St. Landry democrat., 1880-08-28
Platform of the Democratic Party OF
The United States.

| The Democrats Of the United States in con
| VentlOE assembled declare:
tlrst-We pledge ourselves anew to the con
| Stltutlonal doctrines and traditions of the
democratic party, as Illustrated by the teach
| ing and example Of long line of Democratic
Statesmen and patriots, and embodied i'll tho
platform OF the last national convention OF the
party.
| Second-Opposition to Capitalization and tt
| tlat dangerous spirit OF encroachment which
| tends to consolidate the powers of all depart
ments i'll one, and thus to create, whatever be
| Tue form of government, a real despotism
NO sumptuary laws; separation of church and
| State for the good of each; common schools
IoStered and protected.
Ihlrd-Home rule: honest money, consisting
OF SC ld and silver, and paper convertible into
com on demand; strict maintenance of public
Iaith, State and national, and a tariff fol
revenue only.
Fourtll-subordinatio of the military to the
civil power and general and thorough reform
OF the civil service.
Fiftll-The right to free ballot is right pre-
scrvative OF all right, and must and shall be
malntained i'll every part of the United States.
SIXth-1he existing administration is q rep
resentative of conspiracy only, and the claim
of right to surround the ballot boxes with
troops and deputy marShils to intimidate and
| oestruct electors, and the unprecedented use
OF the veto to maintain its corrupt and des-
potic power, insults the people aud imperils
their Institutions.
seventh-The great fraud of 1867 by which,
upon a false count of the electoral votes of two
States, the candidate defeated at the polls was
declared to be President, and for the first time
III American history the will of the people was
set aside under the threat OF military violence,
struck deadly blow at our system of repre-
sentative government. The Democratic party
to preserve the country from civil war, submit
ted for the time, in the firm and patriotic faith
that the people would punish this crime in
1880 This issue precedes and dwarfs every
other. 1t imposes a more sacred duty upon
the people of the Union than ever addressed
the conscience of a nation of frccmen.
Elght!i-WG cNecratc the course of this adj
nnlstratl0n in making places In the civil ser
vice a reward for political crime, and demand
reform by statute which shall make 1t forever
impossible for the defeated candidate to bride
his way to the seat OF the usurper by billiting
Williams upon the people.
Nintl-The resolution of Samuel J. Tilden
not again to be a candidate for the exalted
place to which he was elected by Il majority of
MS countrymen, and from which he was
GUIDED by the leaders of the Republican party,
Is received by the Democrats of the United
States with sensihility, and they declare their
confidence III his wisdom. patriotism and in
tegrty, mistaken by the assaults of a common
enemy and they further assure him that he is
followed into the retirement he has chosen for
hLnsef with the sympathy and respect of his
felloW.citlzens, who regard him as one who. by
eleVating the standards OF public morality and
adornlng and purifying the public service
his party.
Tenth-Free ships and a living chance for
American commerce Oh the seas and on land
no discrimination i'll favor of transportation
lhes, corporations or monopolies
Eleventh-An amendment of the Burlingame
treaty; no more Chinese immigration except
for travel, education and foreign commerce.
and therein carefully guarded.
JWeifth-fublic money and public credit for
public purposes solely and public land for ac-
tual settlers.
Thirteenth-The Democratic party is the
friend of labor and the Ianoring man. and |!
pledges itself to protect him alike against cor
and commune
Fourteenth-We congratulate the country
upon the honesty and thrift of the Democratic
Congress, which has reduced the public ex-
Ienditure $4,000 900 year; upon the continual
ton OF prosperity ut home and national honor
abroad, and above all upon the promise of such
,hange III the administration of the govern.
nent as shall insure us genuine and lasting
:eIora tp every department. Of the public
service, ~