Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-09-18
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM OF 1873.

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM OF 1878.
The Democracy of Pennsylvania
unanimously declare:
That the Republican party, its meas
ures and its men, are responsible for
the financial distress, the misery and
the want that now exist:
1t has had control of the legislation
Of the country, and has enacted and
perpetuated policy that has enriched
the few and impoverished the many;
Its system OF finance has been one
of favor to moneyed monopoly, of un.
equal taxation, of exemption OF classes,
of high rates of interest, and of re-
morseless contraction, which has de-
stroyed every enterprise that gave en-
ployment to labor.
Its present hold upon Federal power
was secured by fraud, perjury and for
gerry. Its laws are unjust and its prac-
tices immoral they distress the peo-
pie and destroy their substance.
The only remedy for these evils is
an entire change of policy and the de-
thronement Of those IN power.
And we resolve that further contrac.
ton of the volume of United States
legal-tender notes is unwise and un-
necessary. They should be received
for customs duties and reissued as fast
as received
Gold, silver and United States legal
tender notes at par Herewith, are just
bases for paper circulation.
A close connection of the Federal
government with the business interests
OF the people, through national banks,
tcnds TO monopoly and Capitalization,
but in changing the system, unifcrmi-
ty OF notes, security TO the noto.holder,
and protection Of the capital invested,
should be provided for.
Treasury notes issued in exchange
for bonds, bearing low rate of inter
est, is the best form in which the credit
of the government can be given TO o
paper currency.
Labor and capital have equal de-
mands upon, and equal responsibilities
to law. Commerce and manufactures
should bo encouraged, so that steady
work and fair wages may be yielded
to labor, whilst safety OF investment
and moderate returns for its use be-
long TO capital. Violence or breaches
Of order in support of the real or sup
posed rights Of either should be
promptly suppressed by the strong
arm of the law.
The Republican party, by its legis
laton in 1872, which reduced the tar,
iff on bituminous coal from sl.25 to rs
cents per ton, and upon iron, steel,
wool, metals, paper, glass, leather, and
all manufactures Of each Of them, ten
per cent, struck fatal blow at the
industries and labor OF Pennsylvania
The public lands are the common
property of the people, and they
should not be sold to spectators nor
granted ID railroads or other corpora
tons, but should be reserved for home
steads for actual settlers.
Our public debt should be held at
homo, and the bonds representing it
should be of small denominations, in
which tho savings of the masses may
be safely invested.
Thorough investigation into the
electoral frauds of 1876 should be
made, fraud should be exposed, truth
vindicated and criminals punished /;
but we oppose any attack upon the
Presidential title as dangerous to our
institutions and fruitless in its results.
The Republican party, controlling
tho legislation of the State, has refus.
ed to execute many of the reforms Of
the new constitution among other
things, II has neglected and refused
TO compel the acceptance of all OF
its provisions by the corporations Of
the State
TO prevent undue and unreasonable
determinations in charges for trans.
poriation Of freight and passengers,
and without abatement or drawback
to any;
To give all equal means Tor trans
porting the raw material Of the State
In such manner and to such points as
they may prefer; and
To publish in good faith monthly
statements Of where the money of the
people was kept.
The Republican party creates now
offices and adds enormous pcrquisites
to others, and fills sthcm with favorites
whose chief duty is to manage its po
i,ical machinery. 1ef
Its administration of the State gov
ernmcnt grows more expensive with
each year Of It's rule.a
! Legislation has been directed by Re