The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-22
[Adopted in 1861
adopted in 1876
Platform of the South Caro-
lima Democracy.


principles:
We declare our acceptance in
perfect good faith of the 18th, l4th,
and 18th Amendments to the Federal
Constitution accepting and stand
ing upon them, we turn from settled,
final and past, to the greas living and
momentous issues of the present and
future.
We adopt the platform of princi.
Piles announced by National Demo
cratic party, recently assembled at
St. Louis, and pledge ourselves to a
full and hearty cooperation in secur-
ing the election of its distinguished
nominees, Samuel j. Tilden, of New
York, and Thomas A. Hendricks, of
Indiana and believe THAI under wise
and just administration OF it's dis
tinguished reform leader, assisted by
eminent, patriotic and able counsel
lors, by whom he will be surrounded,
peace and prosperity will again bless
our country, and the dissensions,
confusions and mal-administration of
the past eight years will give place
to concord, good government, and a
thorough restoration Of the Union.
In accordance with the declaration
of that platform, and the utterances
and acts of our distinguished leader,
we demand genuine and thorough
reform in the State of South Carolina.
and call upon all it's citizens. ire.
spective of race, color or pre-
vious condition, to rally with us
to it's redemption; for it is evi.
dent that a substantial and lasting
reform is impossible within the
ranks OF the Republican party of this
Stste.
We charge that party with array-
ing race against race, creating dis.
turbances, and formenting difficulties !;
with prostitusing the elective fran
chise, tampering With the ballot box,
and holding unfair and fraudulent cleo.
tions, with having accumulated an
enormous debt, mismanaging the 6nan-
ces and injured the credit of the
State ; with levying exorbitant taxes,
and squandering them when collect
ed, thus wringing from toll and live
lihood, from the honest poor man Of
the State, a large per ceDtum Of his
hard earnings without giving in re-
turn any compensation therefor /; and
has hopelessly involved in debt q
majority Of the counties of the
State. It's management Of our penal
and charitable institutions is shame
and disgrace.
We charge it's legislation as de-
moralizing, partisan and disgraceful,
and the venality and corruption
which have characterized every
branch of the Government. Execu-
tive, Legislative and Judicial, have
no parallel in the history of nations.
1t has created multiplicity of un-
necessary and useless Offices, COM
plicated in their system, and un-
necessarily expensive It has at.
tempted to elevate to the Bench,
two most corrupt and degraded men
1t can never purify itself, give good
and impartial government, or by its
moral force and character, exercise
in it's full sovereignty the law of the
land. We do not charge this con-
dition of things, which every patriot
must deeply deplore, upon the
masses of the party, but upon their
leaders, who have made such fata
use of their confidence ard trust
for it is our firm conviction that all
the good people Of the State, of both
races, desire peace and prosperity.
We therefore call upon all of our
fellow citizens, irrespective of race
or past party affiliation, TO join with
us in restoring the good name of the
State and to again elevate it to a
place of dignity and character among
the commonwealth of this great
country.
We discountenance all distur-
Dances of the peace of the State, and
denounce all instigators and promo
tiers thereof, and earnestly call upon
all of our fellow citizens, irrespective
of party lines, to exercise forbear-
ance and good will and if the
government of the State is commit.
ted to our control. we pledge our
selves to protect the persons. rights
and property of all its peaple, aud to
speedily bring to summary justice
any who dare to violate them.
We desire fair, peaceable cleo.
tion, appealing to the reason and
not the passions of the people, and
demand of the Republican party a
fair showing in the appointment OF
commissioners of election. We de-
mand fair election and fair count.
W. ooIl ,,o, oil fha notriOtic sons of