Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-05-04
PLATFORM OF THE PENNSYL.
WANNA DEMOCRACY
at Harrisburg, April
20, 1850.

Resolved first, That we, the demo-
cratic party of Pennsylvania, in con-
v%ention assembled, renew our VOWS of
fidelity to the fundamental principles
proclaimed and practised by the illus
trious men who settled our free insti-
tutions and founded the democratic
party to protect and preserve them.
Second-That just powers Of Fed
eral union, rights Of the states, and
the liberties Of the people are vital
parts of one harmonious system, and
to save each part in its whole consti-
t%utional vigor is to save the life of the
nation,
Third-That the democratic party
maintains, as it ever has maintained,
that the military are and ought to be
in all things subordinate to the civil
authorities. 1t denies, as it ever has
denied, the right Of Federal admins
tration to keep on foot at the general
expense a standing army to invade
the states for political purposes, with
out regard to constitutional restric-
tions to control the people at the polls,
to protect and encourage fraudulent
counts of votes, or to inaugurate can.
didates rejected by the majority.
Fourth-That right to free ballot,
the right %preservative of all rights, is
the only means of peacefully redress
ing grievances and reforming abuses.
The presence at the polls of a regular
military force and Of a host claiming
power to arrest and imprison citizens
without warrants or hearing, destroys
all freedom of elections and upturns
the very foundation Of self govern
ment. We call upon all good citizens
to aid US in preserving our institu-
lions from destruction by these i'm
perial methods of supervising right of
suffrage and coercing the popular
will, in keeping the way to the ballot
box open and free as it was to our
fathers, in removing the army to a
safe distance from people assembled to
express their sovereign pleasure at
the polls, and insuring obedience to
their will when legally expressed by
their votes.
Fifth-That Rutherford B. Hayes.
having been placed in power against
the well known and legally expressed
will Of the people is the representative
\ of conspiracy only, and his claim of
right to surround the ballot boxes
with troops and deputy marshals to
intimidate and obstruct electors. and
his unprecedented use Of the army Ia
maintain this insult menace the
country.
Sixth-That the democratic party
as OF old favors a constitutional cur.
rency Of gold and silver, and of paper
convertible into coin.
Seventh-That we are opposed tC
the system Of subsidies by genera
government under which during thu
period Of republican ascendancy polit.
cal rings and corporations prohted o.
the peoples expense, and to any an.
preparations Of public credit to an,
object but public service reforms and
t economies, which enforced by thu
democratic party since its advent K
power in Congress have saved to tn,
, people many millions Of dollars anC
we believe that a like result would
follow its restoration to power in thu
= state Of Pennsylvania.
Eighth-That the democratic party
being the national friend of the work.
,ngman, and having throughout III
: history stood between him and oppres
2 sion, renews its expression of sym
! pathy with labor and its promise o
protection to its rights,