The Louisiana Democrat., 1880-08-11
PLATFORM
OF
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
ADOPTED IN CONVENTION AT CINCINNATI
JUNE q, 1880.

The Democrats of the United States
in Convention assembled, deciais
First-We pledge ourselves anew. 10
the Constitutional doctrines ana tra"i-
tions of the Democratic party, as Illus,
trated by the teaching and example VI
of a long line of Democratlc Statesmen
and patriots, and embodied IN the
platform of the last National ConVen-
ton Of the party. ,.a
second-Opposition to centrai'zatlon
and to that dangerous spirit OF en-
croacbment which tends to consolidate
the powers of all departments in one,
ard thus to create, whatever De the
form of government, real desp"tlsmci
No snmntuary laws; separation OF
church and State for the good OF each, ;
common 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.
Fourtll-Subordination of the mh,
iary to the civil power aal genera and
thorough reform of the civil service.
Fifth--The right to fire. ballot is q
right preservative of all right and
mnst and shall be maintained III every
part of the United States. ~.
Sixth-The existing admiAistra ION
is a representative "f conspiracy only,
and the claim of right to surround the
ballot boxes with troops and deputy
marsbals to intimidntc and Ohstruct
electors, and the unprecedented use OF
the veto tn maintain IFS corrupt ana
despotic power, insults the people anu
imperils their Institutions.
Seventh The great fraud of 1876 II
by which, upon false count of the
electoral votes of two States, the can
didate defeated at the polls was de-
clared to be President, and for the first
time in American history the will ol
the people was set aside under the
threat of military violence, struck
deadly blow at our system ofrepresen
tative government. The Democratic
party, to preserve the country from
civil war, submitted for the time, il
the firm aud patriotic faith that th'
people would punish this crime in 1856
This issue 'precedes and dSarfs ever.
other. 1t imposes q more sacred dut.
upon the people of the Union than ev
or addressed the conscience OF natlol
of freemen.
Eicbth-We execrate the course o
this administration in making place
in The civil service n reward for pOliti
cal crime, and demand reform by stat
ute which shall make it forever impos
sible for the defeated candidate t
bribe his way to the seat OF tn
usurper by billiting Williams upon th
people.
Nintb--The resolution of Samuel j
Tilden not again to be candidate TO
the exalted place to which he wa
elected by a majority of his country
men, and from which he was EXCLUDED
by the leaders of the Republican party
is received by the Democrats OF til
United States with sensibility, an
they declare their confidence in hi
wisdom, patriotism and integrity, IN
shaken by the assaults OF commo
enemy; and they further assure hiT
that he Is followed into the retiremen
he has chosen for himself with tll
sympathy and respect of his fellow
citizens, who regard him as one Wit
by elevating the standards of publ
morality and adorning and purifyin
the public service, merits the lastin
gratitude of his country and his part.
Tenth - Free ships and o livin
chance for American commerce on I'll
seas and on the land; no discrimin'
tion in favor of transportation line
corporations or mohopolies.
Eleventh - An amendment of I'll
Burlngame treaty, no mole Chimes
immigration except for travel, educ'
tion and foreign commerce, and ther
in carefully guarded.
Twelfth-Public money and publ
credit for public purposes solely; al
public land for actual settlers.
Thirteenth-The Democratic par
is the friend of labor and the laborii
man, and pledges itself to protect hi
alike against cormorants and col
mune.
Fourteenth - We congratulate t
country upon the honesty and thrift
the Democratic Congress, which h
reduced the public expenditure 3D.
1000 q year; upon the contnnati
of prosperity at home and nation
honor abroad, and above all upon t
promise of such change in the admi
istration of the government as sh
insure us genuine and lasting refo
in every department. of the public 81
vim