The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-09-06
POLITICAL PLATFORMS.

POLITICAL PLATFORMS.
A Series of Interesting Documents.
MilestOmes IN the Development Of PoIiti-
col Parties Since the Organiza-
tiO11 of the GOUerh n1ent.
1876.
DEMOCRATIC, ST. LOUIS, JUNE 27TH.
We, the delegates of the Democratic
party of the United States, in national
convention assembled, do hereby de
clare the administration of the Federal
Government to be in urgent need of
immediate reform; do hereby enjoin
upon the nominees of this convention,
and of the Democratic party in each
State, q jealous effort and cooperation
to this end; and do hereby appeal to
our fellow citizens of every former po-
litical connection to undertake, with
us, this first and most pressing patri
otic duty.
For the Democracy of the whole
country, we do here re affirm our faith
in the permanence of the Federal
Union, our devotion to the COnstitu
tion of the United States, with it's
amendments universally accepted as
final settlement of the controversies
that engendered civil war, and do here
record our steadfast confidence in the
perpetuity of republican elf-govern
ment.
In absolute acquiescence in the will
of the majority-the vital principle of
Republics; in the supremacy of the
civil over the military authority; in
the total separation of church and
state, for the sake alike of civil and re-
ligious freedom; in the equality Of all
citizens before just laws Of their own
enactment; in the liberty of individual
conduct, unvexed by sumptuary laws;
in the faithful education of the rising
generation, that they may preserve,
enjoy, and transmit these best con
ditiOns of human happiness and hope
we behold the noblest products of a
hundred years of Changeful history;
but while upholding the bond Of our
Union and great chartered these our
rights it behOoves a free people to
practice also that eternal vigilance
which is the price of liberty.
Reforms is necessary to rebuild and
establish in the hearts Of the whole
people the Union, eleven years agohap
PLY restored from the danger of
secession of States, but now to besaved
from a corrupt centralism whi n, after
inficting upon ten States the rapacity
of carpet bag tyranny, has honey
cOmbed the offices of the Federal Gov
ernment itself with incapacity, waste,
and fraud; infected States and mu
inequalities with the cOntagion of mis-
rule; and locked fast the p1osp Gritty OF
an Industrious people in the paralysis
of "hard times"
Reform Is necessary to establish a
sound currency, restore tho public
credit, and maintain the national honor.
We denounce the failure, for all
these eleven years of peace, to make
good the promise Of the legal tender
notes, which are changing standard
of value in the hands of the people, and
the non payment of which is a disre
gard of the plighted faith of the nation.
We denounce the imprOvidence
which, in eleven years of peace has
taken from the people, in federal taxes,
thirteen times the whole amount of
the legal tender notes, and squandered
four times their sum in useless expense
without accommodating any reserve for
their redemption.
We denounce the financial imbecility
and immortality of that party which,
during eleven years of peace, has made
no advance toward resumption, no
preparation for resumption, but, in
stead, has obstructed resumption, by
wasting our resources and eXhausting
all our surplus income; and, while an
nually protesting to intend a speedy
return to specie payments, has annu-
ally enacted fresh hindrances thereto.
AS such hindranCe we denOunce the
resumption clause of the act of 1875,
and we here demand its repeal.
We demand a judicious system of
preparation, by public economies, by
official retrenchments, and by wise
finance, which shall enable the nation
soon to assure the whole world of it's
perfect readiness to meet any of it's
promises at the call of the creditor en-
titled to payment. We believe such a
system, well devised, and, above all,
intrusted to competent hands for exc
cution, creating, at no time, an arti
fetal scarcity of currency, and at no
time alarming the public mind into a
withdrawal of the vaster machinery of
credit by which 95 per cent. of all busi-
ness transactions are performed. A
system open, public, and inspiring gen
eral confidence, would from the day of
its adoption, bring healing On its wings
to all our harrassed industries-set in
motion the wheels of commerce, manu-
features, and the mechanic arts-re-
store employment to labor-and re-
new, in all its natural resources, the
prosperity of the people.
Reform is necessary in the sum and
modes of federal taxation, to the end
that capital may be set free from dis
trust and labor lightly burdened.
We denounce the present tariff, levied