Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-13
The Low Tax PIatform.

vile Thursday morning, the 18th
inst, previous to the nomination of
Hon. 5. F. Wilson, of Sumner, for
governor:
The democratic party of Tennessee,
represented in convention by its dele
gates, who have been elsewhere denied |
the right to reflect the will Of the
party and the people, by the opposi-
ton OF men assuming to be the mana
gers and the masters of the demo-
cratic party, by the combination of its
enemies and the mistakes of its
friends-by the manipulation and
fraud of the vast railroad corporations.
who have their iron grasp upon the
liberty Of the people and are deter
mined to destroy it, and who, to per-
petuate their power, have labored as
slduously in every manner, even TO
the furnishing of free tickets and
free passes to many delegates to the
state convention, and are determined
to uphold them and their action, and
deny to the people not only their
rights, but to take from them also
the privilege of voting upon them,
and have brought here all the power
which they co1ld secure to capture
the state convention in their interest,
and override the expressed will of the
people OF the state, and this power
has united with the small element of
the democratic minority of the state
convention, and in such unholy com.
bination have been able to stife the
voice Of the people, in the rejection of
democratic doctrine, and in denial of
the only right the people have been
able to secure after years of struggle
and contest, the right to settle for
themselves by direct vote their al
legged Indebtedness. And that com
binatlon have asserted in unequivo-
cal terms their determination to have
the debts of the railroads paid by the
people OF the state, while the holders
of the bonds are claiming that the
railroads owe the debt, and are now,
by suit, trying to enforce its collec-
tion against them.
Regarding, as we do, such combina-
tions as destructive of the liberty and
prosperity of the people, and such
doctrines as monstrOus subversions of
every principle of democracy and Of
justice, we refuse to surrender to them
the sovereignty of the masses we rep
resent, and, in justice to our people,
we stand with them-the democracy
OF Tennessee-and decline to abandon
their principles at the behest of such
an alliance, and, therefore,
We denounce the action of such
combination pretending to be state
democratic convention, as undemo-
cratic and, as a platform of demo-
cratic principles on which we invite
the support Of the democratic party,
and all friends of true democracy; We
declare
We approve the national platform
adopted at Cincinnati, and heartily
endorse the nomination Of Hancock
and English.
We declare our allegiance to the
time honored principles of the demo
cratic party; the right of the major
ity to rule; the subordination of the
military to the civil authority; oppo-
sition to fraud and violence and the
supremacy Of law and order, and the
economical administration of the state
and national governments.
We favor the adjustment and speedy
payment of the state debt proper.
We deny the validity against the
state of all that part Of our alleged
Indebtedness represented by bonds
issued for or ON account of railroads,
and declare they shall be left for set
tlement where they properly belong
to the judicial controversy between
the bondhOlders and the railroads.
We deny the validity of bonds is
sued for war interest, and assert that
the demand for such interest and its
concession by men pretending to rep
resent the state, at time when we
were disfranchised, as crime against
the rights of the people, and no part
Of such alleged debt shall be recog-
nized in any settlement to be made.
We declare that in no event, upon
any settlement, shall the coupons be
made receivable for taxes.
We recognize the sovereignty and
supremacy of the people, and declare
that no settlement of any part of our
alleged indebtedness shall be made
which is not first submitted to them
for ratification or rejection at the
ballot-box at special election to
be held for that purpose only.
We favor the widest dissemination
OF intelligence among the masses, and
will encourage aud promote the most
liberal and efficient free school sys-
tenn.
We oppose the competition of con-
vict with free labor, and favor the en-
actment of such wise and salutary
laws as shall restrain it, so far as the
best interest of the free laboring peo-
pie shall require.
We favor such regulation of the
taxes as shall lift part of the burden
from the shoulders of the laboring
land owners and place it on railroads,
capitalists, incomes and salaries.
We favor the enactment of such
laws as will secure the collection of
railroad taxes, and as will compel the
railroads to deal justly with the peo-
pie OF the state, and prevent unjust
discrimination between through aud
local freights,
On this platform of principles we
invite the cooperation of the honest
men of all parties.
D. L. SNoDGRAss,
S. f. WILSON,
b. G. BLEDsoE.
r. ~ SAuNnrpe