The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-08-25
PLATFORM
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
ADOPTED IN CONVENTION AT CINCINNATI,
JUNE "a, 1880.

The Democrats Oh tbe Cnibeu 'o"'eSs
in Convention assembled, declare:
First-We pledge ourselves anew to
the Constitutional doctrines and tradl'
tions of the Democratic party, as Illus
trated by the teaching and example OF
of long line of Democratic statesmen
and patriots, and embodied IN the
Platform of the last National ConVen-
ton of the party.
Second-Opposition to Capitalization
and to that dangerous spirit of en-
croachmeut which tends to consolidate
tlfe poweis of all departments IN one,
and thus to create, whatever be the
form of government, q real despotlsm;.
No sumptuary laws; separation OF
church and State for the good OF each;
common schools fostered and protected.
Third-Home rule; honest money,
consisting of gold and silver, and paper
convertible into coin on demand; strict
maintenance of public faith, State and
National, and tariff for revenue only.
Observation-Disclosures of the mill.
tary to the civil power and general anu
thorough reform of the civil service
Fifth The right to free ballot is a
right preservatiye of all right, and
must and shall be maintained in every
cart of the United States.
Sixth-The existing administration
is a representative of conspiracy only,
and the claim of right to surround the
ballot boxes with troops and deputy
marsl,als to intimidate and obstruct
electors, and the unprecedented use of
the veto to maintain it's corrupt and
despotic power, insults the people and
imperils their institutions.
Seventh-The great fraud Of 1876 II
by which, upon q false count of the
electoral votes of two States, the can
diaate defeated at the polls was de-
clared to be President, and for the first
time in American history the will OF
the people was set aside under the
threat Of military violence, struck a
deadly blow at our system ofrepresen-
tative government. The Democratic
party, to preserve the country from
civil war, submitted for the time, in
the firm aud patriotic faith that the
people would punish this crime in 1880.
This issue precedes and dwarfs every
other. 1t imposes more sacred duty
upon the people of the Union than ey-
er addressed the conscience of nation
of freemeD.
Eighth-We execrate the course OF
this administration in making places
in the civil service reward for po'iti-
cal crime, and demand reform by stat
ute which shall make it forever impos'
sibfe for the defeated candidate to
bride his way to the seat Of the
usurper by billiting Williams upon the
people. j..
Ninth--The resolution of Samuel j.
Tilden not again to be q candidate fol
she exalted place to which he was
elected by a majority of his country
men, and from which he was excluded
by the leaders of the Republican party,
is received by the Democrats OF the
United States with sensibility, and
they declare their confidence in his
wisdom, patriotism and integrity, un-
shaken by the assaults OF o common
enemy; and they further assure him
that he Is followed into the retirement
he has chosen for himself with the
sympathy and respect of his fellow
citizens, who regard him as one who,
by elevating the standards of public
morality and adjoining and Purifying
the public service, merits the lasting
gratitude of his country and his party.
Tenth - Free ships and q living
chance for American commerce on the
seas and on the land; no discrimina-
ton in favor of transportation lines,
corporations or mohopolies.
Eleventh An amendment of the
Burlingame treaty, no mole Chinese
immigration except for travel, ednea-
ton and foreign commerce, and there
in carefully guarded.
Twelfth-Pubic money and public
credit for public purposes solely; and
public land for actual settlers.
Thirteenth Democratic party
is the friend of labor and the laboring
man, and pledges itself to protectlim
alike against cormOraDts and COM
mune.
Fourteenth - We congratulate the
country upon the honesty and thrift of
the Democratic Congress, which has
reduced the>public expenditure $4O,-
100000 % year; upon the continuation
of prosperity at home and national
honor abroad, and above all upon the
promise of such change in the admin
iStration of the government as shall
insure us genuine and lasting reform
in every department of the public SCR,
vice.