Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-08-15
INSTRUMENTATION Platform.


The following is the platform
adopted by the reputation wing of
the democratic convention held at
Nashville:
The democratic party of Tennessee, rep
resented in convention by its delegates,
who have been elsewhere denied the right
to reflect the will of the party and the peo-
nIe- bv the opposition of men assuming
To be the managers and masters of the DEM
ocratic 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
Grin upon the liberty of the people, and are
determined to destroy it, and who, to per-
petuate their power, have laborei assidu-
ously in every manner, even to the furnist.
ing of free tickets and free pa. ses to many
delegates to the state convention, and are
determined to uphold them and their &C.
ton, and deny to the people not only their
rights but to take from them also the priv
ilege of voting upon them; and they
brought here all the power which they
could secure to capture the state con-
vention in their interest, and override the
expressed will of the state, and this power
has united with the small element of the
democratic minority of the state conven>
ton, and in such unholy combination have
been able to stide The voice Of the people,
| in the rejection of democratic doctrine. and
in denial of the nlyArght the people have
| been able to secure after years of struggle
and contest, the right to settle for them
selves by direct vote their alleged indebt-
edness. And that combination have as
serted in unequivocal terms their determi-
nation 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 collection against
| them.
Regarding, as we do. such com binationa
| as destructive of the liberty and prosperity
| of the people, and such doctrines as mon
strous subversions of every principle OF
democracy and of justice, we refuse to sur
render to them the sovereignty of the
| masses we represent, and, in justice to our
| people, we stand with them-tne democracy
of Tennessee-and decline to abandon their
| principles at the behest of such au alliance
| and. therefore,
| We denounce the action of such combi-
nation, pretending to be state democI attic
| nVention, as un~democratic; and, as 8
platform of democratic principles. on which
we invite the support of the democratic
party and all friends of true democracy. we
declare. We approve the national plat
form adopted at Cincinnati, and heartily
endorse the nomination Of Hancock and
| English.
We declare our allegiance to the time
honored principles of the democratic par
ty; the right of the majority to rule; the
| gu bordination of the mil tsry to the civil
authority; opposition 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 &C
count of railroads, and declare they shall
be left for settlement where they belong, il
the judicial controversy between the bond
holders and the railroads.
We deny the validity of bonds issued fo
war interest, and assert that the demand
for such interest and its concession by mer
pretending to represent the state at tim,
when we we're disfranchised, as q crim
against the people, and no part Of sucl
debt shall be recognized in any settlement
to be made.
| We declare that in no event, upon AM
settlement, shall the coupons be made re-
ceivable for taxes.
We recognize the sovereignty and SUI
premacy of the people, and declare that NJ
settlement of any part of our alleged in
debtedness shall be made which is not frs
1
ton at the ballot-box at special election
to be held for that purpose only.
We favor the widest dissemination of in
telIigence among the masses, and will en-
1 courage and promote the most liberal AM
efficient free school system.
We oppose the competition of convic
with free labor, and favor the enactmen
: of such wise and salutary laws as shall re
strain it, go far as the best interests of tn
free laboring people shall require.
II We favor such regulation Of the taxes q
shall lift q part of the burden from tn
shoulders of the laboring and-owner3, an
place it on railroads, capita lists, inc )me
| and salaries
We favor the enactment of such laws q
will secure the collection of railroad taxes
and as will compel the railroads to des
justly with the people of the state, an
prevent unjust discrimination betw e
| through and local freights
On this platform of principles we inSj
the cooperation of the honest men of a