The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-10-07

The Democratic party in Tennessee, rep
resented in Convention by it's delegates, who
have been elsewhere denied the right to re-
fleet the will of the party and the people,
by the opposition of men assuming 10 BE-
the managers and the masters of the Demo
cratic party, By the combination of. its ene-
mics and the mistakes Of its friends-by the
manipulation and fraud of the vast railroad
corporations, who have their iron grasp
| upon the liberty of the people and are de-
termined to destroy it, and who, ts perpetu-
ate their power, have lahsred assiduously in
every manner, even 10 the furnishing Of free
tickets and free passes to many delegates
| to the State Convention, and are determined
to uphold them and their action, and deny
I. the people not only their rights, but TO
! take from them also the privilege of vOt-
| ing upon them; and have brought here all
the power which they could secure 10 cap
! ture the State Convention in their interest,
! and override the expressed will of the peO-
/ pie Of the State, and this power has united
with the small element of the Democratic
minority IF the State CouEention, and IN
SUCH uuholy combination have been able to
stitle tLe voice of the Ieople, in the rejec-
i ton of Democratic dEotrine and in de-
NAL Of the only right the people have been
able te secure after years of struggle and
contest the right to settle for themselves by
/ direct vote their alleged Indebtedness.
And that combination have asserted in une-
/ quivocal terms their determination to have
4 the debts of the railroads paid by the peo-
pie Of the;State, while the holders of the
bonds arc claiming that the railroads owe
4 the debt, and are now, by suit, trying to en-
force It's collection against them.
4 Regarding, as we do, such combinations
rs destructive of the liberty and prosperity
of the people. and such doctrines as mon
strous subversions of every principle OF
| democracy and OF justice, we refuse TO sur
render 10 them the sovereignty OF the mass
es VIC represent, and, in Justice to our peo-
pie, we stand with them-the Democracy of
| Tennessse-and decline to abandon their
principles at the behest of such an alliance,
and therefore,
/ We denounce the action Of such combi-
nation pretending to be n State Democrat
ic Convention, a. undemocratie; and, as a
platform Of Democratic principles eli which
we invite the support OF the Democratic
party, aud all friends OF true democracy
we declare
We approve the National platform
\ adopted at Cincinnati, and heartily en-
! dorse the nomination OF Hancock and Eng
J ':-h.
i We declare our allegiance to the time
honored principles Of the Democratic par
ty; the right OF the majority to rasle; the
subordinatiOn of the military TO the civil
authority; opposition to ffaad and violence
u and the supremacy of law and order, and
the economical administration Of the State
and National Governments.
We favor the adjustment and speedy pay
ment of the State debt proper.
We deny the validity against the State
of all that part of our alleged indebted.
ness represent bv bonds issued for or OF
account of railroads, and declare they shall
be left for settlement where they properly
belong in the judicial controversy between
the bondholders and the railroads
We deny the validity of bonds issued fol
war interest, and assert that the demand
for such interest and its concession by mer
pretending to represent the State at a time
when we were DISTINGUISHED as crime
against the rights of the people. and NJ
part of such alleged debt shall be recog
nized in any settlement to be made.
We declare that in no event, upon any
settlement, shall the coupons be made re
ceivable for taxes.
We recognize the sovereignty and su
premacy Of the people, and declare that II,
settlement of any part of our alleged in
iebtedness shall be made which Is no
first submitted to them for ratification o.
rejection at the ballot-boX at a specia
election to be held for that purpose only.
We favor the Widest dissemination o
intelligence among the masses, and will en-
courage and promote the most liberal anC
Efficient free school system.
We oppose the competition Of convic
with free labor, and favor the enactment o
such wise and salntary laws as shall re
strain it, so far as the best interests of tn,
free laboring people shall require.
, We favor such regulation Of the taxes a
hall lift part of the burden from tho
shoulders of the laboring land owners anC
place it on railroads, capitalists, i.come
. and salaries.
We favor the enactment of such laws a
will secure the collection # railroad taxet
and as will compel the railroads 10 dea
justly with the people of the State and pre-
vent unjust discrimination between through
and local freights.
On this platform of principles we invite
the cooperation of the honest men y
all parties.