The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-07-03
THE CINCINNATI PLATFORM.

At the Cincinnati Democratic National Con-
vention, on Thursday of last week, after the
nomination OF Hancock and English had been
duly made and declared, the Hon. Henry Wat
terson, chairman of the committee on resolu
items was recognized by the chair, and, after
order was restored, proceeded to read the plat.
form, rs follows:
The democrats of the United States, in con-
vcnion assembled declare:
/. We pledge ourselves anew to the consti-
tuliona doctrines and traditions of the demo-
cratic party, as illustrated by the teaching and
example OF "A long line Of democratic states
men and patriots, and embodied in the plat
form of the last national convention of the
party.
2. Opposition to Capitalization and to that
dangerous spirit of encroachment which tends
to consolidate in one and thus to create, what
ever the form of government, a real dcs-
potism.
3. No sumptuary laws; separation of church
and state for The goou of each, and common
schools fOstercd and protected.
4. Home rule, honest money, consisting of
gold and silver and paper convertible into com
on demand the strict maintenance of the pub.
lie faith, state and national, and tariff for
revenue only.
5. The subOrdlnatiOn of the military to the
Iclvil power, and genuine and thorough re-
form of the civil service.
6. The right to a free ballot is a right pre-
servatlvc of all rights, and shall be maintained
IN every part Of the United States The exist
ing administration is the representative of a
conspiracy only, and Its claim Of right to sur
round the ballot boxes with troops and deputy
marshals to intimidatc and obstruct the elect.
4 81, 4, E.l.a
maintain its corrupt and despotc power, in
suits the people and Imperils their insttu-
lions.
:. We cxecrate the course of this admins.
trati)n in making places in the civil service a
reward for political crime, and demand re-
form 10y statute which shall make it forever
Impossible for a defeated candidate to bride
his way to the seat of usurper by billeting
Williams upon the people.
5. The great frauds of 1851, by which,
upon 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 threat of military violence,
struck a deadly blow at our system of repre-.
sentative government. The democratic party,
to preserve the country from the horrors of q
civil war; submitted for the time in the firm
and patriotic faith that the people would pun
ish this crime in 1880. This issue precedes
and dwarfs every other. 1t inspires a more
sacred duty upon the people of the Union than
ever addressed the consciences of nation of
freCmen.
o The resolution of Samuel J. Tllden not
again to be a candidate for the exalted place
to which he was elected by a majority of his
countrymen, and from which he was excluded
by the leaders OF the republican party, is re-
ceived by the democrats OF the United States
with deep Sensibility, and they declare their
confidence IN his wisdom, patriotism, and in
tegrity mistaken by the assaults of the com.
mon enemy; and they further assure him that
he is followed into the retirement he has chos-
en- for himself by the sympathy and respect of
his felow-citizens, who regard him as one who.
by elevating the spirit of public morality and
adjoining and purifying the public service,
merits the lasting gratitude of his country and
his party.
10. Free ships and living chance for
American commerce upon the seas; and on the
land no discrimination in favor of transporta-
ton lines, corporations, or monopolies; the
amendment of the Burllngame treaty, so as 10
permit 10 more immigration except for travel,
education, Of foreign commerce, and therein
carefully guarded; the public money and the
public c-edit fo- pubic purposes solely, and