Year: 1876




INpIANAPoLIs April 19.-The Demo-
cratic State Convention was called to
order at 1920 A. NJ, to-day, by General


Manson, chairman of the Democratic
State Executive Committee, and after
PRAYER, as organized with don. Thos.
r Cobb, of Knox county, as permanent
chairman. James d. Williams, of Knox
county, was nominated tor Governor,
and Isaac r. Gray, of Randolph county,
was nominated for Lieutenant Governor
by reclamation.


The following is the platform adopted:


The Democracy of Indiana declare
their fidelity to al! the provisions OF the
federal constitution, to perpetual union
of the States, to local self government
in every section, to all public trusts and
obligations, to the honest payment OF the
public debt, to the preservation OF the
public faith, to the maintenance ct the
Tree schools, and to the pure and economi'
cal administration of the federal, state
and municipal government. They con-
template with alarm the distress that
prevails, the wide spread financial
ruin that impends over the
people, and the corruption that
pervadcs the public service, and they
charge that tho evils are the direct re-
suits of the personal government unwlse
legislation, vicious financial policy, the
great contraction of the currency, and
the extravaganza and seltishness OF the
party and its officials who have so long
held un checked control. Inviting all who
believe in and earnestly desire official
purity ard fidelity, the adjustment Of the
financial question on sound basis, hav-
ing regard tor the interests and welfare
OF the whole people, and not a class,
md the recognition of the final settle
ment of oil questions submitted to the
arbitratment of the sword, to unite with
them, they declare


lst That all the civil service of the
government has become corrupt and Is
made the object Of personal gain, and
that it IS the first duty which the people
owe to themselves and the government
to restore the test of honesty, capacity
and fidelity in the selection OF persons to
fiji all public positions.


2d. The repeated exposures OF corrup-
ton in the administration OF every
branch of public affairs call for a thor
ough investigation, not only that corrupt
practices NAV be brought to light and
guilty parties to punished, but also
that it may be made clear to the people
that their only remedy for reform is by
making o general and thorough inves
tigation.


8. That retrenchment and economy
are indispensable IN the Federal, State
and municipal administration. AS an eS-
sential measure toward lessening the
burden of the people, and we commend
the efforts of the majority OF the House
of Representatives tor the reduction OF
the Federal government to just stan.
dard and their determination to lessen
the number of useless offices.


4. We believe in our ancient doctrine
that gold and silver are the true and safe
basis for the currency and we are IN
favor of measures and politics that will
produce uniformity in value in the coin
and paper money Of the country without
destroying or embarrassing the business
interests of the people.


5. We oppose the contraction OF the
volume of our paper currency. and de-
clare in favor of the adoption of the
measures looking to the gradual retire.
ment of the circulation OF the national
banks, and the substitution therefor OF
notes issued by authority OF
the government.


9th. We recognize with patriotic salts
faction the vast recuperstive energies
with which our country is endowed, and
we observe that in spite ofthe interference
of law. of commerce which has been
prscticed our currency has improved In
proportion as our wealth has Increased
and the sense Of national and local secu-
rity has been confirmed; we are there
fore Of the opinion that natural
return to specie payments Will
be promoted by the increase OF national
wealth and industries, by the assurances
of harmony at home and peace abroad.
and by strengthening our public credit
under u wise and economical administrs-
tion of our national affairs.


I. The legal tender notes constitute
saf" currency and are especially valuable
TO our debtor classes because os its legal
tender qualities, and We demand the re-
peal of the legislation enacted by the
Republican party providing for its with
drswsl from circulation and the suhstitu-
tion therefor of national bank paper.


s That the act Of Congress for the re-
of specie payments on the LIST
Of January, 1879, was 3 party measure,
devised in secret caucus for party ends
and forced through the House of Repre-
sentstives without the allowance OF
amendments or debate, under party dis
eipilne, to paralyzes industries, Greats
distrust O, the future turns the laborer
and producer out of employment Is
standing threat upon business men, ana
should at once be repealed, without any
conditions whateve.


g. As Democrats, We may indulge IN
laudable pride at the great success of our
common school system, which hso J"
origin in Democratic policy, and iss de-
velopment in Democratic measures.
We will stand BY and forever maintain
our constitutional provision, which guar
antees our common school fund from
nd vniss snnronr,ntiOu and It's