The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-05-01
DEMOCRATIC DOCTRINE.
The Platform of the Party Adopted at
the State Convention.
A Clear and Unequivocal EuuneiatiOn Of
Principles = Sentiments Which
the Masses VIII IndOrse.

The democracy of the state of Indiana as
sembled in delegate convention declares:
That national bank notes shall be retired,
and in lieu thereof there shall be issued by
the government an equal amount OF treasury
notes with full legal tender quality.
That we are in favor of making the United
States notes, commonly called greenbacks, a
full legal tender in payment OF all debts,
public and private, except such obligations
only as are by the terms of the original con-
tracts under which they were issued, ex-
pressly payable in coin.
That the right to issue paper money as
well as coin is the exclusive prerogative OF
the government, and such money should be
issued in such amounts as the sound business
interests of the country may from time to
time require.
We are in favor Of such legislation by con-
gress as will authorize the taxation by the
states of the United Ste ses notes in common
with all other money.
That we deem it unwise and inexpedient
to enact any further legislation for the
tundlngof the national debt abroad, through
the means of home syndicates or other
methods; and we believe the true policy Of
the government and the best interests of the
people would be subserved by legislating so
as to distribute said debt among our people
at DEMONSTRATING them the most favorable
and practical opportunities for the invest
ment of their savings in the funded debt OF
the United States.
That we are in favor of such legislation
which shall fix the legal rate of interest at
not exceeding SIX per centum per annum.
We demand the restoration of the silver
dollar, of 4121% grains, to the coin of the
country, and with full legal tender quality
in the payment of all debts both public and
private; and that the coinage thereof shall
be unlimited, and upon the same terms and
conditions as may be provided for the COIN
age of gold.
That we are in favor of the immediate and
unconditional repeal Of the resumption act
We are in favor of the most ngid economy
in public expenditures, and we declare that
the fees and salaries of all public officers
should be reduced.
That we are in favor of the repeal of the
bankrupt act
That we sincerely deplore the recent vio-
lent collision between labor and capital.
and to prevent the recurrence thereof and
to protect the future public order and Sc
curity we believe that the wages of cor
porations engaged in the business of
mining manufacturing and transporta-
ton should be a first lien upon the
property, receipts and earnings of said cor
porations, and that such lien should be
declared, defined and enforced by appropri-
ate legislation.
That We favor the passage of a law for the
ventilation OF coal mineS-One that would
be just TO the miner and owner.
The democratic party is the friend OF the'
common school system, and will in every
legitimate way labor for its success, and
will oppose any attempt to divert any por-
ton OF the common school fund to any sec
tartan purpose.
That the last apportionment of the state
for legislative purposes was grossly unjust
and dishonorable, and we demand that the
next legislature, in apportioning the state
for legislative purposes as will be their i'm
peratiye duty, shall have regard alone to
population and contiguity OF territory.
That the jurisdiction claimed and ex-
ercised by the circuit courts of the
United States over questions of cor
porate and individual rights arising
under the laws of the states tends TO
Cypress and burden itigants to such an ex-
tent as TO amount to practical denial OF
justice in many cases; and We consider the
legislation which has conferred such iuris-
diction as unwise and hurtful to the true
interests of the peoDle And we demand
such legislation as will restrict and limit the
jurisdiction of such courts to such matters as
are clearly contemplated by the constitution
and expressed in the judiciary act of 1888.
We are opposed to class legislation, and
protest against the grant of subsidies by the
federal government, either in lands, bonds,
money or by the pledge Of the public
credit.
Thst we abhor and hold up to public
detestation the leaders in the republi-
can party who secretly connived, and
with barefaced effrOntery carried out
the scheme, by and through venal
returning boards whereby Samuel j.
Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks the peo
pies choice for president and vice president,
were wrongfully kept out of the positions to
which free people had called them. We
hold it up as the monster crime of the age,
a crime against free government, a crime
against the elective franchise, and a crime
that can only be condoned when the
malefactors who seated fraud in the pres
idential chair are driven from power
and consigned to everlasting infamy by
the people whom they have outraged. And
we denounce the act of the president of the
United States in appointing to high and
lucrative positions the corrupt members of
the returning boards, and condemn the acts
of federal officers in attempting to interfere
with the rights and powers OF the state
courts in the prosecution of these criminals.
That our senators and representatives in
congress be and are hereby requested to Sc
cure passage of a law giving to the soldiers
OF the Mexican war a pension similar to
that now given to the soldiers of the war
of 1872.