The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-08-19

terest, and override the expressed WI |
of the State, and this power has united
with the small element of the Demo~
cratic minority of the State COnven.
ton, and in such unhOly combination
have been able to stifle the voice of
the people. in the rejection of Dem
Ocratic doctrine, and in deninl of the
only right the people have been able
to secure after years of struggle and
contest, the right to settle for them
selves bv direct vote their alleged in
debtedness. And that combination
have asserted in unpquivOcal terms
their determination 10 have the debts
of the riilroad> paid by the people Of
the State, while the holders Of the
bonds are claiming that the railroads
owe the debt, aEd are now, by suit,
trying to enforce its collections against
them.
Regarding, as we do, such conbina-
tiOns Us destructive Of the liberty and
prosperity of the people, end such doc
trines as monstruu-i i<ubversiors of every
principle of Democracy and of justice.
we refuse to surrender to them the
sovereignty of the masses we represent.
and, in justice to our people, we stand
with them-the Democracy Of
Tennessee-and decline To abandon
their principles at the behest of such
an alliance; and, therefore,
We denouhce the action of such
combination, pretending To he Il State
Demo:raIic convention, lie unoenlo-
cratic; and, as i platform of Demo
cratic principles, on which we invite
the support of tue Democratic party
and all friends of true Democracy.
we declare,
We approve the National platform
adopted at Cincinnati. and heartily
endorse the nomination of Hancock
and English.
We declare our allegiance to the
time honored principles of the Denlo-
cratic party; the right of the majority
to Iule; the 5 Ihordination of the mill
tary to the civil authority; opposition
to fraud and violence and the ruprem-
acy of law and order, and the econom4
ical administration of the State and
National Governments.
| We favor the adjustment and speedy
payment of the state dent proper.
We deny the validity against the
State of all that part of our alleged
Indebtedness represented by bonds
issued for or on account of railroads,
and declare they shall he left for <et-
tlement where they belong, in the
judicial controversy between the bond
holders and the railroads.
We deny the validity of bonds Is
sued for war interest, and assert the
demand for such interest and its con-
cessions by men pretending to repre-
sent the state ut IL time when We were
disfranchise,l. as crime against the
people, and no part of such debt shall
be recognized in any settlement to be
made.
We declare that in no event, upon
any settlement, shall the coupons be
made receivable for taxes.
We recognize the sovereignty and
supremacy of the people, and declare
that no settlement of amy part of our
alleged Indebtedness shall be mn,de
which is uut first submitted To- them
for ratification or rejection at the bal
lot box at a special election to be held
for that purpose only.
We favor the widest dissemination
of intelligence among the masses, and
will encourage and promote the most
liberal an efficient free school system
We toppo~e the competition Of con-
vict with free labor. aud favor the
enactment Of such wise and salutary
laws as shall restrain it so far as the
interests of the free laboring people
shall require.
We favor such regulation of the
taxes as shall lift part of the burden
from the shoulders Of the laboring
land owners, and place it on railroads,
capitalists, incomes and salaries.
We favor the enactment of such
laws as viii secure the collection nf
railroad taxes, and as will compel the
railroads tn deal justly with the people
of the State, and prevent unjust dis
elimination between through and local
freigh.s.
On this platform of principles we
invite the cooperation OF the honest
men of all parties.
Hon. S. f. Wilson, of Sumner,
was nominated by acclamation. and 4
state executive committee a. poi ltsd