of our State, to unite with us in this great
work. l,.