Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-06-29
THE DEMooRATIC PLATFORM.

The Democrats of the United States in
convention assembled declare:
First-We pledge ourselves anew to 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 in the.
platform of the last national convention of
the party.
Second.-Opposition to centralizationism
and to that dangerous spirit of encroachment
which tends to consolidate the powers of all
the departments in one, aud 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 aud protected.
Third.-Hom rule; honest money-the
strict maintenance of the public faith-con>
sisting Of gold and silver and paper, converts
ible into coin on demand the strict main
teDance of the public faith, State and national,
and tariff for revenue only.
Fourth.-The subord:nation of the mill
,tary to the civil power, and a general and
thorough reform of the civil service
Fifth.-The right to free ballot is the
right preservative of all rights, and m ust and
shall be maintained in every part of the
United States.
Sixth.-The existing administration is the
representative of conspiracy only, and it's
claim of right to surround the ballot boxes
with troops and deputy marshals to intimi-
date and obstruct the electors, and the un>
prccedented use of the veto to maintain its
corrupt and despotic power, insults the peo>
pie and imperils their institutions.
Seventh.-The great fraud of 1851, 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 timo in American history the
will of the people was set aside under
threat of military violence, struck deadly
blow at out system of representative govern
ment. 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 1850 This issue precedes and dwarfs
every other. 1t imposes more sacred duty
upon the people of the Union than over ad
dressed the conscience of nation of free.
men.
Eighth We execrate the course of this
administration in making places in the civil
service reward for political crime, and de.
mand reform by statute which shall make
IT forever impossible for the defeated candi>
date TO bride his way to tho seat OF usurper
by billeting villains upon the people.
Ninth.-The resolution of Samuel J. Til
den not again to be candidate for the ex-
allied place to which he was elected BY ma
Jority of his country, and from which he was
excluded by the leaders of the Republican
party, is received by the Democrats of the
United States with sensibil;ty, aud they do
clare their confidence in his wisdom, patriot
ism and integrity, mistaken by tho assaults
OF common enemy, and they further assure
m hak ha 10 fol
he has chosen for himself by the sympathy
and respect of his fellow citizens, who regard
him as one who, by elevating the standards
OF public morality and adorning and purify
ing the public service, merits the lasting
gratitude OF his country and his party
Ienth.-Free ships and a living chance
for American commerce on tho seas and on
the land No Discrimination in favor of traus-
portation lines, corporations or nonopoiies.
Observation-Disclosures of tho Bnrlin-
game treaty. No more Chinese immigration
except for travel, education and foreign CONS
merce. and therein carefully guarded.
Iwelfth.-Publc money and public credit
for public purposes solely, and public land
for actual settlers.
Thirteenth.-The Democratic party is the
friend of labor and tho laboring man, aud
pledges itself to protect him alike against the
cormorants and the commune.
Fourteenth.-We congratulate the country
upon the honesty and thrift OF a Democratic
Congress, which has reduced the public ex,
penditures $40. 100000. upon the contin>
uation of prosperity a. home and the national
honor abroad, and, above all, upon the pro-
mise of such change in the administration
OF the government as shall insure us genuine
and lasting reform in every department of the
public service.
ELO0VFNT COWpTTMCMTo