The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-07-02
The Platform.

The Democrats Of the United States, in
convention, declare;
First, We pledge ourselves anew to the
constitutional doctrines and traditions Of the
Democratic party,as illustrated by the teach
iugs and example of long line of Demo-
cratic statesmen and patriots, and embodied
in the platform of the national convention
of the party.
sc ond, Opposition to central izstionism
and TO that dangerous spirit of ofeucroachment
which tends to consolidate the powers of all
the departments in one, and thus to create
whatever be the form of government, a real
despotism. No sumptua,y laws, separation
of church aud state for the good of each,
common schools fostered and protected.
Third, Home rule, honest money; the strict
maintenance of the public faith, consisting
of gold, silver and paper convertible on de.
mand the strict maintenance of public
faith-State and national-and tariff for
revenue only.
Fourth, The subordination of the military
to the civil power, and a general and thor
ough form of civil seryic,.
FWh, The right to a free ballot is the
| right rreservative Of all the rights, and must
and shall be maintained to every part of the
| United States.
Sirh, the existing administration is the
representative Of conspiracy only, and its
claim OF right to surround the ballot-boxes
with troops aud deputy marshals to ntimi-
date and obstruct the elections, and the un-
precedented use of the veto to maintain its
corrupt and despotc power, insnts the peo-
pie and mperils their institutions
Srenh, The great fraud of 1867, by
which, upon 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 q
threat Of military violence, struck deadly
blow at our system of Representative govern
ment. The Democratic party, to preserve
the country from the horrors of a civil war,
submitted for the time in firm and patriotic
faith that the people would punish this
crime in $780, This issue proceeds and
dwarfs every other. 1t imposes a more
sacred duty upon the people of the Union
than ever addressed the cons,iences of a ma
ton of freemen
Eighth, We cxecrate The course of this ad-
ministration in making places in the civil
service reward for political crime, and de-
mand reform by statue, which shall make
it forever impossible for the defeated candi
date to bribe his way to the seat of usur-
per by billeting Williams upon the people.
This was read again in response to de
mands, and was received with applause.
Ninth, the resolution Of Samuel j. Til
den not again to be candidate for the exalted
place to which be was exalted by majority
of his countrymen, and from which he was
excluded by the leaders of the Republican
party, is received by the Democrats OF the
United States withisensibility of his wisdom,
patriotism and integrity, unshaken by the
assaults of a common enemy, and they fur.
ther assure him that he Is followed into the
retirement he has chosen for himself by the
sympathy and respect of his fellow citizens,
who regard him as one elevatng the stand
ards of public morality, and adornng and
purifying the public services, merits the
lasting gratitude of his country and his
party.
| Tenth. Free ships and living chance for
American commerce on the seas and on the
land ; no discrimination in favor of trans
portation lines, corporations or monopolies.
Eleventh, The amendment of the Burlin.
game treaty for more Chinese emmigration,
except for travel, education and foreign
commerce, and therein carefully guarded.
T,ceyM, public money and public credit
for public purposes solely, and public land
for actual settlers.
Thirteenth, The Democratic party is the
friend of labor and laboring men, and
pledges itself TO protect them alike against
the cormorants and the commune.
Fourteenth, We congratulate the country
upon the honesty and thrift of Democrat
ic Congress which has reduced the public
expenditure 100000 900 a year; upon the
continuation of prosperity at home, and the
national honor abroad aud above all, upon
the promise of such change in the admin
istration Of the governmen as shall insure us
genuine reform in every department of the
pualc service.
The platform was adopted unanimous ly.
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