The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-08-22
The Democratic Platform.

press and threaten the people.
Protesting its friendship for the Fedora
Union, il sought to destroy it in centraliza-
ton Declaring its purpose to ''establisl
iustice,n it trampied il under its feet. TX
''insuIe domestic tranquility" its proclaimed
mission, it preached the gospel of hate, anC
filed the land with blood, misrule and an
archy. Pretending to "provide for the COM
mon Defence" it fruitlessly squandered mil
lions of the peoples money. Affecting tC
spromote the general welfare" it betrayed
the public veal. Affirming its design tC
''secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and posterity," it forged for the people the
chains of perpetual slavery. OsteEsibly the
financial agent of the people, it was in tact
the plant tool of the money power. 1t be-
trayed its trust when it converted a non-in-
telest bearing debt into an interest bearing
debt, which is a blighting public curse. II
betrayed its trust when 1t repudiated con-
tract which was dischargeable in treasury
notes, and substituted a coin contract in its
stead to the prejudice of the people. 1t be
trayed its trust when it demonetized silver
and forbade payment to the public creditors
in the cheaper metal provided for in the con-
tract. 1t betrayed its trust when it organ
lied privileged class into close banking
corporation, and usurping all ban king power,
invested its creature with exclusive corporate
power to destroy the business and property
of the people. 1t betrayed its power when it
HAGu DCiiOu lOI ICSuuA PbiOhs ~
has squandered the public wealth by dona-
tions TO powerful corporations. 1t has wrung
enormous taxes from the people, and 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.
By unfriendly legislation it has driven
American ships from the high seas, and ut
terly DESTROYED our foreign commerce.
1t made the army an iastrumentin the an
Inhalation of republican government in the
South. By the use of the army it put the
people of the United States in fear and rob-
bed them of the Presidency. 1t insults the
laboring people of our country by demand
ing an increase of the army for the avowed
purpose of a standing menace to them. By
the levy of excessive excise duties npon to-
bacco and alcoholic productions, it has en-
couraged Violations of the revenue laws, and
under the false preteuse ofprOtecting 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, end confessing the want of
III risdiction in the Federal courts to punish
them, yet 1t refuses to allow these enemies
to society to be challenged anywhere for their
crimes.
Acquiring power by accident, it has per-
petrated it by fraudulently deceiving the ig-
norant blacks of the South, and misleading
the credulous masses of the North, and it has
uniformly abused its power by administering
the government 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 the interest of the rich and against
the poor; In the interest of the strong and
against the weak; in the interest of the few
and against the many.
As the legitimate fruit of it's maladminis
tration, it has paralyzed ell 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; it has
filled the land with unrest, discomfort and
agitation, the unmistakable precursors of
resistance to oppression, inius-
tice and wrong
For these crimes against humanity and
good government, we denoupce the Radical
Re publican party as unworthy the trust and
confidence of an intelligent and patriotic peo-
0is. As the representatives of the Demo
cratic party. we congratulate the people that
our party has at last won victory Tor them
over the Radical Republican party aEHd lts
allies, monopoly and money; power. Through
the labors and policies of the Democratic
party, domestic governments, republican II
spirit as well as IN form, have been restored
to the Southern States, and these States have
been replaced in the Federal circle with funo
tons and rights oo-equal with the other
members of the Union. For tie accomplish
ment of this great work this political organi-
zation deserves the gratitude ofthe South and
the respectful consideration of the whole re-
public; the gratitude of the former is due be-
cause it was the direct recipient of the bless
ngs of restored political and civil liberty;
The respectful consideration of the national
republic is due because by the success of the
Democrats policipsia this regard, the sword
was eliminated from its internal 8drninisteR-
Jon, Capitalization arrested, and the ancient
forms and methods of the Federal system re-
We pledge the people that our
grand old party will never lower its banner
lor take step backward, until the prosper
ty ofthe whole people shall be held to be
,he supreme law of political administration
In the name of Democracy we denounce an
public debt q public curse;
We denounce protection public robbery; we
lenopnce monopolies as hateful, and destruc-
We TO public liberty, and demand that they
'e put away from among the people. Wede
nand the restoration Of the Federal Govern
nent to its constitutional limits, and q re-
urn of its administration to its original |
simplicity and impartiality.
We demand that the military shall be |
ubordinate to the civil authority in fact as |
veil as in theory; the repeal of all the laws !
which have destroyed our commerce; the re- |
zeal of the declaration that the currency |
Onds of the Government shall be paid in |
much of said bonds Us may be found due af- |
er deducting the difference between the value |
f the gold paid and the currency due there
n according to the contract; the uncondi-
ional repeal of the resumption act; that the
dious national banking act be repealed and
reenbacks be substituted for the circulation
t the national banks; that treasury notes be
lads receivable for ell Government dues;
hat no more interest bearing bonds be is
led; that all loans required the Govern
lent be raised bv the issuance of non-inter-
u bearing treasury pntesi that the coinage
silver be made unlimited, and while it is
10 ebeape. metal that 1t be paid to the pub
c creditor exclusively upon oil bonds Justly
ayable in coin; that the value of All IOIe;Ssn
liver coins be regulated and made receivable
II all Government dues; TO be recoined by
le Government and paid out to its creditors;
ie repeal of all laws which deny to the peo-
70 of the several States the right to deter
inc for themselves whether they will au-
lorize banks OF not; that capital in every
I'm be required to bear the burdens of gov
ument equally with labor and production;
at the present financial policy of the Gov
nment to contract the circulation of treas
y notes. dispRrRge silver, magnify gold
Id national bank notes be reversed, and ev-
y legitimate mode adopted to swell the
hume of our currency with silver and treas
y notes. For five years the National Rad
al Republican party upheld and protected
irresponsible minority in the usurpation
our State Cover nment, and permitted it
waste the substance of our unrepresented
ID impoverished people by burdensome tax
ion, and the issue and sale, at an enormous
scount, of millions of bonds, the proceeds
which in great part, were converted to the
ivate use Of its party favorites; and when
g control of the State government was re-
vered by our people, they were threatened
tn q military government il they presumed
question the validity OF the bonds so is
ed. We undertook TO provide for these
DDS as part of our public debt. As Dem
rats we point with pIlde to the fact that 1
ice the accession of our party to power, il L
5 not created dollar of debt, but has paid
llions upon existing debts. 1t has stead ,
reduced the expenses of the administra-
n of the State Government. 1t has at :
npted to meet sll the obligations of the
ate, just and unjust. By resson ofcircum-
noes over which we have had no control,
are no longer able now TO meet the re-
irements OF our creditors. The cost of all \
r productions exceeds their market value.
T mechanics and laboring people are with
.remunerative employment, Our mer- II
lnts are making no gains. None ATE pros II
'ous save corporations, interest takers and II
ney lenders. We recognize among our II
YES wide differences of opinion as 20 the :
lie, mode and measure of the payment of
public obligations, but for the present
sc differences of opinion afford no just oc- =
ion for disturbing that unity which is so
entail to the complete success of our party II
It's great struggle for the liberation of the L
ntry. We cordially mite, however,, in 4
laring that we are opposed to the repudi-
- = - Il.