INDIANA. 



when the Union was in the utmost peril, he dis- 

 played exi-euiivo abilities of the very highest order, 

 nail his senatorial career has been distinguished by 

 such >t:a>-Miianliku wisdom as t<> win tlio u|>(>rol>;i- 

 tion of the wholi! uDimtry. We know his faithful- 

 > every public trust, his earnest devotion to 

 the cause of the Union, his unflinching advocacy of 

 tliu right- of the oppressed, and therefore present 

 his IKI a : > the National Republican Convention for 

 nomination tor the otHeo of President. 



Tlio Democratic Convention was held at 

 In li mapulis, on the 19tli of April. The prom- 

 inent candidates for the nomination for Gov- 

 ernor \vviv lion. Franklin Landers and Hon. 

 William 8. Ilolman ; but their supporters being 

 about e'iu:illy divided, both names were with- 

 drawn, and James I). Williams was nominated. 

 The rest of the State ticket was for Lieuten- 

 ant-Governor, Isaac P. Gray, of Randolph 

 County; Secretary of State, John E. Netf, of 

 Randolph County; Auditor, Ebenezer Hen- 

 derson, of Morgan County ; Treasurer, Benja- 

 min 0. Shaw, of Marion County; Attorney- 

 General, Clarence A. Buskirk, of Monroe Coun- 

 ty; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. 

 H. Smart, of Allen County ; Judges of Supre.ue 

 Court First District, S. II. Buskirk, of Mon- 

 roe County ; Second District, A. G. Downey, 

 of Ohio C.nmty; Third District, John Pettit, 

 of Tippe3anoe County; Fourth District, James 

 L. Wordon, of Allen County ; Clerk of the Su- 

 preme Court, Gabriel Schmuck, of Perry Coun- 

 ty ; Reporter of the Supreme Court, Augustus 

 N. Martin, of Wells County. Presidential elec- 

 tors were also nominated, a State Central Com- 

 mittee was appointed, and delegates were 

 chosen to the National Democratic Conven- 

 tion. The following was the platform adopted : 



The Democracy of Indiana declare their fid .-lity 

 to all the provisions of tha Federal Constitution, to 

 a perpetual union of the States, to local self-govern- 

 ment in every section, to all public trusts an 1 obliga- 

 tions, to the honest payment of the public debt, to 

 the preservation of the public faith, to the mainte- 

 nance of free schools, and to the t<ure and economical 

 administration of the Federal, State, and municipal 

 Governments. They contemplate with alarm the 

 distress that prevails, the wide-spread financial rain 

 that impen Is over the people, and the corruption 

 that pervades the public service, and they charge 

 that those evils are the direct results of the personal 

 government, unwise legislation, vicious financial 

 policy, the groat contraction of the currency, and the 

 extravagance and selfishness of the party and its 

 officials wlio have so Ijng held un mocked control. 

 Tiny invite all wiio believe in and earnestly dc-Miv 

 olti -iai purity and fidelity, the adjustment of finan- 

 cial questions upon a sound basis, having a regard 

 for the interests and welfare of the whole people and 

 not a class, and tlio recognition of the final settle- 

 mint of all questions submitted to the arbitration 

 of the sword, to u'lite with them : thus declare 



1. That the civil service of the Government has 

 become corrupt, and is made the object of personal 

 (rain, and it is the first duty which the people owe 

 to themselves and the Government to restore the 

 tests of honestv, capacity, and fidelity, in selection 

 of persons to fill all public positions. 



2. The repeated exposures of corruption in the 

 administration of every branch of public affairs calls 

 for continued und (borough investigntion, not only 

 that corrunt practices may be brought to light and 

 guilty parties to punishment, but also that it may be 



made clear to tho people that their only remedy for 

 ivt'orm is by making a general and thorough change. 

 !{. That retrenchment and economy ure indinpvt,- 

 sable in Federal, State, and municipal udminii-trulion, 

 os an essential means toward lessening the l>urdeu> 

 of the people; and we commend tin: rrt'ort* of the 

 majority of the House of Representative* for the 

 reduction of the expenses of the Federal (Jovern- 

 mcnt to a just standard, and their determination to 

 lessen the number of useless offices. 



4. We believe in our ancient doctrine that gold 

 and silver are the true and safe basis for tho coun- 

 try, and we are in favor of measures and policies 

 that will produce uniformity in value in tlie coin 

 and paper-money of the country, without destroying 

 or embarrassing the business interests of the people. 



5. We oppose the contraction ot the volume of 

 our paper currency, and declare in favor of the 

 adoption of measures looking to the gradual retire- 

 ment of the circulation of the national bunks, and 

 the substitution therefor of circulating notes issued 

 by authority of the Government. 



t!. We recognize with patriotic satisfaction the 

 vast recuperative energies with which our country 

 is endowed, and we observe that, in spite of the in- 

 terference with the laws of commerce which has 

 been practised, our currency has improved in pro- 

 portion as our wealth has increased, and the senso 

 of national and local security has been confirmed. 

 We are, therefore, of the opinion that a natural re- 

 turn to specie payments will be promoted by the 

 increase of national wealth and industries, by the 

 assurance of harmony at home and peace abroad, 

 and by strengthening our public credit under a 

 wise and economical administration of our national 

 affairs. 



7. The legal-tender notes constitute a safe curren- 

 cy, and one especially valuable to the debtor classes 

 because of its legal-tender quality, and we demand 

 tho repeal of the legislation enacted by the Republi- 

 can party providing for its withdrawal from circula- 

 tion ana the substitution therefor of national-bank 

 paper. 



8. The act of Congress for the resumption of spe- 

 cie payments on the 1st of January, 1879, was a party 

 maasure, devised in secret caucus for party ends, and 

 forced through the House of Representatives without 

 the allowance of amendment or debate under party 

 discipline. It paralyzes industry, creates distrust 

 of the future, turns the laborer and producer out of 

 employment, is a standing threat upon business- 

 men, and should at once be repealed without any 

 condition whatever. 



9. As Democrats we mny indulge in laudable pride 

 at the great success of our common-school system, 

 which had its origin in Democratic policy, and its 

 development in Democratic measure.". " We will 

 stand by and forever maintain our constitutional 

 provision which guarantees our common-school fund 

 from diminution and misappropriation, and its u.-o 

 only to support non-sectarian common schools, nnd 

 we denounce as enemies of tho schools the Republi- 

 can politicians who, for party ends, have sought to 

 bring them into political and sectarian contro- 

 versy. 



10. We believe that a license law properly guarded 

 is the true principle in legislation upon the liquor- 

 traffic. 



11. It is not the riirht of any political partv to 

 make the just claims of Union soldiers, their widows 

 and children, the subjects of partisan controversy, 

 for such rights are more secure when protected by 

 all the people, und are endangered only when thrown 

 into the political arena by demagogues. We will 

 stand by and maintain their rights to honors, to pen- 

 sions, and equal bounties, not as partisans, but be- 

 cause it i our pleasure and duty ns c'tizens. 



12. That the jurisdiction of the Federal courts in 

 civil causes has been so extended as to become bur- 

 densome to the people by increasing expenses and 



