Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-05-27

Second DlStflCl-M. ID. NC
Sweeney Of Hampton, Is. L. Caugh-
man of SaluGa. Alternates, w.
S. Bamberg of Barnwell, j. II. Ed
wards of Saluda.
Third District. II. McCalla,
of Abbeville, ]. B. Watson Of An
derson. Alternates, J. t. Duncan
of Newberry, E. P. Earle of
Oconee.
Fifth Dristriet-W. F. Strait Of
York, T. Y. Williams of York.
Alternates, T. ]. Cunningham of
Chester, w. P. Pollick of Chester
field.
Sixth District-W. D. Evans of
Marlboro, A. II. Williams of Will
liamsburg. Alternates, G. P. Scar
borough of Darlington, D. II.
Traxler of Timmonsvllle.
Seventh District-Dr. 0. R.
Lowman of Orangeburg, DR.. H. T.
Abbott of Sumter. Alternates, G.
w. Garlls of Colleton and j. w.
Dreher of Lexington.
The PLATFORM.
/. The Democratic party of
South Carolina reaffirms its allegi-
ance to the principles enunciated
by Jefferson, Monroe, and Jackson
and followed by their successors
in office and pledges itself to stand
by those principles as the creed of
our political faith.
2. We denounce the admins
tration of President Cleveland as
undemocratic and tyrannical and
as departure from those princi-
Piles which are cherished By all
liberty-loving Americans. The
veto power has been used to thwart
the will of the people as expressed
by their representatives in con-
gress, The appointive power has
been used to subsidize the press,
to debauch congress and to over
awe and control citizens in the
free exercise of their constitutions
al rights as voters. A plutocratic
despotism is thus sought 10 be es-
tablished on the ruins of the re-
public.
: 8. We believe the lower and
usurpations of the Federal courts
as now organized TO the dangerous
to the republic. The American
people have lost confidence IN life
tenure of officers In any depart
ment of government and we repeat
here the warning of Jefferson
against the tendency and effect of
of the constitution of the Federal
judiciary, which he styles ''an ir-
responsible body working like
gravity by night and day, gaining
little today and a. little tomor-
row and advancing it's noiseless
steps like thief over the field
iurisd .ctiol. until all shall be
usurped from the States and the
government of all be consolidated
Into one." The Sudden reversal
of the decision in the income tax
cases has never been satisfac orily
explained to the. American people
and the court has lost the respect
and confidence of the people as a
natural result. To restore conf
dence in, the Judiciary and make
| the courts the bulwarks of liberty
rather than the apparent tools of
the ''sordid despotism of wealth."
To protect the people against the
brood of vampires in the shape of
monopoliea, trusts and combines
which have grown up under vic
ious laws badly administered. To
provide for the election of soma
tors and Of all high government
officials by the people 80 as to re-
duce the dangers of Federal pat
ronage in the hands of an unscru-
pulous President. To restore gov
ernment of the people, by the peo-
pie and for the people we demand
the calling of a constitutional con-
vention to form an organic law
suitable TO the changed condi-
tions and TO tho growth of the
country.
4. We demand more economi-
cal administration of our national
affairs and that taxes shall be
levied SO as to bear equally on all
classes. Labor should be lightly
burdened and by a graduated in
come tax wealth be made to pay
for it's protection.
We repudiate the construction
placed on the financial plank of
the last Democratic national con-
vention by President Cleveland
and Secretary Carlisle as contrary
to the plain meaning of English
words and as being all act of bad
faith, deserving of severest GEN.
sure, The issue of bonds in time
of peace with which to buy gold
to redeem coin obligations, payble
in silver or gold, at the option of
the government, and the use of the
proceeds to defray the ordinary
expenses of the government, are
both unlawful and usurpations of
authority, deserving impeach-
ment.
5. A sound and just system of
finance is the most potent factor
in q nations prosperity and we