The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-09-08

in Convention assembled, declare
First--We pledge ourselves anew tc
the Constitutional doctrines and tradi
lions of the Democratic party, as illus.
trated by the teaching and example o.
of a long line of Democratic statesmen
and patriots, and embodied in the
Platform of the last National Conven.
ton of the party.
Second-Opposition to Capitalization
and to that dangerous spirit of en-
croacbment which tends to consolidate
the powers of all departments in one,
and thus to create, whatever be the
form of government, real despotism
No sumptuary 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.
Fourth-Subordination of the mill
tary to the civil power and general and
thorough reform of the civil service.
Fifth--The right to free ballot is a
right preservative of all right, and
must and shall be maintained in every
part of the United States.
Sixth-Tbe existing administration
IS o representative of conspiracy only,
and the claim of right to surround the
ballot boxes with troops and deputy
marshafs to intimidate and obstruct
electors, and the unprecedented use of
the veto to maintain its corrupt and
despotic power, insults the people and
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 of
the people was set aside under the
threat of military violence, struck a
deadly blow at our system ofrepresen-
tative government. The Democratic
party, to preserve the country from
civil war, submitted for the time, in
the firm aud patriotic faith that the
people would punish this crime in 1880.
This issue precedes and dwarfs every
other. 1t imposes a more sacred duty
npon the people of the Union than ev-
er addressed the conscience of a nation
of freemeD.
Eightli--We execrate the course Of
this administration in making places
in the civil service a reward for politi-
cal crime, and demand reform by stat
ute which shall make it forever impos-
sible for the defeated candidate to
bribe his way to the seat of the
usurper by billiting Williams upon the
people.
Nintb--The resolution of Samuel J.
Tilden not again to be a candidate for
the exalted place to which he was
elected by majority of bis country
men, and from which he was excluded
by the leaders of the Republican party
is received by the Democrats of the
United States with sensibility, and
they declare their confidence in his
wisdom, patriotism and integrity, un-
shaken by the assaults of common
enemy; and they further assure him
that he Is followed into the retirement
he has chosen for himself with the
sympathy and respect of his fellow
citizens, who regard him as one who,
by elevating the standards of public
morality and adorning aud purifying
the public service, merits the lasting
gratitude of his country aud his party.
Tenth - Free ships and a living
chance for American commerce on the
seas and on the land; no discrimina-
ton in favor Of transportation lines,
corporations or mohopolies.
Eleventh - An amendment of the
Bnrlingame treaty, no mole Chinese
immigration except for travel, educa-
ton and foreign commerce, aud there
in carefully guarded.
Twelfth-Public money and public
credit for public purposes solely; and
public land for actual settlers.
Thirteenth-The Democratic party
is the friend of labor and the laboring
man, and pledges itself to protect him
alike against cormolants aud COM
mune.
Fourteenth - We congratulate the
country upon the honesty and thrift of
the Democratic Congress, which has
reduced the public expenditure $4D,-
O0O, 900 year; upon the continuation
of prosperity at home and national
honor abroad, aud above all upon the
promise of such change in the admin
istration of the governments as shall
insure us genuine and lasting reform
in every department Of the public SER