Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-29
KEYSTONE DEMOCRATS.
A RINGING PLATFORM ADOPTED.
The State COnVentiOn-RaIlQII
for state Treasurer-StirrIng Calls
fer Honest Governments and CItI-
zens' Rights-Waste, PIunder and
MOnOpOlIes Denounced.


Committee, who appointed a number of
Sergeants-at-Arms and Doorkeepers.
The proceedings were opened with prayer,
aud after the appointment Of a number of
secretaries, the roll was called and creden-
tials were presented. On motion, W. U.
Hensel, Of Lancaster, was unanimously
chosen temporary Chairman. He was
greeted with most hearty applause and
acknowledged the honor in alglowing speech,
making pathetic reference to the recent
death of the President. He declared
that time had vindicated the capacity
of the Democracy to maintain the true
principles Of government. His speech was
repeatedly spplauded. A proposition fix
ing the order of business was presented by
Mr.. MCGOWAN, of Philadelphia, nd called
forth extended discussion. The conven-
tion then appointed the usual committees
on organization and adjourned until 3p. m
The Committee on Organization met after
wards, Col. Duff in the chair, and agreed
to make the temporary Chairman perma-
nent. They also decided to have Vice
President and Secretary from each Senate
rial district. The temporary Secretaries
are also to be permanent.
The convention re-assembled at o'clock.
Mr.. Oakes, of Philadelphia, was admitted
as a delegate from the Twenty seventh Sen
atorial District The report of the Commit
tee on Permanent Organization was pre-
seuted and adopted. 1t provided that Mr..
Hensel, temporary Chairman, should be
made permanent Chairman. Mr.. Hensel
was again applauded. The report of the
Committee on Resolutions was read andJ
adopted as follows:
RESOLVED, That we, the Democratic party of
Pennsylvania, In convention assembled,
declare first for the preservation of the
Constitution of the United States, home
rule, freedom of elections, for resistance to
revolutionary changes tending to consohla-
tiOn or empire, against the election OF any
person to the Presidency for third term,
against the presence of troops at the polls,
against the appropriation of public money
for any purpose but the support Of the
government, and against class legislation,
which despoils labor to build up mo-
nopolies.
Second. That the Democratic party, as
of old, favors a constitutional currency Of
gold and silver in all forms, and that the
coalition with repudiatOrs merits the con-
demnation of honest people. The refusal
of the Republican administration to accede
to the Democratic demand for further re-
duction of the rate of interest on the ma
tional debt subjects the government to the
needless expense Of millions of dollars an
nuslly.
Third. That in view of the exposure of
extensive frauds in the Postal and Treasury
Departments under the last Federal admin
isfalion the people demand the prompt
and uDfaltering prosecution of the thieves.
These successful operations prove that there
will be no real reform in the management
of the departments of the Federal Govern
ment without a sweeping change therein,
since civil service reform will only begin
withithe return to the Jeffersonian tests for
office holders OF honesty, capabili5y and
faithfulness to the Constitution.
Fourth. That in the administration of the
! Government of Pennsylvania the Republi-
can party has encouraged, praeticed and
shielded the spOliation of the State Treas
ury, misuse of the public funds, bribery Of
| Legislators, undue favor to corporations
and monopolies, and an unnecessarily nigh
rate of interest on the State loans, shame
| less prostitution OF the pardoning power, a
| system of wholesale waste ana pecuiation in
the ordinary expenditures Of the govern
ment, and an harassing, plundering exer-
else Of municipal franchises and abuse Of
| local trusts.
Fifth That the arrogant, corrupt and
| personal domination controlling the Re-
| publican party in this State, and sup-
| pressing honesty and independence in that
organization, dictated the policy, platform
and candidate of its last State Convention.
In view OF these facts we hereby reaflifm
the following resolution Of the Democratic
| State Convention of 1879:
| That the recent attempt under the per
sonal direction of the ruling Republican
| leaders to debauch the Legislature by
wholesale bribery and corruption and take
from the Commonwealth $4,000, 900, for
which its liability had never been ascer-
| tanned, is fresh and alarming evidence OF
the aggressiveness OF corporate power and
cOlluslon with the political rings, and should
receive the signal condemnation of the peo-
pie.
Sixth. That the Democratic party Of
Pennsylvania, regardful of the States honor
and its interests, pledges itself to just ap-
| plication Of public moneys to the public
service, to economy in governmental ex
| penditures that the people may be lightly
burdened and the purity of the administra-
| tion preserved, to the abolition of all use
| less offices and the looping off OF all super
numerary officials, to the lowest practicable
rate OF interest on the State loans, without
regard for the advantage of syndcates or
Spectators, to sleepless vigilance against
the growth and exacLions OF
the public interests against the
peculations of great transportation COM
| panies, to be above the fundamental law
| governing all else within the borders of the
| State, to the vigorous collection of all taxes
! lawfully laid upon corporations chartered or
doing business in Pennsylvania, and to in
vestigate into the correction of, and punish
ment for, the frauds and waste which have
| for years permeated various departments of
the State government under Republican
| control.
Seventh. That no monopoly or exclusive
right in the forces of nature In grants of emf
nent domain, in the diffusion OF information
among the people by telegraph and ascot
alton for furnishing dispatches to the press,
or the grant Of privileges affecting the daily
| business or the citizen can or ought right
fully to exist under our form of government
These are at all times 10 be subject to such
| legislation and control as the rights and
interests of the people demand. That this
| delegated power of Congress to regulate
commerce among the States and the reserve
power of the States to regulate the same
| within their borders, should be forthwith
exercised to prevent unjust determinations
| by common carriers against individu-
! ais and localities, and all the pro-
| visions of the constitution of PennsYlv ania
relative to the exercise and abuse of cOrpor-
ate franchise and the duties OF common
! carriers to the public should be enforced
without delay by appropriate legislation.
/
used in the restraint of monopolies and not
in aid of them, and simple and speedy
remedies should be provided by
| legislative enactment by which any
citizen injured In his business
may in the State and Federal courts by
due process of law have quick, certain and
| ADEQUATE redress for corporate wrongs
| That vested rights must be protected and
respected, and that great corporations,
warning between themselves, to the injury
| of public interests and their own share
| holders, must be regulated and controlled
| by wise and effective laws. That franchises,
| the property of the people, shall be granted,
and exercised solely for the public benefit,
and subject TO immediate and
absolute forfeiture by due process
Of law when used for oppression or extor-
ton, or when Otherwise abused. No corpo-
ration can be above the people or the law
We thus reafirm the ancient doctrine of
the Democratic party, and most cordially
invite our fellow citizens of whatever party
to join with us in carrying out the princi-
Piles and policy we hereby announce, to
the advocacy of which We pledge ourselves
until the right shall prevail.
Reso!ued, That all good citizens, regard
less of party affiliations, sincerely mourn
the death of President Garfield, and that we,
as representatives of more than 400, 900
Democratic voters, express their individual
aud collective grief at the calamity " hich has
befalIen the republic, their sorrow and sym
pathy with The domestic affection of the
Presidents str cken household, and their
execratfon OF his assassin and OF the mur-
derer's foul crime.
The following names were then placed in
! nomination for Safe Treasurer: p s.