American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-09-27
New York Democratic Platform.
The following is the platform adopt
ed by the New York Democratic State

Inc IOllOWln0 Is Gne platIOrm ADOPT
ed by the New York Democratic State
Convention on the 18th of September:
The Democratic party of the State of New
York, in Convention assembled, profoundly
sensible of the important consequences de-
pending upon the immediate result of their
deliberations, do declare and re-asscrt the
principles Of popular liberty and rights laid
founders of the Republic. We hold to the
Constitution, with all its amendments sacred-
Of the States under the Constitution. The
tendencies of the Republican party to cen-
the principles of our institutions. The United
States form Nation in the sense and to the
extent and for the purposes defined in the
Federal Constitution, and we resist every at
tempt to transform it into an Empire.
We insist on unity, fraternity and concord,
be revived. We deprecate the efforts of the
Republican managers to revive sectional
feTds and to kindle the passions Of the past.
count of votes. Never again, by fraud or
force, shall the popular will be set aside to
crafty INSCRIPTIONS partisans.
single interest or class of persons should be
protected at the expense of the other: Democ-
racy means the Government of the whole poo
pie, for the whole people, and by the whole
consideration, it should be the working people,
whom all other Governments oppose and
crush: The rights Of the people should be
Scrupulously guarded from the encrOachments
of capital and the despotic greed of corpora
w,
always believed, in gold and silver as the Con-
stitutional money of the country. We con-
Secretary of the Treasury; the questionable
favoritfsm he has shown to particular none
extravagances he has permitted in his Depart
ment in connection with his refunding
schemes.
We look with shame and sorrow on the dis
graceful repudiation of their professions of
Civil-Service Reform by the Executive and his
supporters The Federal offices have been
freely given for despicable partisan services.
The leading officers of the Government are
campaxns and resIiring their suBordipafe ec TO
contribute to campaign funds in derOgation of
every principle and promise of honest Civil
Service. The one hundred and four thousand
Federal officers constitute an army, moving
under single direction to keep the Republic
can party In power, and this vast patronage is
now used as a corruption fund against the
people.
Administration in the payment of the State
debt, the reduction of expenses. and the dimin-
ished burden of taxation.
We condemn the efforts of demagogues to
create jealousy and antagonism between the
City of New York and the rest of the State,
when their interests are identical. The growth
of the one is the prosperity of the other. The
and mepcbanss alilSeIemand that tbey shal1
have all the advantages which accrue to them
from their favorable position, and that the
railroads they have chartered and endowed
with vast and profitable privileges shall be
operated for their benefit and not for their
ruin.
The Democratic officers Of the State of New
York, by the ability and fidelity in which they
have discharged their duty during the past
of Constitutional tests to the acts of every de-
partment of the State Government, by their
iegisIation and BY their ecdnomical Conduct Of
the finances and reduction of the expenses of
the state Government, have entitled them
We therefore indorse as our expression of
fhn fnVn UNrirr foil
1. Honesty, efficiency and economy in every
department of the Government.
ton of taxation, and we pledge the Democratic
party to reform the laws of assessment to that
end.
3. Lessenng the burdens and increasing the
advantages of the working people.
4: The equal protection of the rights of labor
g. Railroads to be prohibited by law from I'M
Just discrimination and from favoring locali-
ties or individuals.
6. The tolls upon the canals to be kept at the
lowest rates possible consistent with economi-
cal and efficient management.
z. The maintenance of the public schools, the
pride and hope of a free State
g. Prisons are for the punishment and
reformation of criminals, and not for tho
injury of honest labor, which should be pro-
tected, as far as possible, from such competi-
ton.
o. Municipal self-yovernment in local AFFAIRS
10. That the successful efforts of our Demo-
cratic Representatives in Congress in restoring
fair and intelligent jury system, and in pro-
tecting the freedom of the ballot and prevent
ing the unconstitutional interference of the
Federal Administration with State elections,
is approved and the action of the Executive
in vetoing the Legislation designed to prevent
the presence of armed soldiers and the en-
ployment of paid Supervisors and Marshals at
the polls, and the use of public funds for this
purpose, is denounced by the Democracy of
the State of New York.
II. And ms the foundation OF all liberty and
prosperity, privileges and rights, under our
system of untrammeled suffrage absolutely
free from Federal force or supervision.
IL. 1t is the duty of the State alike in the in
terest of taxation, temperance and equal and
exact Justice to the community, to make such
a revision of the excise laws as will better Sc
cure the rights of the citizens to life, liberty,
property and public order.