Louisiana capitolian., 1880-07-31
PLATFORM
ADOPTED by THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION AT CINCINNATI,
JUNE "a, 1880.

JUNE S4j lCCV.
The Democrats of the United States |
in Convention assembled declared:
First-We pledge ourselves anew to
tho constitutional doctrines and tradi.
tions of the Democratic party as illus
trated by the teaching and example of a
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 fencroach-
ment which tends to consolidate the
power of all departments in one, and
thus to create whatever may be the form
of government, a 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,
strict maintenance Of public faith con-
sisting of gold and silver, and paper
convertible into coin on demand, strict
maintenance of public faith, State and
National, and tariff for revenue only.
Observation-Disclosures of military to
civil mower, and general and thorough
reform of the Civil Service.
Fifth-The right to free ballot is
the right preservative of all rights, and
must and shall be maintained in every
part of the United States.
Sixth-The existing Administration is
representative of conspiracy only, and
its claim of right to surround ballot
boxes with troops and deputy marshals
to intimidate and obstruct elections,
and the unprecedented use of the veto
to maintain it's corrupt and despotic
power, insults the people and imperils
their institutions.
Seventh-Tbe great fraud of 1876 and
1877, by which, upon false count OF
the electoral votes Of two States, q can
didate defeated at the polls was de-
clared to be President, and for tho first
time in Americas history the will Of the
people was set aside under threat OF
military violence, struck q deadly blow
at our system of representative govern
mcnt. The Democratic party, to pre-
serve the country from civil war, sub
mitted 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. Ii
imposes more sacred duty upon tht
. people of the Union than ever addressed
the confidence of nation Of freelhen
Eighth-We execrate the course Of
this Administration in making places
in Civil Service a reward for politica
-, crime, and demand reform by the statute
which shall make it forever impossible
for defeated candidate to bribe Iii
= way to seat, usurper by billetln'
villains upon, the people. [This wa
read again in response to demands, AM
was received with applause
Ninth-The resolution of Samuel }
Tilden not again to be candidate TO
y the exalted place to which he was elect
y ed by majority of bis countrymen, an
y from which he was excluded by the lead
ers of the Republican party, is receive
s by the Democrats of the United State
o with sSnsibility, and they declare thei
u confidence in his wisdom, patriotism an
IS integrity unshaken by the assaults of
common enemy, and they further assur
}! that he is followed into the retiremen
|. he has chosen for himself by sympath
c and respect of his fellow-citizens, VIII
regard him as one who by the elevatin
u standards of public morality and adorr
! ing and purifying public service, merit
~ the lasting gratitude of his country an
u" his party.
J" Tenth-Free ships and living chan'
o for American commerce on the SCI
" and on board. No discrimination
=" favor of transportation lines, coTpor
=" " tions or monopolies.
~ leventh-Amendment of the Bu
- lingame treaty no more Chinese INN
~ grafton, except for travel, educatic
:, and foreign commerce, and therein car
" :, fully guarded.
Twelfth-public money and publ
!, credit for public purposes solely, al
~ =: public land for actual settlers.
Thrteenth-The Democratic party
u the friend of labor and the laborll
- man, and pledges itself to protect hi
: alike against cormorants and commun
" Fourteenth We congratulate &
~ country upon the honesty and thrift
~ the Democratic Congress which has
= y