St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-11-06
PIarform Of the Democratic Party Of
the United States.

The Democrats OF the United States in con-
vention assembled declare:
First-We pledge ourselves anew to the con-
stitutional doctrines and traditions Of the
Democratic party, as Illustrated by the teach
ing and example Of Il long line OF Democratic
statesmen and patriots aud embodied III the
platform OF the last national convention OF the
party.
Second-Opposition to Capitalization and to
that dangerous spirit of encroachinelt winch
tends to consolidate the powers OF all depart
| ments in one, and thus to create, whatever be
the form of government real despotism
No srmptuary laws; separation OF church ana
State for the good of each common schools
fostered and protected.
Thrl-Honle rule: honest money, consisting
| OF g Id 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 military to the
civil power and general ana thorough reform
of the civil service.
| Fitth-TIie right to free ballot is a right pre-
servative Of all right and must and shall be
maintained in every part of the United States.
Sixth-The existing administration is rep
| resentative of conspiracy only, and the claim
| of right to surround the ballot boxes with
| troops and deputy marsllals to intinlidate and
obstruct electors, and the unprecedented use
of the veto to maintain its corrupt and des-
potc power, insults the people and Imperlls
| their institutions.
Seyentll-The great fraud of 187G-77 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
| in 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 tinle in the firm and patriotic faith
that the people would punish this crime i'll
| 1880. This issue precedes and dWarfs every
other. 1t imposes more sacred duty upon
the people Of the Union than ever addressed
the conscience of a nation of freemen:
Eighth-Wc eXecrate the course Of this adj
ministratlOn in making places III 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.
| Ninth-The resolution OF Samuel j. Tilden
not again to be a candidate for the exalted
place to which he was elected by a majority of
his cOuntrymen, and from which he was eX
cluded by the leaders Of the Republican party,
| is received by the Democrats OF the United
States with sensibility, and they declare their
confidence i'll his wisdom, patriotism and i'll
| tegrity, mistaken by the assaults of a 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
| eleyating 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 living chance for
| American commerce OH the seas and on land
no discrimination in favor of transportation
| lines, corporations or monopoles.
! Eleventll-An amendment of the Burlingame
| treaty; no more Chinese immigration except
| for travel. education and foreign commerce,
and therein carefully guarded.
| Twelfth-Public money and public credit for
| public purposes solely and public land for &C
| tual settlers.
| Thirteentll-The Democratic party is the
| friend Of labor and the laboring man, and
pledges itself to protect him alike against cor
morants and commune
Fourteenth-We congratulate the country
upon the honesty and thrift of the Democratic
Congress-, which has reduced the public eX-
| penditure ,00G year; upon the continual
| ton of prosperity mt home and national honor
| abroad, and above all upon the promise of such
change in the administration of the govern
reform in every department of the public
service.