The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-09-23
The Boilers Platform.

The Democratic party IN tennessee, rep
resented in Convention By its delegates. who
have been elsewhere denied the right TO re-
fleet the will OF the party and the people,
by the opposition of men assuming to be
the managers and tie masters of the Demo
cratic party, BY the combination of It's enc
mics and the mistakes of its friends-by the
manipulation and fraud Of the vast railroad
corporations, who have their iron grasp
upon the liberty of the people and are de-
termined TO destroy 1t, and who, to perpetu-
ate their power, have Iabsred assIduousiy IN
every manner, even 10 the furnishing OF free
tickets and free masses to many delegates
to the State Convention, and are determined
TO uphold them and their action, and deny
+. the people not only their rights, but 10
take from them also the privilege OF VOt-
ing upon them; and have brought here all
| the power which they could SECURE to cap
! ture tbe State Convention III their interest,
and override the expressed will Of the PEG
/ pie of the State, and this power has united
with the small element OF the Democratic
minority of the State Convention, and in
such unholy combination have been able to
stiae the voice Of the people, in the rejec-
! ton of Democratic doctrine, and in de-
NAL of the only right the people have been
! able to secure after years OF struggle and
| contest the right to settle for themselves by
direct vote their alleged Indebtedness.
And that combination have asserted in une-
! quivocal terms their determination to have
the debts of the railroads paid by the peO-
pie of the State. while the holders of the
bonds are claiming that the railroads owe
| the debt, and are now, by suit, trying TO en-
force its collection against them.
Regarding, we do, such combinations
IA destructive of the liberty and prosperity
of the people, ana such doctrines mon
strous subyersions of every principle OF
democracy and OF justice. We refuse to sur
render 10 them the Sovereignty Of the mass
Is We represent, and, in Justice to or pee
pie, we stand with theni-the Democracy OF
Tennessee decline to abandon their
principles at the behest of such an alliance,
and therefore,
/ We denounce the action of such conlbi-
nation pretending to be Il State Democrat
ic Convention, as undemocratic; and, ~ a
platform of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS On which
we inyite the support OF the Democratic
party, and all friends OF true democracy /;
we declare
I We approve the National platform
adopted ut Cincinnati, and heartily en-
dorse the nomination Of Hancock and Eng
: lish.
We declare our allegiance to the time
honored principles of the Democratic par
"; the right OF the majority to rule; die
subordinatiUn of the military TO the civil
authority; opposition 10 fraud and violence
and the supremacy of law and order, and
the economical administration Of the State
and National Governments.
We fuyor the adjustment and speedy pay
ment OF the State debt proper.
We deny the validity against the State
of all that part of our alleged indebted
ness represented by bonds issued for on
account of railroads. and declare they shall
be left for settlement where they properly
belong in the judicial controversy between
the bondholders and the railroads.
We deny the validity Of bonds issued for
war interest, and assert that the demand
for such interest and its concession by men
pretending to represent the State at Il time
when we were DISTINGUISHED Il crime
against the rights of the people. and no
part of such alleged debt shall be rccog-
nized in any settlement to be made.
We declare that in no event, upon any
settlement, shall the coupons be made Ii
eeiVable for taxes.
We recognize the sovereignty and SUI
premaey oi the people, and declare that no
settlement OF any part Of our alleged in
debtedness shall be made which is not
| first submitted to them for ratification or
rejection at the ballot-box at Il special
election to be held for that purpose only.
We favor the widdest dissemination OF
intelligence among the masses, and will en-
courage and promote the most liberal ana
efficient free school system.
We oppose the competition OF convict
with free labor, and favor the enactment OF
such wise and saIntary laws as shall re
strain it, 40 far as the best interests Of the
free laboring people shall require.
, We favor such regulation Of the taxes q.
: hall lift c part Of the burden from tbs
shoulders of the labnring land owners and
place it on railroads, capitalists, i4coiner
= and salaries.
We favor the enactment Of such laws as
= will secure the collection II railroad taxce
, and as will compel the railroads 10 deal
! justly with the people OF the State and pre-
! vent unjust discrimination between through
and local freights.
On this platform Of principles wo invite
the cooperation of tie honest men o.
all parties.