NEW YORK. 



551 



Whereas, Many friends of public reform, hitherto 

 members of each of these political parties, together 

 with many who have belonged to neither of them, 

 feel that to purify and preserve the Government is 

 the duty of an American citizen above all other du- 

 ties ; and 



Whereat, The whole country, suffering in its con- 

 stituent industries, under the pressure of monopolies 

 created and upheld by the partial and unjust legisla- 

 tion common to both the Republican and Democratic 

 parties, is forcibly summoned to protect itself by 

 overthrowing them ; and 



Whereat, The Liberals stand on the broadest plat- 

 form of reforms and are in fullest sympathy witli 

 their fellow-citizens who are actuated by these and 

 kindred opinions ; and 



Whereat, In their judgment the time has come 

 when those electors of the State who believe that 

 the way to reform is in the union of all its friends. 

 should assemble and announce their principles and 

 their purposes : 



Therefore, All electors of the State of New York 

 who are opposed to private and official corruption, 

 and who are in favor of capable and honest men for 

 office, and who recognize no virtue in any political 

 party beyond Us power to govern honestly and wellj 

 and all who are opposed to the corrupt practices ot 

 the present Administration, are invited to unite in 

 selecting three delegates and three alternate dele- 

 gates from each Assembly district in the State, to 

 meet in State Convention, in the city of Elmira, on 

 Wednesday, the 8th day of October next, at 12 o'clock 

 noon, for the purpose of declaring their principles 

 and of transacting such business and taking such 

 action an shall then be thought proper. 



The convention adopted the nominations of 

 the Democratic party, with the exception that 

 the name of Nelson K. Hopkins was substi- 

 tuted for that of A. P. Nichols for Controller, 

 and that of M. K. Platt for G. W. Millspaugh 

 for State-prison Inspector. A platform was 

 adopted as follows : 



Retolred, That this convention of delegates from 

 the people of New York congratulate the patriotic 

 citizens of all States upon the indications now ap- 

 parent of a growing disposition to oppose any per- 

 version of the civil authoritv, and to demand in all 

 our public ways a return to official honesty, economy, 

 and fidelity to public interest. 



Retained, That this gratifying tendency of public 

 sentiment justifies and encourages us to reaffirm the 

 platform of principles set forth at Cincinnati more 

 than a year ago, which embodies in clear and forci- 

 ble terms the need of the hour, and by such affirm- 

 ance we indicate the sincerity of our continued efforts 

 and aspirations for purity of government and reform. 



Retained, That public approbation belongs to the 

 Senators and Representatives who in the lust Con- 

 gress did not favor the salary increase and back-pay 

 bill, and especially to such as have voluntarily and 

 without pressure of public sentiment returned to the 

 Treasury the so-called back pay ; and we denounce 

 every Senator and Representative who voted for or 

 approved such bill, and any party who invokes con- 

 gressional action to shield a guilty conscience in do- 

 ing what should be done, and what some have done 

 without legislation; and further, we feel the most 

 sincere regret that the President of the United States 

 should so mistake the morality of the American 

 character, and disregard the honor of the American 

 name, as to give his official sanction to a bill which, 

 as far as it relates to himself, and members of each 

 brand) of Congress, was wholly uncalled for, unpre- 

 cedented, demoralizing, and wicked, and we charge 

 the Republican party with the wrong of originating 

 and passing the hill, and wo denounce in the most 

 unqualified manner this measure and all its support- 

 ers, and demand its unconditional repeal. 



Retained, That we deem it of the highest impor- 

 tance to the people of all parts of our State and coun- 

 try that the lines of transportation between the East 

 and West be unproved so as to furnish better and 

 cheaper transit, to the end that no route shall make 

 inordinate charges upon produce, manufactures, or 

 merchandise ; and that no interest, whether of pro- 

 ducer, corporation, or capitalist, can justly complain 

 of the facilities afforded. The importance of regular, 

 cheap, and rapid interchange of the produce of the 

 West and merchandise of the East, both for internal 

 consumption and general commerce, cannot be over- 

 estimated to the people of our State, and especially 

 of our great seaboard city ; enlarged water-channels, 

 freight railways, and cheap and expeditious passage 

 alike for outlying and inbound trade are imperatively 

 demanded, and the attainment thereof cannot with 

 justice and safety be delayed ; and we deplore the 

 corrupting influence of our great corporations over 

 legislative action, whereby our agricultural interests 

 are crippled, and the development of the resources 

 of the country retarded. 



Resolved, That the internal policy of States and 

 municipalities cannot constitutionally be interfered 

 with by the Federal authority, but that each must be 

 left free in the exercise of th'e supreme right of local 

 self-government, which has been, we are grieved to 

 say, of late frequently and openly violated. 



Resolved, That the course of the national Admin- 

 istration in patronizing irresponsible and visionary 

 fiscal agents, in fostering primitive and unwholesome 

 business schemes, and in its stealthy interference and 

 favoritism, the abandonment by its members of their 

 posts of duty for long periods of time, and the gross 

 neglect of public business from the President down, 

 have brought the country at last to financial discredit 

 and distress, and it is, therefore, justly held respon- 

 sible before the tribunal of public opinion for the re- 

 cent disordered condition of the country, instability 

 in exchange of trade, in the work of production and 

 investment, depression of business, sufferings of la- 

 borers, and ruin of individuals. 



Retained, That in view of the present disaster, the 

 f%sult of a weak and pernicious administration, wide- 

 spread corruption ot the public service, defalcation 

 of officials, peculations condoned, robberies forgiven, 

 extortions upon merchants and importers, with the 

 approval of the Federal authority ; personalism of 

 tne Chief Executive, and, as a consequence, impaired 

 standard of political morality, it is a matter of pain- 

 ful regret that unreasoning party zeal should outlive 

 just party allegiance, and thus postpone the return 

 to good and honest government; but still we have 

 undiminished faith in the integrity and manhood of 

 the people, and their ultimate purpose and ability to 

 correct every wrong and restore every right. 



Resolved, "That a return of the country to a specie 

 basis is an object of paramount importance; that 

 as the great purpose of money, apart from being the 

 standard of value, is to serve as the medium of ex- 

 change, and an instrument with which transfers are 

 made, and indebtedness discharged, business integ- 

 rity and even-handed prosperity unite in demanding 

 a return to the common standard of the world ; and 

 that banking privileges should be extended to all 

 who can give perfect security for the prompt redemp- 

 tion of the circulation they utter, in as good money 

 as the Government makes the lawful money of the 

 country. 



Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to firmly resist 

 the probability of the State government, by special 

 legislation, being made the pliant instrument of un- 

 worthy private schemes, and we demand, in every 

 department of public expenditure, rigid economy and 

 good faith, and thorough investigation and punish- 

 ment of all official misconduct. 



The election took place on the 4th of No- 

 vember. 

 The total vote for Secretary of State was 



