St. Landry democrat., 1880-09-25
Platform of the Democratic Party of
the United States.

The Democrats of the United States in con-
yentOn assembled declare:
Frst-Wc 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, and embodied i'll the
platform OF the last national convention of the
party.
Second-Oppositon TO Capitalization and to
that dangerous spirit of encrcachment which
tends to consolidate the powers of all depart
ments in one, and thus to create, whatever be
the form OF government real despOtiSm.
No sunptuary laws; separation of church and
State for the good of cach common schools
fOstereu and protected.
Third-Home rule honest money, consisting
of &c ID and silver, and paper convertible into
coin on demand strict maintenance OF public
faith, State and national, and a tariff for
revenue only.
Fourth-snbordinatlon of the military to the
civil power and general and thorough reform
OF the civil service.
Fifth-The right to free ballot is a right pre-
sentative of all right, and must and shall be
maintained Ill every part Of the United States.
Sixtll-The existing administration is Il rep
reSenta<iVe OF conspiracy only, and the claim
of right to surround the ballot boxes with
troops and deputy marshas to intimdate and
Obstruct electors, and the unprecedented use
OF the veto to maintain its corrupt and des-
potic power, insults the people and imperis
their Institutions.
seventh-The sreat fraud OF 1s76-77 by which,
upon false count of tile 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 time, in the firm and patriotic faith
that the people would punish this crime in
1850. This issue preccdes and dwarfs every
other. 1t imposes a more sacred duty upon
the people of the Union than ever addressed
the conscience of a nation of fTeenlen.
EiVnfH-Wn pYprrttP
ministratlon i'll making places i'll the civil SER
vice reward for political crime, and demand
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-
clnded by the leaders of the Republican party,
is received by the Democrats OF the United
States with sensihility, and they declare tcir
confidence in his wisdom, patriotism and i'll
tegrity, mistaken by the assaults of 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
fellowcitizens, 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 a living chance for
American commerce on the seas and on land
no discrimination in favor of transportation
lines corporations or monopOlies.
Eleyenth-An amendment OF the BurinSame
treaty; no more Chinese immigration except
for travel, education and foreign commerce,
and therein carefully guarded
Twelfth-Publc money and public credit for
public purposes solely; and public land for ac-
tllal settlers.
Thirtecnth-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-
pendtllre Si0,000,G00 Il year; upon the continual
ton of prosperity at home and national honor
change in the administration of the govern
ment as shall insure us genuine and lasting
reform in every department of the public
service.