Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1878 — Michigan Democratic Platform. [ARTICLE]

Michigan Democratic Platform.

The Democratic party of the State of Michigan, in convention assembled, renewing its fidelity to time-honored principles, standing for the sacred preservation of the nation’s credit and the nation’s faith, for the constitution and laws, and for the great truth that this is a Government of the people, who will the people should rule, do hereby declare: 1. That we arraign the Republican party for corruption in office, and its unwise legislation and its wicked perversion of the people’s will, as expressed at the polls. It has squandered the public lands, squandered the public funds, and corrupted the whole body politic. It has pliced men in office dishonest and incapable, who have used their positions as private perquisites. It has legislated for the rich, oppressed the poor, and created gigantic monopolies. It has burdened each town and city with debt and taxation, and driven them to the verge of bankruptcy. It has driven our commerce from the seas, and destroyed our oncepowerful navy. It has completed its career of crime and dishonor by stealing the Presidency from the people, and placing fraud in the Presidential chair. 2. We indorse the investigation of the electoral frauds, to the end that the truth of history be vindicated, and a repetition of such crimes prevented. 3. We declare that gold and silver coin is the money of the constitution, and all paper money should be convertible into coin at the will of the holder. We are opposed to a further forcible reduction of the volume of the currency, and we approve of the act of Congress prohibiting such reduction. We declare that the prostrate condition of the business interests of the country imperatively demands that taxation, both State and national, shall be reduced to the lowest point consistent with the attainment of the objects for which such taxes shall be levied, and that economy shall be practiced in every department of the Government. We congratulate the country upon the reduction of over $50,000,100 in the national expenditures during the last four years, and which result was secured by a Democratic House of Representatives.