The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-07-01
THE DEMOCRATIC NATION
AL PLATFORM.

Inc DemocratsO OF the Unlte0 cCates
in convention assem- bled, declare:
l. We pledge ourselves anew to the
constitutional doctrines and traditions
of the Democratic party as illustrated
by the teachings and example OF
long line of Democratic statesmen and
patriots, and embodied in the platform
of the last national convention OF the
party. >.
2. Opposition to Capitalization and
TO that dangerous spirit OF encroach-
ment which tends to consolidate the
mowers of all the departments in one,
and thus to create, whatever the form
of government, a real despOtism ; no
sumptuary laws separation Of Church
and State for the good Of each COM
mon schools fostered and protected.
3. Home Rule; honest money, con-
sisting of gold and silver and paper
convertible into coin on demand the
strict maintenance of the public faith,
State and national, and a tariff for
revenue only.
4. The subordination Of the militia
nv to the civil power, and a genuine
and thorough reform Of the civil SER
vice.
5. The right to a free ballot is
right preservative of all rights, and
must and shall be maintained in ev-
cry part of the United States.
6. The present administration is
the representative of conspiracy only,
and its claim of right to surround the
ballot box with troops and deputy
marshals, to intimidate and obstruct
the election, and the unprecedented
use of the veto to maintain its corrupt
and despotic power; insult the people
and imperil their institutions.
Z. We execrate the course Of this
administration in making places in the
civil service q reward for political
crime, and demand a reform by stat
ue which shall make it forever I'M
possible for a defeated candidate to
bride his way tc the seat of a usurper
by billeting villains upon the people.
s. The great fraudlof 1857, by
which, upon a false count Of the cleo
toral votes of two States, the candi~
date defeated at the polls was de-
elared to be president, and for the
first time in American history the will
of the people was set aside under a
threat of military violence which
struck a deadly blow at our system OF
representative government. The Dem
ocratic party, to preserve the country
from terrors of a civil war, submitted
for the time in firm and patriotic
faith that the people would punish
this crime in 1880. This issue pre-
cedes and dwarf8 every other. 1t I'M
poses a more sacred duty upon the
people than ever addressed the con-
science of a nation of freemen.
8. The resolution of Samuel j. Til
den not again to be a candidate for
the exalted place to which he was
elected by majority of his country
men, and from which he was excluded
by the leaders of the Republican par
ty, is received by the Democrats of
the United States with deep
sensibility, and they declare their
confidence in his wisdom, patri-
otism and integrity mistaken by
the assaults of the common enemy
and they further 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 who, by elevating
the 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 living chance
for American commerce on the seas,
and on the land no discrimination in
favor of transportation lines, corpora
tions or monopolies.
II. Amendment OF the Burlingame
treaty; no more Chinese emigration,
except for travel, education and for
eign commerce, and it even carefully
guarded.
y. Public money and public credit
for public purposes solely, and public
land for actual settlers.
13. The Democratic party is the
friend of labor and the laboring man,
and pledges itself to protect him alike
against the cormOrants and the Com
mune.
IA. We congratulate the country
upon the honesty and thrift of Dem
ocratic Congress which has reduced
the public expenditures $40, 100000
a year; upon the continuation OF
prosperity at home, and the national
honor abroad. and. above all, upon
a promise of such a change in the adj
ministration of the Government as
shall insure us genuine and lasting re'
form in every department Of the pub
lie service.