The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1880-07-17
Democratic Platform.

The Democrats Of the United States, h
convention assembled, declare |:
First--We pledge ourselves anew to the
| constitutional doctrines and traditions of the
l 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 Capitalization and
| to that dangerous spirit of encroachInent,
which tends to consolidate the powers Of all
\ departments in one and thus to create, what
| ever be the form OF government, q real des-
| potism no sumptuary laws; separation of
church and State for the good of each; com
| mon schools fostered and protected.
Third-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
revenue only.
Fourth -Subordination of the military to
the civil power, general and thorough reform
of the civil service
Fifth--The right to free ballot is a right
preservatiye of all rights, and must and shall
be maintained in every part of the United
States.
sixth--The existing administration is re-
preventative Of conspiracy only, and the claim
Of right to surround ballot boxes with troops
and deputy marshals to intiniidate and OBJ
struct electors, and the unprecedented use of
the veto to maintain Its corrupt and despotic
power, insults the people and imperils their
institutions.
Seyenth--The great fraud Of 1876-77, by
which upon a false count Of the electoral
votes of two States the candidate defeated at
the polls was declared to be President, and
for the first time In American history the will
Of the people was set aside under the threat
of military violence, struck a deadly blow at
our system Of representative government.
ihnh 4fA arfx ~
try from civil war, submitted for the time in
the firm and patriotic faith that the people
would punish this crime in 1880. This issue
precedes and dwarfs every other; 1t imposes
q more sacred duty upon the people OF the
Union than ever addressed the conscience of
a nation Of freemen.
Eighth--We execrate the course of this ad-
ministration in making places In the civil SER
vice reward for political crime, and demand
reform by statute which shall make 1t forever
impossible for the defeated candidate to bribe
his way TO the seat of the usurper, by biileting
villains upon the people. lNote--This was
read again In response to demands and was
received with applause.
Ninth--The resolution Of sam'l j. Tilden
not again TO be a candidate for the exalted
place TO which he was elected by majority
Of his countrymen, and from which he was ex-
cluded by the leaders OF the Republican party,
is received blythe Democrats of the United
olAleS WIN SeDSlDlllty, ana LHey declare Jhelr
confidence in his wisdom, patriotism and in
tcgrity, unshaken by the assaults Of q COM
mon enemy, and they further assure him that
he is followed into retirement he has chosen
for himself by the sympathy and respect of
his feliow-citizens, who regard him RS one |
who, by eleyating the standard of public mo- !
rality and adoining and purifying the public |
service, merits the lasting gratitude OF his |
country and his party.
Tenth--Free ships and living chance for |
American commerce on the seas and on land;
no discrimination In favor of transportation |
lines, corporations or mOnopolies
Eleyenth-An amendment to the Burlin- |
game treaty; no more Chinese emigration, ex- |
cept for travel, education and foreign com |
rnerce, and therein carefully guarded.
Twelfth-Public money and public credit |
for public purposes solely; and public land for /
actual settlers.
Thirteenth--1he Democratic party is the /
friend Of labor and the laboiing man, and |
pledges itself to protect him alike against
and the Commune,
Fourteenth-We congratulate the country |
upon the honesty and thrift of the Democratic
Congress, which has reduced the public ex-
peDditures $40 0,0O0, 900 year; upon the con-
tjnuati9D of prosperity at home and national
honor abroad, and above all upon the promise
1f such a change In the administration of the
Government as shall insure us genuine and
asttng reform IN every department OF the
public service.