The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-10-28
The Democratic Platform.

The Democrats ofthe United States, in con
vention assembled, declared;
!. We pledge ourselves anew to the oonsti-
| tutional doctrines aud traditions of the DEM
ocratic party, as illustrated by the teaching
and example OF q long line of Democratic
statesmen and patriots, and embedded in the
platform of the last National Convention of
the party.
:. Opposition to Capitalization and to that
dangerous spirit OF encroachment which tends
to consolidate the powers of all departments
III one, and thus to create, whatever be the
form OF government, % real despOtism; no
sumptuary laws; separation OF church and
State for the good of each; common schools
fostered and protected.
s. Home rule honest money, consisting of
gold and silver and paper convertible into
coin on demand; strict maintenance of public
faith, State and national; and tariff for rev
enue only.
a. Subordination of the military to the
civil power, and general aud thorough reform
of the civil service.
s. The right to free ballet is a right pre-
sentative of all rights, and must and shall be
maintained inevery part OF the United States.
D. The existing administration is u repre-
sentative OF conspiracy only, and the claim
oil right to surround ballot boxes with trsefs
and deputy marshals to intimidate and OBJ
struct electors, and the unprecedented use OF
the veto to maintain its corrupt and despOtic
power insults the people aud imperils their
institutions.
z. The great fraud of 1857, 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 tbs first
time in American history the will of the people
was set aside under the threat of military
violence, struck q deadly blow at our system
OF representative government. The Demo-
cratic party, to preserve the country from civil
war, submitted for the time in the firm and
patriotic faith that tho people would punish
this crime in 1880. This issue precedes and
dwarfs every other; it imposes d more sacred
duty upon the people Of the Union than ever
addressed the conscience of o nation OF free
men. t4s
I. We execrate the course of this admins
tration in making places in the civil service .
reward for political crime, and demand reform
by statute which shall make it forever inpos-
slble tor the defeated candidate to bride his
way to the seat of the usurper, by billetiny
villains upon the people.
u The resolution of Sam1 j. Tilden not
again to be candidate for the exalted place
TO which he was elected by a majority Of his
countrymen and from which he was excluded
by the leaders of the Republican party, is re-
celved by the Democrats of the United States
with sensibility, and they declare their conf
dence IN MS wisdom, patriotism and integrity,
mistaken by the assaults of common enemy.
and they further assure him that he is followed
into retirement he has chosen for himself bv
the sympathy and respect OF his fellow citizens,
who regard him as one Who by clevating tho
standard of public morality and adjoining and
purifying the public service, merits the lasting
gratitude of his country and his party.
10. Free ships and a living chance. for
american commerce on the seas and on land.
no discrimination in favor Of transportation
lines, corporations or monepolies.
IL. An amendment to the Burlingame
treaty. no more Chinese immigration, except
for travel, education and foreign commerce.
and therein carefully guarded.
:. ~. Public money and public credit for pub
lie purposes solely and public land for actual
settlers
~. The Democratic party is the friend Of
labor and the labOring man, and pledges itself
to protect him alike against cormorants and
the Commune.
IA. We congratulate the country upon tho
honest and thrift Of the Democratic Congress
which has reduced the public expenditures
$4o, 0OO00Oa year; upon the continuation of
prosperity at home and national honor abroad.
and above all upon the promise of such q
change in the administration of the govern
ment as shall insure us genuine and lasting
reform in every department of the public
service