Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1880 — DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. [ARTICLE]

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

1. We, the Democracy of Indiana, m Delegate Convention assembled, congratulate the Democi racy of the coin try upon the harmony prevailing within its organization, and upon its unanimity in the purposes to cast behind it everv eccasion and sentiment of discord, and to stand as one man for success in 1880; and we give assurance to the Democracy of the country that, accepting the declaration of principles, and purposes, that may be made at Cincinnati, and the candidates who may be there chosen, we will give to them our earnest and nndivided support. 2. We believe that laws should be enacted, executed and administered only forthe public good, and all class legislaliou, and all favoritism in the affairs of Government, should be defeated and made odious; that taxes should be levied justly, ail'd the most rigid economy should control public ' expenditures: that the elections must be freed from the control of the army, and of partisan officials, in that they shall be fairand honest as they once were; that the rightful jurisdiction of the State Courts must be restored, in all cases where it has been usurped by the Federal authority, so that justice may be administered cheaply and speedily. 3. The coin and paper money of the country should be of uniform valqe, and readily convertfbl»-, and should have as great purchasing power as the. money of other first class commercial countries of the world, and the paper money, like the coin, should be furnished by the United States, and should not be in excess of such quantity as will be, and remain always, at par with coin. 4. Inasmuch as the outstanding Treasury notes are no longer neeessary to the Government in the use of its credit, and are useful only as money, they should be made subject to taxation, the same as other money. As taxpayers, we declare our gratification at the action of the Democratic members of Congress in reducing public expenditure, and in cutting off the allowance and payment of questionable and fraudulent claims, resulting in a saving to the Treasury of more than $100,000,000. 5. We will stand with all our might against the aggression of the Republican leaders upon the rights of the States, made for the purpose of building np a strong central power, dangerous to the liberty of the people. We will in ail fidelity maintain the Constitution®.* rights and powers of the United States, and as faithfully we will maintain and vindicate the rights oi the States as reserved to them in the Con stitution. 6. The Legislature of 1879 is entitled to honorable mention fqy having redeemed the pledges of the Democratic Convention of 1876 to provide by law forthe comfort and safety of laborers in the mines, and for securing their wages to the persons employed by corporations, and we are in favor of suen farther legislation in the premises as may be necessary and proper,. We congratulate the people of the State that by the action of the Democrats of the last Legisla

ture in basing representation on population and contignity of territory only, the shame and taint •t fraud have been removed from the apportionment of representation, and that "bow the people yriU be equally and fairly represented. 7. The people of Indiana arc justir proud of their system of free schools, and will maintain them in their full force and usefulness, end to that end wemnst see to it that the management thereof does not become wasteful or extravagant, ni.xl that no part of the rauniiceut fluid which they have provided shall he used for sectarian or for anyotherpurposes whatever than the support of common schools. 8. We are gratified that the Democrats lii Cu ,j gross have acted in respect to bounties and pc sious forsoldies and their families in the spirit • - justice and liberality. 9. We hold up to public detestation the coudu t of tho leaders in the Republican party in placi- : Hayes and Wheeler, by criminal practices shoe ing to every honest sentiment and damagin' our institutions, in offices to which they were elected. It was an outrage upon l'reo't-ov-mint and a crime against tlib elective ir nehis--t can not be forgiven, and must not be roue*ted ! for which the guilty parties must bo iven f |. power and consigned to infamy. An v riio- : to public detestation so conduct « f the V dent in rewarding the guilty parties b; c mi • upon them high and lucrative offices. Vo rev j crime is itself criminal.

I 10. During the past few years on; c«»nn<r> v. been blessed in a nigh degree with f vnviib.i , ous, and the production of our va ‘ st« has been enormously in excess of - own sumption. We have sold to fore! cu ni many hundred millions more than w :r>e prosed from them; gold and silver ha- oie.e to business confidence has been restored, and y. have the hope and promise of go-d ones at In all this werecojpdze the blessing of Go, onr country, and we denounce it as !»!-> blasphemous when partisan leaders c aim this is the work of their hands, and that the pic should be thankful totheiu and not gratefe Heaven for our returning ptosperitv. 11. We approve the sentiment expressed Goyernor Hendricks in liis letter of acccptum' 1876, rhat “the iniquitous coolie system whthrough the agency of wealthy com panics impChinese bondsmen, establishes a spec; - ot very, and interferes with ihe just reward o! !. on our Pacific Coast, should be utterly abolish.' 12. Onr State administration is enliUcd t:' respect and support of the people'. The gomeu* of Indiana is efficiently administered, a more cheaply than that of any other State. 13. That we recognize the right of colored zens as well as white to immigrate into ledhut we condemn and denounce the action of Republican party in importing into this s - ■ pauper negroes for the sole purpose of using tl as voters. 14. We hereby insaruct our delegates to the - tional Convention at Cincinnati to present to t ■ body the name of Thomas A. Hendricks ns a < an didate for President of the UnitcdStatcs. oni'wluhas at all times faithfully maintained the can - ■ Democratic truth and justice acceptably to the Democracy of the whole Union, thus assuring Ihe election of a Democratic Legislature nnd United States Senator in 1881. and a fresh, pure and con stitutional administration of the General Government. 15. We favor the continuance of the two thirds rule in the National Convention, nnd the delegates this day chosen are hereby instructed to vote for Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks as onr candidate for the Presidency, and to vote as a unit on h i questions in said Convention.