Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-07-07
Democratic National Platform.

The Democrats of the United States Ia
convention assembled, declare
flrst-We pledge ourselves anew 10
the constitutional doctrines and traditions
OF the Democratic party, illustrated by the
teaching and example OF q long line OF
Democratic statesmen and patriots, and
embodied IN the platform OF tho last ma.
alton convention OF the party.
STANDARDIZATION to Capitalization
and 10 that dangerous spirit OF cncr0ach.
ment which tends 10 consolidate the pow.
ers Of oil departments In ono aud thus
create, whatever be the form OF govern
ment, q real despotlsm, No sumptuary
laws; separation OF church and state for
the good ofall common schools fostcrcd
and protected.
Third-IIomo rule, honest money,
strict maintenance Of the public faith,
consisting Of gold aud silver, and paper
convertible Into coin on demand strict
malntaInancc Of public faith, state and ma
tIonal, and tariff for revenue only,
Fourth-Subordina OF the military
to the civil power and general and thor
ough reform Of the civil service.
Flfth-The right TO free ballot Is right
preservatlve OF oil rights, and must and
shall be maintained In every part OF the
United States.
Slxth-Thc existing administration Is
representative ofcons plracy only, and Its
claim Of right to surround the ballot box
cs with troops and defy marshals TO In
timidate and obstruct electors, Its unpre-
cedented use Of the vote to maintain Its
corrupt and dcspotlc power, insults the
people and imperlls their institutions.
Sevcnth-Great fraud Of 1907, by
which upon false count Of the electoral
votes of two States, the candidate defeat
ed at the polls was declared president,
and for the first time In American hlsto
ry, the will Of the people set aside, under
threat Of military violence, struck dead
ly blow at our system OF representative
government. The Democratic party to
preserve the horrors Of civil war, submit
ted for the time IN che firm and patriotic
patriotic faith that the people would pun.
ish this crime IN 1880. This issue pre-.
cedes and dwarf's every other. 1t impos-
es a more sacred duty upon the people of
the Union than eyer addressed the con-
science Of freemen.
Eighth-We exccrate the course OF this
administration In making places In the
civil service reward for political crime,
and demand reform by statute, which
shall make it forever impossible fora de.
feated candidate to bride his way to the
seat of usurper by billeting villains upon
the people. [This vas read again in re-
spouse to demands. and was received with
applause.
Ninth--Thc resolution OF Samuel j.
Tilden not again to be "a candidate for the
exalted place to which he was elected by
a majority of the country, and from which
he was excluded by the leaders of the Re-
publican party, Is read by the Democrats
of the United States with deep sensibili-
iy, and they declare their confidedce in
his wisdom, patriotism and integrity un-
shaken by the assaults Of the common
enemy. They further assure him that J
he Is followed in the retirement he has
chosen for himself, by the sympathy and
respect of his fellow-c citizens, who regard
him rs one who, by elevating the standard
Of public morality and adjoining and pur-
flying the public service, meets the last
ing gratitude Of his party and of the coun-
try.
Tentb-Free ships and Lying chance
for American commerce on the seas and
on land-no discrimination In favor Of
lines, corporations or mo-
nopolies.
Observation-Disclosures Of the Burling- |
anne treaty. No more Chinese emigration |
except for travel, education and foreign |
commerce, and therein carefully regard
ed.
Twelfth-Public money and public
credit for public purposes solely, and
public lands for actual settlers.
Thirteenth-The Democratic party is
a friend of labor aud the laboring man,
and pledges itself to protect him alike |
against c0rmorants.
Fourteenth-We congratulate the coun.
try upon the honesty and thrift Of the
Democratic congress, which has reduced
public expenditures $40,000,000 year
upon the continued prosperity at home
and national honor abroad, and above all
upon the promise Of such change In the
administration Of the government as shall
insure US genuine and lasting reform In
every department Of the public service.