The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-10-10
The Democratic Platform

In the name Of the Democratic party O.
| Tennessee. we its delegates in convention
assent led, most solemnly arraign the Rad
ical Republican party, National and State
before the bar Of public opinion, as the au-
thor of all the misfortunes which now OPP
press and threaten the people
Protesting its friendship fer the Federal
Union, il sought TO destroy it in centraliza-
ton. Declaring its purpose to establish
ENSURE dome tic tranquility its proclaimed
mission, IL preached the gospel OF hate, and
hlled the land with blood, misrule aud an =
! archy. Pretending TO provide for the com
mon Defence" it fruitlessly squandered mill
lions of the peoples money, Affecting to
promote the general welfare,n il betrayed
the public veal Affirming its design 70
secure the blessings Of liberty to ourselves
and posterity," il forged for the people the
chains of perpetual slavery. Ostersibly the
financial agent Of the people, it was in tact
Tire plant tool OF the money power IL be-
trayed its trust when IL con verted a non in
telest bearing deb into sn interest hearing
debs, which is d blighting public curse. II
betrayed its trust when II repudiated a con-
tract which was dischargeable IN treasury
notes, and substituted coin contract in its
stead TO the prejudice of the people. II be
trayed its trust when il demonetized silver
and forbade paw ment to the public creditors
in the cheaper metal provided for in the con-
tract. IL betrayed its trust when IL organ
lied privileged class into a close banking
corporation, and usurpin all ban king power,
invested its creature with exclusive corporate
power 10 destroy the business and property
of the people IL betrayed its power when Il
fixed an arbitrary period for resumption II
has squandered the public wealth by dona-
items TO powerful corporations. IL has wrung
enormous taxes from the psople, aud applied
them to unworthy partizan purposes.
Under the pretense OF protection to home
industry. it has systematically robbed the
mauy in the interest of the few. .l
By unfriendly legislation IL has driven
American ships from the high seas, and ut
terly destroyed our foreign commerce.
1t made the army an Instrument in the an
Inhalation of republican government in the
South. BY the use of the army il put the
people of the United States in fear and rob
bed them of the Presidency. Il insults the
laborIng people of our country by demand
ing an increase of tho army for the avowed
purpose of standing menace TO them. Bv
the levy of excessive excise duties npOn to-
bacco and alcoholic productions, il has en-
eouraged violations OF the revenue laws, and
under the false pretense Of protecting the rev
enue service It has turned loose upon our
people irresponsible, blood thirsty men, who
kill and MAIN our people and destroy their
property at will, and confessing the want Of
Ju risdietion in the Federal courts to punish
bIGiu1 l0L IL Iclhrta W ultOM lEtHC enemies
to society to be challenged any W here for their
crimes.
Acquiring power by accident, it has per-
petrated it by irau1uleu thy 6eceiying the ig-
norant blacks of the South, and misleading
the creduloua masses of the North, and il has
uniformly abused its power by administering
the gov eminent in the interest of the credi-
tor and against the debtor class; in the inter-
est of the tax consumer and against the tax
payer; in TIE interest of the rich and against
the poor; in the interest of the strong and
against the weak; in the interest of the f5w
and against the many.
A. the legitimate fruit of it's maladminis
tration, it has Paralyzed all our Industrial
pursuits; it has destroyed the value Of our
property, it has deprived labor Of employ
ment and reward; it has impoverished aud
bankrupted the country; it has denied the
poor an opportunity TO earn bread; Il has
flled the land with unrest, discomfort and
agitation, the unmistakable precursors Of
revolutionary resistance to oppression, injus-
tice and wrong.
For these crimes against humanity and
good government, we denounce the Radical
Re publican party as unworthy the trust and
confidence OF an intelligent and patriotic peo-
pie AS the representatives Of the nemo-
cratic party, we congratulate the people that
our party has at last won victory for them
over the Radical Republican party and lie
allies, monopoly and money power. Through
the labors and policies of the Democrats
party, domestic governments, republican in
spirit as we'll as in form, have been restored
to the Southern States, and these States have
been replaced in the Federal circle with func
tons aud rights co-equal with the other
members Of the Union. For the accomplish
ment of this great work this political organi-
cation deserves the gratitude ofthe South and
the respectful consideration Of the whole re-
public; the gratitude of the former Is due be-
cause IL was the direct recipient Of the bless.
ings of restored political and civil liberty
the respectful consideration of the national
republic Is duo because by the success Of the
Democrats policies Ia this regard, the sword
was eliminated from its internal odministra-
ton, central cation arrested, and the ancient
forms and methods of the Federal system re-
We pledge the people that our
grand old party will never lo~ or Its banner
nor take step backward, until the prosper
ity ofthe whole people shall be htld 20 be
the supreme law OF political administration.
In the name of Democracy we denounce an
interest bearing public debt public curse;
we denounce protection a public robbery; we
denounce monopo lies as hateful, and destruc-
tive to public liberty, and demand that they
be put away from among the people. We de
mAnd the restoration Of the Federal Govern
ment to It's constitutional limits, and a re-
turn of its administration 10 It's original
simplicity and impartiality.
We demand that the military shall DO
subordinate to the civil authority in fact as
we'll as in theory; the reIeal Of all the laws
" hich have destroyed our commercei the re-
peal of the declaration that the currency
bonds of the Government shall be paid in
coin. and the payment IN treasury notes Of 40 |
much Of said bonds IA may be found due af- |
Ter deducting the difference between the value
Of the gold paid and the currency due thore- |
ID according to tho contract; the uDcOndi- |
.ional repeal of the resumption act; that the |
Ddious national banking act be repealed aud |
yreenbacks be substituted for the circulation |
81 the national banks; that treasury notes be |
made receivable for all Goyernment dues;
hat no more interest bearing bonds be is
sued; that all loans required by the Govern |
ment be raised b. the Issuance Of non-inter-
,st bearing treasury notes. that the coinage |
Of silver be made unlimited, and while IL is
The cheaper metal that It be paid 20 tue pub
lie creditor exclusively upon all bonds justly |
payable in coin; that the value Of all foreign |
silver coins be regulated and made receivable
for all Government dues; 30 be recoined by
The Government and paid out 10 Its CREDITOR;
The repeal Of all laws which deny 70 the Peo-
pie Of the several States the right 10 d0ter-
mine for themselves whether they will au-