MASSACHUSETTS. 



479 



6. The interests of capital and labor are identical, 

 and any attempts to produce antagonism between 

 the two must be injurious to both. We favor such 

 legislation as will secure to both an open field and 

 fair play, and to both equal rights and just rewards 

 under the law. 



7. We congratulate the good citizens of the Com- 

 monwealth upon the removal of the odious prohibi- 

 tory law from the statute-books, and we confidently 

 expect that the present law, with such modifications 

 as experience shall suggest, will tend to promote 

 public order and morality, and the best interests of 

 temperance. 



8. The Democratic party believe in government 

 of the people by the people for the people, and there- 

 fore oppose any constitutional amendments which 

 limit or restrict the election of public officers by the 

 people. 



9. We take an honest pride in the cordial and en- 

 thusiastic approval by the people of the whole coun- 

 try on the 17th of June, 1875, of the policy of recon- 

 ciliation, peace, and fraternity, advocated by the 

 Democratic and Liberal Eepublican parties in 1872, 

 and we welcome with especial satisfaction the assur- 

 ance that_that policy will be inaugurated by the Ad- 

 ministration to be placed in power in 1876. 



10. That our present Governor, by the wise and 

 prudent execution of his high trust, the dignity and 

 fairness which have distinguished his administra- 

 tion, has merited the approbation of the people ; 

 and we confidently point to his spotless record as 

 the highest assurance that the continuance of the 

 confidence reposed in him by this convention will 

 redound to the best interests of this Commonwealth. 



11. We have the satisfaction to commend to the 

 people General William F. Bartlett, the gallant and 

 modest soldier whose wounds in the war nave hard- 

 ly ceased to bleed. The ability in civil life and the 

 stern uprightness of his principles on all matters of 

 public life and policy make him peculiarly fit for the 

 high office to which he has been nominated, and we 

 delight to commend him to the people as one who 

 has not sought the laurels of civil office, but on 

 whom they have been spontaneously thrust by this 

 convention as a tribute to his merit. 



12. This convention commend to the people of 

 this Commonwealth the upright and able gentlemen 

 selected as candidates for the other State offices, in 

 the confident belief that they will be found com- 

 petent and honest in the trusts for which they have 

 been nominated. 



The Democratic State Central Coramitte re- 

 ceived a letter from General Bartlett, dated 

 October 8th, in which he stated that his nom- 

 ination as Lieutenant-Governor was a surprise 

 to him, inasmuch as he had refused in advance 

 to allow his name to be used, and declared 

 that he could not make the necessary sacrifice 

 to accept any political office. " If the time for 

 'such sacrifice comes," he said, "I shall be 

 ready to make it, whether it be with the Dem- 

 ocratic party or the Republican party (or, bet- 

 ter still, the honest half of both), so it shall be 

 the party which the near future imperatively 

 calls for to lead the way of true reform, pure 

 administration, and intelligent progress ; a par- 

 ty which shall neither be obliged to content 

 itself with the recital of its past achievements 

 nor atone for its past mistakes." The name 

 of John Quincy Adams, of Quincy, was sub- 

 stituted for that of General Bartlett on the 

 ticket, by the committee. 



On the 6th of October conventions were 

 held by the Prohibitionists and Labor Reform- 

 ers. The former took place iti Boston, and 



was animated chiefly by hostility to Mr. Rice, 

 the rest of the Republican ticket being regarded 

 as acceptable. The only nomination made was 

 that of John I. Baker, of Beverly, as a candi- 

 date for Governor. The following resolutions 

 were adopted : 



Resolved, That there can be no greater peril than 

 party competition for the liquor vote : that any party 

 not openly opposed to the traffic will engage in this 

 competition, will court the favor of the criminal 

 classes, will barter the public morals, the purity of 

 the ballot, and every object of good government for 

 party success. 



Resolved, That the Eepublican party is divided on 

 this question, and we can have no hope from a di- 

 vided party representing the two extremes of license 

 and prohibition; it can pronounce for neither the 

 life nor death of the dram-shop system, and its op- 

 posing forces neutralize each other so that it can 

 neither adopt any policy, execute any laws, nor make 

 any issue on this question. 



Resolved, That the present emergency, the safety 

 of the Eepublican party and of the cause of prohi- 

 bition, depends upon the amputation of the liquor 

 wing of the party, making the party a unit for the 

 right. That can most effectually be secured by de- 

 feating the license candidate for Governor, Alexan- 

 der H. Eice. 



The last resolution caused considerable dis- 

 cussion, but was finally adopted. An address 

 to the people was also issued, denouncing Mr. 

 Rice's nomination by the Republican party, 

 and calling on all believers in temperance to 

 vote against him. 



The Labor Reformers met at "Worcester. 

 The attendance was very small and the pro- 

 ceedings characterized by a good deal of warm 

 discussion. The following ticket was agreed 

 upon : For Governor, Wendell Phillips, of Bos- 

 ton ; Lieutenant-Governor, William F. Bartlett, 

 of Pittsfield; Secretary, Israel W. Andrews, 

 of Danvers ; Treasurer and Receiver-General, 

 Henry B. Coffin, of Fall River; Attorney-Gen- 

 eral, H. B. Maglathlin, of Duxbury ; Auditor, 

 John E. Fitzgerald, of Boston. 



Among the resolutions adopted were the 

 following : 



Resolved, That the power and strength of the labor 

 movement should be concentrated upon the single 

 and simple legislation necessary to deal with the 

 congregated and factory labor of the Commonwealth, 

 by which the hours of labor shall be reduced, a 

 system of factory inspection be adopted, and fire- 

 escapes and protection from dangerous machinery 

 be provided. 



Resolved, That the manufacturers of Fall Eiver, in 

 the pitiless and unreasoning conditions they have 

 imposed upon their help, are earning the execrations 

 of all mankind ; that they are treasuring up wrath 

 against the day of wrath, and their success is de- 

 monstrating the fact that between them and their 

 workingmen is a slave-and-master relation, which 

 means war, and a justification of all that will follow 

 sooner or later, when an oppressed people find them- 

 selves able to overthrow their oppressors. 



Resolved, That the Government should exercise 

 the right to refund its bonded debt by the issuing of 

 new bonds, payable on demand ; the retirement of 

 five-twenties and other bonds ; the new issue to bear 

 interest at the rate of 3.65 per cent., and receivable 

 for deposits as the basis of circulation. 



Resolved, That the currency of the country shall 

 be a legal tender in payment for duties on imports 



