The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-10-15
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
Adopted In 1876 and Re-Adoptcd
for 1878.


Carolina, in Convention assembled,
announces tho following as it's plat
form ofprinciples: We rciterato our
acceptance in perfect good faith of
tho Thirtc onth, Fourteenth and Elf
tcenth amendments, to the Federal
Constitution, accepting and stand
ing upon them we turn from the
settled and final past to the great,
living and momcntous ISSUE Of the
present and future.
GWe reaf1irm the platform Of prin-
ciples announced by the National
Democratic party assembled at ST.
Louis, and i'll accordance with the
declaration of that platform and tho
utterances and acts of our distin-
guished leader, Wade Hampton, we
oall upon all our follow cititzons, ir~
respective Of race, color or previous
condition, to unite with us in con-
tinuing the work of reform and
redemption inauguratel by the
Democratic party of South Carolina,
for it is evident that substantial and
lasting reform is impossible within
the ranks of the Republican party of
this State. We havo charged and
convicted the Republican party with
arraying race against race. creating
disturbances and fomenting difficult
ties with prostituting the elective
franchise, tamporin3 with the ballot
box, and holding unfair anl fraudu,
lent elections with having accumu-
lated IN enormous debt mismnn,
aged the finances, and injured the
credit of the State; with lcvying
exorbitant taxes, and squaniiering
them when collected, thus wringiny
from the toll and livelihood of the
honest poor man Of the State large
percentum of his hard earnings
without giving in return any com
pensation therefor, and rccllesslv
involving in debt q majority of the
counties of the State. It's manages
ment Of our penal and charitable in
stitutions was shame and II dis
grace. We charge it's legislation
as demoralizing, partisan and dis
graceful, ard the venality and cor
ruption which characterized evory
branch Of the government, executive,
Legislative and judicial, as having no
parallel III Che history of nations. IT
created multiplicity of unncccs-
sary and useless Offices, complicated
i'll their systom and unnecessarily
expensive, and can never purify
itself, give good anl impartial gov
ernment, Or by its moral force and
character exercise in its full sover-
eignty the law of the land. We do
not charge this condition Of things,
which every patriot must dcplorc,
upon the masses of the party, but
upon the leaders, who made such
fatal use Of their confidence AMI
trust, 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-citizons, irrespective
OF race or past party al1iliution, to
join with us in preserving the good
name of our State, and in maintain-
ing her dignity and character among
the commonwcalths of this great
country. We discountenanco I'll dis
turbances of the peace Of the State,
and dcnounce all instigators thereof,
and earnestly call upon all of our
follow .citizcns, irrespective of party
lines, to exercise forbcnranco and
cultivate good will qnd if tho gov
ernment of tho State is continued
in our control, we pledge ourselves
to protect the persons, rights and
property Of the people, and to
speedily bring to summary justice
any who dare violate them.
We desire a fair and peaccable
election, appealing to the reason and
not the passion of the people, and
have guaranteed by law a fair olec-
tion and fair count. We call upon
all Of the patriotic sons Of Carolina
to join us. Our object is continued
reform, retrenchmcnt and relief,
that by honesty and economy we
may still further reduce the taxes
and Tighten the burdens Of tho peo-
pie, giving at the samo time abso~
lutte security to the rights and
property of all. Upon these para
mount issu we cordially invite the
cooperation of every Democrat and
Republican who is earnest and will
ing to unite with us in this great
work.
"We have got to practice tho
most rigid economy at such q time
as this" remarked q man the other
H., L. - o..<.J 80 ILL., -. ttT