"Reform  can  only  be  had  by  a  peaceful  civic  revolution.  We
demand  a  change  of  system,  a  change  of  administration,  a  change
of  party,  that  we  may  have  a  change  of  measures  and  of  men.
1876]  NATIONAL  PARTY  PLATFORMS  239

"Resolved,  That  this  convention,  representing  the  Democratic
party  of  the  States,  do  cordially  endorse  the  action  of  the  present
House  of  Representatives  in  reducing  and  curtailing  the  expenses  of
the  Federal  government,  in  cutting  down  enormous  salaries,  extrava-
gant appropriations,  and  in  abolishing  useless  offices  and  places  not
required  by  the  public  necessities;  and  we  shall  trust  to  the  firmness
of  the  Democratic  members  of  the  House  that  no  committee  of
conference  and  no  misinterpretation  of  the  rules  will  be  allowed  to
defeat  these  wholesome  measures  of  economy  demanded  by  the
country.
"Resolved,  That  the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  republic,  and  the
widows  and  orphans  of  those  who  have  fallen  in  battle,  have  a  just
claim  upon  the  care,  protection,  and  gratitude  of  their  fellow-
citizens."

The  platform  declaration  on  the  subject  of  resump-
tion of  specie  payments  which,  while  objecting  to  the
stipulation  made  in  the  act  of  1875  that  resumption
should  occur  on  January  1,  1879,  favored  preparation
for  resumption,  was  strongly  opposed  by  the  "soft
money"  delegates  under  the  leadership  of  General
Thomas  Ewing,  of  Ohio.  A  minority  report  opposing
the  whole  program  of  resumption  was  submitted  to  the
convention;  defeated  by  515  to  219.
