American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-10-25

The following is SO much of the plat
form of principles enunciated by the
Massachusetts Democrats, at their late
State Convention, as relates to National
| issues:
The Democrats of Massachusetts in Conven.
fion assembled reaifirm the National Demo-
cratic platform of 1876 as an authoritative cx-
position of the principles of our party, and
congrat ulate our political brethren of the
whole country that these principles were i'm
uofSed IN the National canvass by the suffragcs
of a decided majority of the American people
and Electoral College.
party stern retribution for the great public
crime by which the people were defrauded of
choice, and by which the elective principle was
wounded in its most vital part.
we affirm that the liberty of the individual
Is best protected by u Constitutional division
of the power of Government between State
and Federal officials, and we favor strict
construction of that Constitutional grant
which shall prevent encrOachments by either
state or Federal legislation rights granted
to the other or on those which are reserved to
the people, individually or collectively, to the
end that We may remain a free and sovereign
p14,pis.; inc whole spirit OF the peclartiion 81
mem Y hit u 10 the les!er tina. al
points to the right of suffrage as the only
means by which this equality of liberty and
o; .., to Constitutional law can be en-
strictions and infringement of the right of srf-
dta s as dangerons to liberty and subversive
affairs of the State.
Our thanks are due to the Democrats in Con.
gress for their efforts to enforce economy in
public expenses, to abolish useless offices, and
to correct manifold abuses in public affairs,
not the least of which are the exclusion of in
telligent citizens from the jury-box and the
ievylng and maintaining Of an army of official
hirelings around the polls for partisan pur-
poses. We believe in self-governmcnt by the
people, and desire that the polls shall be free
rected by intrigues of Il Federal partisan Ex-
ecutiye.
We believe the purity of the ballot-box can
be better preserved through the State author
lty than by Federal interference. We protest
against laws which authorize the arrest of citi-
zens at the polls without warrant or hearing,
and the suppression of their votes by impris-
oning their persons until after the election us
upturning the foundation of free government,
and we call on Congress to aid the people and
rescue the freedom of elections, undeterred
The Democratic party has always denied
that any Constitutional power existed in the
Federal Government to make anything a.legal
tender in the payment of debts except gold
and silver
We affirm the obligations of public and pri-
vate contracts, and demand that the public
money ought to be kept in the Treasury of the
United States. free from control or use by
spectators or favorite bankers. -
We rejoice with the country at large in the
renewed prosperity that attends agricultural
and manufacturing pursuits, but we deprecate
that Republican policy which, having de-
stroyed our ship-bIIiciing, placed the carrying
trade of the products of our soil in the control
of foreign flags, and almost b.nished our flag
from the seas and impcriled the pursuit of
fisheries among our hardly population. has
rewarded Great Britain with spoils she never
could have conquered, and abandoned the
trident of the seas to her hands.
We require hat the candidates of this Con-
vention should represent Democratic princi-
Piles as to the conduct of both National and
State affairs, that well-meanng men may give
their votes where Democratic men and meas
ures lead the way
The Presidential election in 1876 and the
subsequent election of a Democratic major
ity in each house of Congress demonstrate
the ascendency of Democratic principles
among the people in the States of this Union.
We remind every Democrat that by uniting
hearts and hands in support of the regular
organization the triumph of those principles
and candidates in 1880 will be assured, and we
affirm that Democrats who separate from the
regular organization in order to promote the
election of either of the Republican candi-
dates for Governor are pursuing course of
evil example to the regular organization OF
Democrats throughout the Union, and are inn
periling the vital interests of the Democratic
brotherhood of the Union. We call on every
true and tried Democrat of Massachusetts TO
search his heart for his faith and stand up and
be counted in the organization with those who
avow eternal enmity to that rule of monopoly,
corruption and oppression, with its revolu-
tfonary tendency to seat Presidents by fraud
and substitute despotism for Constitutional
government, which the Republican party pro
notes.