The Democratic Platform

Tlie Demócrata of the Dnited States, in convention assembled, declare tha we pledge ourselves anew to the constitutional doctrines and traüitions of the Democratie party, as illustrated bv the teachings and example of a long linö of Democratie statesmen and patrio!, and embodied in thep'atfofrn of the last natlonal egnventibn of tlie party. OppositioD to centralization nnd to tliat dangerous spirit of eivcroachment which tends to consolídate into andthusto créate, whatever the foran of th govermaaent, a real despotiam; mi Bumptuary laws: separation of church and state fór the good of each; common school fostered and protected. i Home rule: honest money, conaistino; [ f gold and silver and paper convertirte into coin on demand; the strict i naintenanee of the public faith, state nd national; and a tai-iff for ïuvenue inlv. The subordinatïon of Uie military to the civil power, and a germine and thoi'ougti reform of the civil service. The right to i free ballot is fche right reservativo of all rights, and must nd shall be maintained in every part 1' the United States. The existing adtinistration is iho representative of onspiracy only. and its claim of right o surround the ballot boxes witt troops ud depnty marshals to intimídate and DBtruct electora, and thfl nnnrecpented use of the veto to maintain its oiTupt and despotic power insulta the people and imperils Üieir institutions. e exécrate thecourse oí' this administration in making placea in the civil service a reward i'or polifical crime; and dewiand a reform by statiite which shall make it forever impossible for a defeated candidate to bribe !iis way to the seat of a usurpar by billetiag Viliains upon the people. The gi-eat fraud of 1876-7, by which, upon a fa)se count of the electoral votes of two states, the candidato defeated at the polls was declared to be President, and for the first time in American liistory the wil] of the people was set as:de unaera lineal nf military violence stf uclt a deadly blow at ou'r s'.sieui ei L-epreséntative government. The I - :■ party, to preserve the countrj IV i of civil war, titted for I i :-e (ii-m and ie Faith :!.:;t the people would punish this crime in 1880. This dutj precedes and dwarfs every other. it imposes a more sacred duty upon the people of the tTnion tlian evei adle consciences of a natíon of Creemen. The rpsolution of Samuel J. Tilden not again to be a candidate for the exalted place to which he was elected by a majority ol tus country men, and from which he was excluded by tlie leaders of the Republican party, is receivd bj tlie Demócrata of the United States wüli deep sensibiïity, and they declare their confidence in liis wisdom, patriotism arfd integrity unshaken by the assanlts of the common enemy, and they further assure him that Jie is followed into the Fetirement he has chosen for himself by the sympathy and respecí of nis f ellow cttiaens; who regard liim as one who,by elevating tbe standard of the public morality, and adorning and punfying the public service, uoerits the lasting gratitude of liis country and his party. Pree ships and a living chance for American commerce upon the seas and on the land. Ho discrimination in favor of transportation lines, corporations or monopolies. The amendment of the Burlingarae treaty. No more Chinese immigration except for travel, education and roreign commerce-, and feherein oarefully guardad. l'iiblio money and public credit for public purposea solely,and public lands tor actual settlers. The Democratie party isthe friend of labor and the laboringmen,andpledges itself to protect him allke against the cormorants and the commune. We congratúlate the country upon the honesty and thrift of a Democratie Cotigress. which luis reduced the public expemditures $40,000,000 ayear; upon the continuation of prosperityai home and the natlonal honor abroad; and, above all, upiin the promise o such a change in adinimstraiioiL of government aa shall insure genuine and lasting reform in every departnicnt of tbe iiublic service.