Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-08-17
PLATFORM OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY OF MISSOURI.

The democratic party Of the state OF Missouri
in convention assembled, declares Its confidence
ia ond shaken adherence to the great prIncI-
pies "f Drin"cIat!c representative government,
lt- devotion TO the national union, arl the con-
>tItutIU., with the amendments thereto, Its IN
-wcrvIng maintenance of the following princi-
piee, niinei: strict suDordinaliun OF the militia
ry To the civil power "ppn-ition to II larg. stand-
inS army in INN" of peace; the purity oil elections
ami their absolute freedom from all Intcrter-
encc by officers O the Federal sOverInrnt, civil
or military: profound respect tor the popular
Will fairy amt legally expressed Al the ballot
box; = ilAei purp'' 81 In expose and punish all
political iruui and corruption; the political
equality of all citizens; the largest right of in
'iIvidual liberty consistent with the rights 0f
others; universal education and L general ami
active participation by the body OF the peo-
pie in public .tilairs
fact that. after nearly thirteen wears from the
cessation OF hretiiIties, IA stat" OF peace in ac-
cor'i,ncc with the constitution and laws has
been reached IN our southern states.
Ihrd-We solcmnly arraIgn and condemn the
high electoral commission taIhlcss To the
people of the l lniird states IN refusing TO in
v"-tISnte an! expose the wicked ami giaring
frauds by which the Will of the people AT the last
Pre- licntIiI election Was defeated Its refusal
TO do 80. was IN violation "i the spirit of th,.
law under winch 1t wa organized, AMI while
the decision rs made hy the iorty-iourth con
he declared Pr.siden. OF the United
states tor the present Presidential term
was. in our Judgment, final, that decision ought
not TO preclude II lul investigation and exposure
Of al! frauds connected with that election, and
the due accountability OF all who Were. guilty
concerned with them, and we heartily commend
the action ofthe majority Oi the House OF Repre-
sentatlves III pursuing such investigation.
Fourt-Wc regard the national banking sys-
ten !, oppressive and bur,ienson,e, ami demand
its abolition and the retirement IRON circulation
nf all national bank notes and the Is7i.c of legal
from time to time sufficient to supply the whole
some and necessary business demands OF tn"
entire country, and that all greenbnck= so Issued
hall be used IN the purchase and retirement OF
Understanding debt Of the country may
backs thus put into circulation. Legal ten
den notes, commonly called grccnbacks, should
be a legal tender IN the payment of all debts,
public ana private, except such ohiigatIuns rs
are. by the terms of the OriDinHi contracts, ,eN-
prr-siy made payabi" III coin
Flith-lhat the right To coin money and regu-
late the value thereof can be exercised under
the constitution by Congress alone. AMI that the
possession OF the power imposes th,. duty of its
exercise to the extent Ot all the gold ami silver
bullion offered for coinage nj the minis OF the
United States, and we regard the limitations
and restrictions imposed by congress upon the
coinage Of silver rs impoltic and unjust, and
they should at once be removed.
Sixth--1hat Il return to specie payments is
impossible III the present financial condition OF
| tn. country, and We demand the immediate and
unconditional repeal of the act OF congress OF
January IL, l-.j. known ns the resumption act;
holding the same 10 be unWise AMI rulnOus 10
| the interest Of the People
| Scvrnih-The pulley inauguratcd and main
| tanned by the republican party OF contracting the
| active circulating medium OF the country, Cou-
| stituting, all admit IT DOES, the standard OF
| tn. value OF the property and products OF The
| country, and regulating. rs well, the price,
paid for all labor stands prceHincnt in the long
| list Ot lis oppressive measures. rs the most
| stupid. lncxcusablr and oppressive of them all
| EIghth-lieIns opposed 10 all monopOiies, and
| all lave discriminating in favor OF one class oi
our people al the expense of and TO the prelude"
| oi all Others we declare our unqualified hus,ll-
| ity to all protective tariffs. and demand that
| there shall be Il tariff for revenue only.
| Ninth-Ihe drn1cra'ic party tenders to the
I..l.t and tNt,rt ntrN
| Its wurIlrst sympathy, and pledges itself Ht the
| earliest moment TO reverse the cruel and dis.
| tructivc policy o. the republican party, which
| brought ruin upon them. We demand that all
| legislation shall be so enacted and administered
| a. 10 secure to each man as nearly as practica-
ble the just reward OF his own labor.
| Tenth-lhat in view of the large appropra-
| ton5 that have been madc by the Federal gov
| ernment for works OF public Improvement on
the scaboard and tn" lnkes, justice to the people
| of the Mississippi Valley demands that appro-
priations should be made for the Improvement
mensurate with the commercial wants and in
terrsts of this section Of the country
anM hs,F,ns S ornDmn IN the +, 'ons,'tua'onni ms, ,n
| construction of national enterprises which
serve To benefit large sections Of the country.
and which cannot be accomplished by indi-
vIduai enterprise or state action. We favor such
legislation in their behalf as will not increase
the national Indebtedness or impose any addI-
tional burdens upon the people such policy.
III our opinion, whilst 1t would cheaper the cost
OF transportation. and add 10 our agricultural
| to the surplus labor of the country.
Il Elrventh-1hut there can be no legitmate I'm
ploymcnt of organized force in this country
except to rXecut" law and MAINTAIN the public
| peace; that reform must be made in national
| state, county and municipal governments by til,
reduction of expenditures and taxes; the dis
missal OF unnecessary ami incompetent officer:
and employees, and the strict enforcement OF OF.
: | Iciai responsibility.
| Twclitn-ln the language of the Indiana Demo
cracy We declare that the jurisdiction ciaIme,
AMI exercised by the circuit courts OF tn,
? UnIte'. states over questions of corporate an,
individual rights. arising under the laws of tn,
states, tends TO Cypress ami burden litgants Il
such an extent ns To amount to practical den Ia
of Justice In many cases, and We consider tn
legislation which has conferred such jurisdic
ton rs unwise and hurtful to the true interest
OF the people, AMI we demand such legis latiO
ms will restrict and limit the jurisdiction OF sue
. | courts to such matters us are clearly cOntem
> plated bv the constitution and expressed in tn
U judiciary act of 1883.
0 Thirteenth-We favor aud invite immigratIo
!, to our state from all sections OF the country.