The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-09-09
DEMocRATIcPLATFoRM.
REPLACE NATIONAL BANK
NOTES WITH LEGAL TENDERS.

The following platform was adopted June
4, 1879: ~
RESOLVED That the Democracy of Ohio de-
mand free and fair elections, and to that end
depornce all interference with elections by
the military power; that the experience Of
this and other countries has abundantly
proved that the presence Of troops at the
polls is destructive of freedom of elections
and is incompatible with the existence of
free institutions; that the laws enacted by
Congress which. under the pretense of regu-
latirg the manner of Congressional elections
interfere With the election Of State officers
and overthrow the laws of the STATE govern
ing the choice Of such officers are uncoustitu-
tinnal, and for that reason ought to be re-
psaled; that they are also instramentalities
of fraud, force and corruption, by which the
party in power uses the money of the people
to corrupt. and thousands Of irresponsible Of
6cers TO harass and coerce the voters and es.
pecially by force and fraud to deprive our
natural,zed citizens of the right to vote, and
for these reasons also said laws ought to be
Immediately revealed.
REsoLvED. That impartial juries are essen
tial to the administration of justice, and
thereby to the preservation of libery; that
no man can be secure in his person or prop
erty when the Juries are packed and controll-
ed by the Government for despotic and par.
tisan purposes; that under the Federal Jury
Laws now in existence juries may be and
have been SO packed and controlled, and that
the highest interests of justice and free gov
eminent require that the laws be changed so
as to secure fair, Impartial and independent
juries in the Federal Courts.
RESOLVED that tue Republican minori ty
in Congress. by refusing to vote supplies to
maintain the Government unless the majo
ty would agree to the use of troops at the
polls, and also to the maintenance of the
unconstitutional. corrupting, violent and un-
inst Election Laws aforesaid; and the Presi-
dent of the United States, by his unprece-
dented use of the veto power in order to
perpetuate said laws. and the use of armed
linen at the polls, has shown spirit OF fac
tion and dev otion to party success instead
of the welfare of the country and the preser.
walton of its Constitution and liberties that
demand the condemnation of the whole
American people.
Resolved. That President Hayes, by his
freopspt iptsrposition of the veto in order to
defeat legislation that was plainly cons titu-
,ional, that in NO way interfered with the in.
dependence Of any other department of the
| Government and had received the most ma
ture consideration Of Congress-, has shown
an utter disregard Of the considerations and
principles that induced the insertion of the
veto power in the Constitution, and like
disregard of the wishes and welfare OF the
people.
RESOLVED. That we declare 1t as the sense
Of the Democracy of Ohio that not dollar
should BE- appropriated by Congress to pay
soldiers, Marshals, Deputy Marshals or Su.
! reryisors of Election to interfere with oI
control elections
RlsoLyiD. That the efforts of the Repub
lican party to open and keep alive the wal
feeling betw cen the North and South are Il
be condemned by every lover of his country
RESOLVED That We reafirm the fnancia
principles heretofore advocated by the Demo
cratic party of 0hio--that the issue of mon
ey in any form and the regulation thereof
belong to the General Government alone, ,anC
ought not to be delegated or intrusted to in
dividuals or corporations; that We therefor,
oppose the perpetuation of the presen
National Banking system as means of con
troll over the currency of the country, ant
demand the gradual substitution of Treasui
notes for National Bank currency, to b
made receivable for all dues, and legal ten
der equally with coin-such Government is
lsues to be regulated on principles estab
lished by legislation or organic law so as 4
secure the greatest possible stability Of val
ue.
4 RESOLVED That after changing the valua
tion of all property from the scale of pape
money, by which the heavy burden o
debts now resting upon the people wer
, created, to the former level of. goli and sill
I YER, and that the change then made in th
metallic standard itself by the demonetizs
| tion of silver was a monstrous fraud upo
, the people, cunningly devised in the inter
es. OF the holders Of bonds, that should
condenn ned as in violation of every prineipl
of honest dealing. and covert assault upo
the fundamental rights of property, and W,
!: therefore, demand the full restoration OF si
yer to its original place as money metal, ,th
4 same as gold. .-
REsoLvKp. That the rapid increase of th
, interest bearing debt of the Governmer
under the present Administration ought
excite the serious apprehension of the PET
ple. We demand that the further increas
: in the bonded debt in time of peace
stopped, and it be put in process of extin'
/ ton I.
REseLvED. That the attack. made upon th
S State Legislation,in the Republican platform
. i is wholly undeserved. and that the Legisli
ture in its arduous word of codifying th
: laws of the State. in the reduction Of fee
andsalaries Of County officers, and the pas
{ sage of Law to protect the ballot and pr,
{ vent bribery at elections, deserve the com
mendation of the people of the State.
RESOLVED. That it is the duty of our Gol
ernmept to maintain to its fullest extent tn
doctrine that man may in good fait
change his habitation and become citize
: of any other country. eshould protect
every part of the world all our naturalize
: cit gems, as we would our native born. an
shoild resist all improper claims upon hi
d by Governments to which they no longer ov
allegiance. We demand that existing ire
ties with all foreign Governments be rigid
enforced, and that early steps be taken
obtain from the German Empire a full
recognition of the right Of expatriation ar
Of the right of our naturalized citizens 7
y turning or having property there BY mod
fcation Of the treaty existing between us.
j / l.