Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1880 — DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. [ARTICLE]

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

1. W e. the Democracy of Indiana, in Delegate Convention assembled, congratulate the Democracy ol th,» country upon tlie harmony prevailing wtihin its organization, and upon its unanimity ni ino purposes to cast behind it every eccaaiou ai a scui inient of discord, audto stand as otie man be success in 1880; and we give assurance to the > •r.i-ieracv o.f the country that, accepting the decollation of principles, and purposes, that may oe made at Cincinnati, and the candidates who may be there chosen, vve will give to them our earnest and undivided support. 2. \\ e believe that laws should be enacted,executed ai.d administered only for the public good, and all class legislation, and all favoritism in the atiairs of Covernment, should be defeated and made odious; that taxes sliould be levied justly, Mid the most rigid economy should control public expenditures: that the elections must be freed trum the control ol the army, and of partisan officials. in tha: they shall be i'airand honest ns they once were; that the rightful jurisdiction of the State Courts must lie restored, in all eases where it has been usurped by the Federal authority, so that justice may lie administered cheaply" and speedily. 8. The coin and paper money of the country should be ol uniiorm value, and readily convurtib .i. and should have as great purchasing power a-- t.ir mom y of otlicr lirst class commercial i Mini i :r-. of ; lie world, and the paper money, like ti.i coin, should be furnished by the United States, i .-I shou,-.1 not lie in excess of. such quantitv as '' til >e, and remain always, at par with coin. . iMi.-nun : as the outstanding Treasury notes ■■ - u-poh:;cT necessary to the Government in the ‘ -e oi its credit, and are useful only as money, ’.v siiou'd he made subject to taxation, the same a other money. A - tax payers, we declare our gratification at t" i action **l the Democratic members of Con's .ii reducing public expenditure, and in cut- . oil the allowance anil payment of questiona- ■ 1 ' M‘ l! iraudulent claims, resulting in a saving to t»ie Treasury of more than §100,00(1,000. 5. \\ e will stand with all our might against the • Agression of the Republican leaders upon the r hi. oi the IStates. made lor the purpose of building up a strong central power, dangerous to the liberty of the people. We x.-ill in all fidelity maintain the Constitut tonal rights and powers of the United States, and :is faithfully we will maintain and vindicate the lights ol the States as reserved to them in the Con stitution. 0. The Legislature of 1879 is entitled to honorable mention for having redeemed the pledges of the Democratic Convention of 1876 to provide by law for the comfort and safety of laborers in tho mines, and for securing their wages to the persons «t.ployed by corporations, and we are in favor of such further legislation in the premises as may be necessary nnd proper. We congratulate the people of the State that by the action of the Democrats of the last Legisla

turn in basing representation on population and contiguity of territory only, the shame and taint ot frand have been removed from the apportionment of representation, and that now the people will be equally and fairly represented. 7. The people of Indians are justly proud of their system of free schools, and will maintain them in their fui! force and usefulness, and to that end we must see to it that the management thereof does not become wasteful or extravagant, and that no part of the munificent fond which they have provided shall be used for sectarian or for any other purposes whatever than the support of common schools • 8. We arc gratified that the Democrats tn Congress have acted in respect to bounties and pen sions forsoldics and their families in the spirit of justice and liberality. 9. We hold up to public detestation the conduct of the leaders in the Republican party in placing Hayes and Wheeler, by criminal practices shocking to every honest sentiment and damaging to our institutions, in offices to which they were not 1 ected. It was nnoutrage upon free'government, and a crime against the elective franchise that cannot be forgiven, and must not be repeated,and i for which the guilty parties must be driven from power and consigned to infamy. And we hold up to tie conduct of the Presi- ■ dent in rewarding the gniltv parties by conferring upon them high and lucrative offices. To reward I crime is itself criminal. i Hi. During the past few yesrs our country has been blessed in a nigh degree with favormbla seae- | oils, and the production of our valuable staples has been enormously in excess of our own consumption. We have sold to foreign countries many hundred millions more than we have purchased from them; gold and silver has coma to us; business confidence has been restored, and wa have the hope and promise of good times again. In all this we recopßze the biosslng of God upon our country, and wc denounce it as false and blasphemous when partisan leaders claim that this is the work of their hands, and that the people should be thankful to them and not grateful to Heaven lor our returning piosperitv. 11. We approve the sentiment expressed by Goyernor llcndricks in his letter of acceptance in 1876, rhat “the iniquitous coolie system which, through the agency of wealthy com panics imports Chinese bondsmen, establishes a species ot slavery, and interferes with the just reward of labor on our Pacific Coast, should be utterly abolished.” 12. Our State administration is entitled to the respoct and support of the people. The governmen‘ of Indiana is efficiently administered, and more cheaply than that of any other State. 18. That we recognize the right of colored citi" zens as well as white to immigrate into Indiana* hut we condemn and denounce the action of the Republican party in importing into this Stato pauper negroes for the sole purpose of using them as voters. 14. We hereby insaruct our delegates Jo the National Convention at Cincinnati to present to that body the name of Thomas A. Hendricks as a candidate for President of the United States, one who has at all times faithfully maintained the cause of Democratic truth nnd justice acceptably to tho Democracy of the whole Union, thus assuring the election of a Democratic Legislature nnd United States Senator in 1881. and a fresh, pure and con stitntional administration of the General Government. 15. We favor the continuance of the two-thirds rule in the National Convention, nnd the dele gates this day chosen are hereby instructed to vote for Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks asotir candidate for the Presidoncy, and to vote as a unit on all questions in said Convention.