The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-07-03
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

The Democrats Of the United States, In
convention assembled, declare;
First. We pledge ourselves anew 70 the
constitutional doctrines and traditions Of The
Democratic party, as illustrated by the teach
ing and example of long line Of Democratic
statesmen and patriots and embodied ia the
platform Of the last National Convention Of
the party.
Second: Opposition to Capitalization aud
TO that dangerous spirit Of encroachment
which tends to consolidate the powers Of ali
the departments in one, and thus to create,
whatever be the form of government, real
despotism. No sumptnary laws; separation
OF church and State for the good Of each;
common schools fostered and protected.
g Third. Home rule honest money---the
strict maintenance Of the public faith--con-
sisting Of gold and silver and paper convert.
BILE into coin on demand; the strict mainte.
nance of the public faith, State and national,
and tariff for revenue only.
Fourth. The subordination Of the military
to the civil power and general and thorough
reform Of the civil service.
Fifth. The right TO a free ballot Is the right
preseryatiye Of all rights and must and shall
be maintained in every part Of the United
States.
Sixth. The existing administration is the
representative OF conspiracy only, and its
claim OF right TO surround the ballot-boxss
with troops and deputy maFshals TO intimidate
and obstruct the electors, and the unprece-
deAted use OF the veto to maintain its corrupt
and despotic power insults the people aud i'm
perils their institutions.
Seventh. The great fraud Of l876-77, 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 tine in American history the will
OF the people was set aside under threat Of
military violence, struck deadly blow at our
system Of representative government. The
Democratic party, to preserve the country
from the horrors of civil war, submitted
for the time in firm and patriotic faith that
the people would punish this crime in 1880.
J This issue precedes and dwarfs every other.
1t imposes more sacred duty upon the peo-
J pie OF the union than ever addressed the con
science Of a nation of freemen.
Eighth. We execrate the course Of this ad.
ministration in making places in the civil
, /, service a reward for political crime, and de,
nand reform by statute which shall make il
r forever impossible for the defeated candidate
to bribe his way to the seat Of asurper BY
, billeting. villains upon the people. lThis was
was read again in response TO demands and
was received with applause.
I Ninth. The resolution Of Samuel j. Tilder
: not again TO be candidate for the exaltet
, place TO which he was elected by q majorit,
OF bis countrymen, and from which he wal
excluded by the leaders of the Republican
party, is received by the Democrats OF thl
! United States with sensihility, and they de
: olare their confidence in his wisdom, patriot
ism and integrity mistaken by the assaults o
q COMMON enemy, and they further assus,
him that he is followed into the retirement b,
has chosen for himself by the sympathy ans
: respect Of his felow-eitizens, who regard hin
as one who, by elevating the standards Q
public morality and adorning and purifying
the public service, merits the lasting graft
!, tude Of his country and his party.
Tenth. Free ships and living chance FOL
/. American commerce on the seas and on thu
. land. No discrimination in favor of trans
! portation lines, corporations or monopolies.
Eleventh. Amendment Of the Burlingami
|, treaty. Nomore Chineseimmigration, excep
for travel, education and foreign commerce
. and therein carefully guarded.
Twelfth. Public money and public credit 10
, public purposes solely and public land for act
ual settlers.
Thirteenth. The Democratic party Is thl
! friend OF labor and the laboring man, aat
pledges itself to protect him alike against thl
corInorants and the commune.
q Fourteenth. We congratulate the countr,
upon the honesty and thrift of Democrats
! Congress which has reduced the public ex
penditures $40, 900, 600 q year; upon the con
] tlnuation of prosperity at home and ihs m
tional honor abroad, and above all upon th,
, promise Of such change in the administration
Of the government as shall insure us genuin'
and lasting reform in every department O.
, the public service.