The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-05-07
THE PLATFORM.

The following is the platform adopted al
the Harrisburg Conventions
RESOLVED, FIRST, That the Democratic
party of Pennsylvania in convention assem-.
bled renew our VOWS of fidelity to the funda
mental principles proclaimed and practiced
by the illustrious men who settled our free
institutions and founded the Democratic
party to preserve and protect them.
Second, That the just powers of the Fed
er"l Union, the rights of the States aud the
liberties of the people are vital parts of one
harmonious system, and to save each part in
its whole constitutional vigor is to "save the
life Of the nation"
Third, That the Democratic party main.
tains, as it ever has maintained, tnat the
military are and ought to be in all things
subordinate to the civil authorities 1t denies,
rs it ever has denied, the right of The Fed
eral administration to keep on foot at the
general expense standing army to in
wade the states for political purposes, with
out regard to constitutional restrictions, to
control the people at the polls, to protect
and encourage fraudulent counts of the
votes, or to inaugurate candidates rejected
by the majority.
Fourth, That the right of a free ballot is
the right preservative of all rights, the only
means of peacefully redressing grievances
and reforming abuses. The presence at the
polls of regular military force and of
host of hireling officials, claiming the power
to arrest and imprison citizens without war
rant or hearing, destroys all freedom of elec
tions aud upturns the very foundation of
self-g overnment We call upon all good cit.
liens to aid us in preserving our institutions
from destruction by these imperial methods
of supervising the right of suffrage and CO.
ercing the popular will by keeping the way
to the bailot-box open and free, as it was TO
our fathers; in removing the army to safe
distance when the people assemble TO ex.
press their sovereign pleasure at the polls
and in securing obedience to their will when
legally expressed by their votes
FIFTH, That Rutherford B. Hayes hsyipg
been placed in power sgsinst the wel-knowu
and legslly-expressed will of the people, j.
the representative of conspiracy only and
his claim of the right to surround the bal.
lot-ooxes with troops and deputy msrshals
to inimidste and oostruct the elections, and
his unprecedented use of the veto to main.
tain this, is an insult and menace TO the
country.
Sirth, That the Democratic psrty, as of
old, tavors constitutional currency of gold
aud silver and of paper convertible into
coin.
>egenth, That We are opposed to the system
Of subsidies by the General Government un-
der which, during the period OF Republican
ascendaucy, political rings aud corporations
protiIed at the peoples expense, sud to auy
appropriations of the public moneys or the
public credit to any objects but the public
service. The reforms and economies
enforced by the Democratic party since its
advent to power in Congress have saved to
the people many millions of dollars and we
believe that like result would follow its
restoration to power in the State of Penn
sylvsnia.
Eighth, That the Democratic party, being
the natural friend of the workugmau an
having throughout its history stood between
him aud oppression, renew its expression of
sympathy with labor and its promise of pro-
lection to its rights.
Niaih That We look with alarm aud sp-
prehension upon the pretensions of the
great transportation comParies to be above
the fundamental law of this Commonwealth
which governs all else within our borders,
and until they accept the constitution of '73
in good faith they should remain objects Of
the utmost vigilance and jealousy Of both
Legislature and people.
Tenth, That the recent attempt, under the
personal direction of ruling Republican
leaders. to debauch the Legislature by
wholesale bribery aud corruption aud to take
from the Commonwealth four millions OF
dollars, for which its liability had never been
sscertsined, is fresh and alarming evidence
OF the sggressiyeness of the political ring
and should receive the signal condemnation
of the people at the polls.
Eerenth, That the great fraud lS76.77, by |
which, upon false count of the electoral
v ltes of three States, the candidate defeated |
AZ the polls was seated in the Presidential
chair, and, for the first time in American
history, the Will of the people was set aside
under threat of military force, was the
most deadly blow ever aimed at our system
IF representative government. To.preserye
he country from the horrors of civil war
be Democratic party submitted for the time
u firm aud patriotic faith that the people
sould peacefully redress the great wrong
nd signally rebuke the dark crime when
hey should come to vote in 1850.
That issue preeedes and dwaris every 9TH 1
r. Itiuposes a more sacred duty upon the q
eople Of the Union than ever addressed the I
lnseiences of u nation Of ireemel. lE