all voters, and we deprecate, as unwarrantable and hurtful, all attempts by employers, whether representing capital or political power, to encroach upon or coerce others in the enjoyment of any of the rights or the exercise of any of the duties of citizenship.

4. In the State of New York the whole number of National office-holders, including clerks and subordinates of every degree, is 7,465. This is one National official or subordinate to 152 votes. Of State, county, and town officials, there are, in this State, 133,513. This is one State, county, or town official to every 8 voters. When the potential functions of local officers are taken into account, their nearness to the citizen and their power over his property, taxes and interest, their relative influence becomes

even greater than the numbers indicate. The exclusion of public servants from political action would disfranchise a great body of our fellow-citizens. The laws make no such exclusion, and we deny, as an imputation upon the people of New York, that they are, or have been, dominated by the Nation's subordinate officials, and we can conceive of no condition of affairs, short of the extinction of manhood and patriotism, in which a postmaster or a clerk could subdue to his partisan will 152 other electors, or exert any other influence, beyond such as his character might give him.

5. Public faith, honest industry, and the general prosperity demand a sound currency of coin and paper convertible into coin, and the already near approach of specie payments enforces the wisdom

and duty of faithfully pursuing the necessary steps to full resumption within the time now fixed by law.

6. We oppose any further land grants or subsidies to corporations and monopolies, and hold that the public domain should be reserved for the free homes of industrious settlers.

7. That we regard with alarm and disapprove the demands coming from the promoters of various schemes, that profuse appropriations and grants shall be made, and the National credit used to carry on works of various kinds, local and sectional in character, and not of urgent National importance. New York, with one-tenth of the population, is the source of about one-quarter of all the National revenues, and we call upon the burdened tax-payers of this State to watch and defeat all attempts, however specious, to increase the public debt, or to obtain their money for remote and questionable purposes,

which, if feasible, appeal to State action and private enterprise. Such attempts are the more indefensible when sustained by the votes of sectional minorities, adding to the burdens of the more heavily-taxed portions of our country.

8. We recognize equally the rights of property and the manliness and dignity of labor, deprecating any resort to violence in the name of either. We insist at all times upon the supremacy of the law, and the maintenance of public order. The advancement of American industry and enterprise depends upon the harmonious cooperation of capital and labor; and the adjustment of their material relations, whether left to the reason of the parties or effected by legislation, should be governed by a considerate regard for the rights of the one and the just claims of the other.

9. In the affairs of our great State, always vital to the people, and at this time of paramount impor

tance, we declare the Republican party the only hope of thorough reform and frugal government, and arraign the Democratic party for false pretenses, for perpetuating existing abuses, and for slavish subservience to the most corrupt and dangerous influences. In support of this declaration we appeal to these facts: That Republican rule, by extinguishing the public indebtedness, insured the large reduc

tion which has been effected in State taxation; that the Constitutional Amendments, carried by the Republicans, enforced and secured a large decrease of expenditures; that the recent unparalleled delinquencies, frauds, and robberies in State, city, and public judiciary trusts, have imposed high duties upon the prosecuting authorities of the State, and the most thorough and adequate laws have armed them with full powers. Yet the official report of the present Attorney-General, made in obedience to the call of the last Legislature, shows that his office, besides its regular costs, has expended nearly $40,000 in extra fees on prosecutions in which not one offender has been punished, not one dollar recovered, and no return of any kind made to the State, a record which merits public rebuke, and demands that the trust shall be placed in more capable and successful hands; that because the present Executive found his will unable to place a conspicuous resident of another State in the high public trust of Superintendent of Public Works in defiance equally of the law which contemplates that all officers shall be chosen from among our own citizens, and of the Constitution which devolves the appointment upon the coördinate branches, he has assumed to disregard and still nullifies the great Constitutional reform in the canal management which the people adopted a year ago by an overwhelming vote; that in the last Legislature the Republican majority passed two Constitutional Amendments, and other important measures of municipal retrenchment and reform, reducing salaries, abolishing sinecures, simplifying the administration, and effecting an annual saving of hundreds of thousands of dollars, every one of which measures of law was resisted by the Democratic minority, and vetoed by the Democratic Executive at the behest of Tammany Hall, thus willfully continuing oppressive abuses of local administration; that the Tammany government of New York has increased the debt of that city four-fold, until it exceeds the enormous sum of $130,000,000, and is three times as much for every citizen under its burden as the National Debt; and the same grasping ring plots, through the control of Legislatures and Governors, to extend over the State the baleful rule which imposes these glaring abominations on the metropolis. With these decisive truths attesting the high purpose and fidelity of the Republican party, and proving the Democratic party unworthy of confidence, we meet the questions which address themselves to the people of this State.

We favor an equitable apportionment-just to all parts of the State, and giving undue preponderance to none and with the Executive belonging to one party, it is important to an impartial adjustment that the Legislature should be in the hands of the other. We pledge ourselves to renewed and unyielding efforts for the correction of municipal abuses and for economy and reform in every branch of administration; and

We summon all good citizens to unite with us in achieving these high objects.

On the second day of the Convention, the following nominations were made: for Secretary of State, John C. Churchill, of Oswego; Controller, Francis Sylvester, of Columbia County; Treasurer, William F. Bostwick, of Ithaca; Attorney-General, Grenville Tremaine, of Albany; State Engineer, Howard Soule, of Onondaga County.

The Democratic Convention assembled in

Albany on October 3d, and nominated the following ticket: for Secretary of State, Allen C. Beach; Controller, Frederic P. Olcott; Treasurer, James Mackin; Attorney-General, Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr.; State Engineer and Surveyor, Horatio Seymour, Jr.

The following resolutions were adopted:

The people having, in the last Presidential contest, elected by an overwhelming popular and a clear electoral majority the Democratic candidates for President and Vice-President, and the will of the nation, thus constitutionally declared, having been wickedly and boldly nullified by means of the grossest usurpation and frauds of Returning Boards, protected and adopted, if not instigated, by the party in possession of the Government, and rendered practicable by a threatening array of military force:

Resolved, That at this, the first Convention of the Democrats of this State held since the consummation of this great crime, it is not only just and fit, but it is the plain duty in the interest of constitutional government, and in the vindication and preservation of the sacred right of the majority to choose their rulers, to denounce with the warmest indignation this stupendous wrong, and we do hereby denounce, condemn, and hold it up to universal execration.

Resolved, That this duty of setting a mark of infamy upon this transaction, and preventing any quick forgetfulness or easy condonation of it from raising a tempting precedent for future outrages, rests especially and peculiarly upon the Democratic party of this State, one of whose most illustrious leaders was the President actually chosen by the nation. Resolved, That the late House of Representatives deserve the thanks of all patriots and lovers of liberty for their just refusal, in the exercise of the most ancient and valuable privilege belonging to representatives of the people in all constitutional governments, to appropriate money for the support of soldiers to be used in the illegal and despotic oppression of citizens in any portion of the Republic. Resolved, That the present National Administration, by its withdrawal of the troops from the South, and its cessation from the mischievous, unconstitu tional, and oppressive interference with the internal affairs of States, has, in that respect, reversed the vicious precedents of the Republican party, followed the course marked out by the Federal Constitution, and to which the Democrats stand pledged, and it is therefore entitled, in that particular, to the approval of all good citizens.

Resolved, That the Democratic party of New York reaffirm the following principles set forth in their platform adopted in 1874, now thrice indorsed by large majorities of the voters of this State: Gold and silver the only legal tender; no currency inconvertible with coin; steady steps toward specie payments, no step backward; the honest payment of the public debt in coin; a sacred preservation of the public faith; revenue reform, a tariff for revenue only; no Government partnership with protected monopolies; home rule to limit and localize most jealously the few powers intrusted to public servants, municipal, State, and Federal; no centralization; equal and exact justice to all men; no partial legislation; no partial taxation; official accountability enforced by better civil and criminal remedies; no private use of public funds by public officers; corporations chartered by the State always supervisable by the State in the interest of the people; the party in power responsible for all legislation while in power; economy in the public expense, that labor may be lightly burdened.

subsidies by the Government to corporations or inResolved, That we are opposed to the granting of dividuals for the construction of railroads or other internal improvements, as unnecessary, beyond the

scope of Federal power, and inevitably producing corruption.

Resolved, That we congratulate the whole people of this State that, notwithstanding the suffering to which the laboring classes have been for years subjected, in spite of their failure to obtain remunerative employment, and the bitter privations which have been imposed on them thereby, they have endured these calamities for the most part with patience, without disorder, or violation of the public peace; and we declare that it is through the beneficent operation of equal and just laws, favoring no one class at the expense of another, a stern refusal on the part of legislative bodies to yield to the schemes of grasping monopolies, and the decrease of public expenditures and taxation to the lowest practicable point, that the laboring classes of the country (with whom the Democratic party has always strongly and intelligently sympathized) are mainly to find effectual and permanent relief.

Resolved, That we favor a uniform and equitable excise law, having regard for and protective of the rights of all the people, accompanied by stringent provisions punishing its violation.

Resolved, That we demand more complete protection for the savings of the industrial classes by the stricter supervision and control of savings banks, insurance companies, and other institutions in which the people's money may be invested, and the enactment of laws providing severe and certain punishment of all official neglect, extravagance, or fraud, by which the people's earnings may be endangered or lost.

Resolved, That the deliberate refusal of the Republican majority in the State Legislature during two sessions, in open defiance of the plainest and most peremptory mandates of the Constitution, to apportion the representation of the people of the State in the Senate and Assembly in accordance with the census, is a reckless disregard of duty

hitherto without precedent in our history, and aims a blow at the very root and foundation of representative government. That this act, the most revolutionary and lawless ever ventured upon even by that revolutionary and lawless party, renders it indispensable to the preservation of the right of representation that the legislative power should be wrested from its hands at the coming election. That the hypocritical promise of apportionment appearing in the resolutions of the recent Rochester Convention is upon its face a mockery and insult to the Constitution. It boldly calls for a direct violation of the organic law, in demanding that the amount of population should be disregarded and a system of rotten boroughs maintained, to prevent "a preponderance" of the inhabited over the uninhabited portions

of the State.

The Democracy of New York, in Convention assembled, again pledge themselves, their nominees, and their representatives in the Senate and Assembly, to follow where an honest and fearless chief magistrate has dared to lead in reforming the administration of our great canals, so long despoiled in their construction, maintenance, repairs, and revenues; to carry on with unwavering purpose and fidelity wise measures to increase the efficiency of

all the departments of public works and service, and to persist in reducing our State tax. As proof of their devotion to this work they point to the fruits of the illustrious administrations of Governors Tilden and Robinson. The civil service of the State has been purified. Economy and prudence have been introduced in every department. Offenders against the law, defaulters in the public funds, embezzling county treasurers, profligate boards and trustees, swindling contractors, and those who have debauched legislation and political justice, have been relentlessly prosecuted.

A State Convention of Workingmen or Labor Reformers was held in Troy, October 9th, and adopted a platform, of which the following is a synopsis:

1. We favor a currency of gold, silver, and United States Treasury notes, which shall be a full legal tender for all debts, public and private, and the retirement of national-bank bills.

2. That labor has a perfect right to an equal share of the wealth which it creates.

3. That the invention of labor-saving machinery should have the effect of reducing the hours of labor.

4. We oppose the granting of public lands to railroad corporations, and favor their distribution to actual settlers, with such Government aid as may be necessary to occupy and improve them, taking a lien upon the land as security for the same, to be paid in annual installments in a period of ten years.

5. Assessments upon taxable property made on the cumulative principle, increasing the rates according to the amount of property actually owned, with just discrimination against unproductive prop

erty.

6. Gratuitous administration of justice in all courts of law.

7. The establishment of a bureau of labor statistics by the State as well as by the National Government, the officers of these bureaus to be taken from the ranks of labor.

8. We favor the abolishment of the contract system in the prisons and reformatory institutions of the State as soon as practicable, the said institutions to be managed in the interests of the people, and the goods manufactured therein to be sold at no less than the market rates.

9. We believe the public good demands, and the business interests, as well as the welfare of producers and consumers, require, that railroad lines of communication should be under the control and management of the State through which they pass, and that the transportation of freight and passengers should be done for the cost, or as near as possible, paying a reasonable interest to the stockholders, and providing for a sinking fund sufficient to keep the road and rolling-stock in good condition.

10. We hold the right of suffrage to be sacred, and will oppose any candidate for the Legislature who does not pledge himself to vote against that portion of the proposed Constitutional Amendment which aims to establish a board of finance and restrict the right of suffrage in the various cities of the State. We oppose an increase of the standing army..

11. We favor a law for the protection of life and limb of employés in factories, or in the erection of buildings; the abolishment of tenement-house factories, and a weekly settlement in current funds for wages or compensation.

12. We shall steadily labor for the abolishment of unnecessary offices and the reduction of exorbitant salaries.

13. No centralization.

14. We favor the prosecution of necessary public works, the wages paid to be settled by arbitration from time to time.

15. Defalcations in office and bribery of electors, legislators, or officers, to be defined by statute as infamous crimes; every offender, either as principal or accessory, to be punished by imprisonment at hard labor, debarred from holding office, voting, or witnessing in courts; excluded from Executive clemency, and posted as an infamous person by proclamation in all the official papers in the State.

The candidates of this party were John J. Junio for Secretary of State, George Blair for Controller, Samuel G. Rice for Treasurer, Warren T. Worden for Attorney-General, and Walter Griswold for State Engineer and Surveyor.

Nominations for State officers were also made by the Prohibition party and by the Greenback party, and an independent German, or "German American," ticket was circulated bearing the names of three of the Republican and two of the Democratic nominees. The views of the Greenback party were expressed as follows:

1. We demand the immediate and unconditional repeal of the Specie Resumption act of 1875, and call

for the action of all patriots to elect Congressmen on this issue.

2. We believe that United States notes issued directly by the Government and convertible on demand into United States obligations, bearing an equitable rate of interest not exceeding 1 cent a day on each $100, and interchangeable with United States notes at par, will afford the best circulating medium ever devised. Such United States notes should be a full legal tender for all purposes except the payment of such obligations as are by existing contracts expressly made payable in coin; and we hold it to be the duty of the Government to provide such circulating medium, and insist, in the language of Jefferson, "that bank paper must be suppressed and circulation restored to the nation to whom it belongs."

3. The permanent duty of the Government is to legislate for the full development of all legitimate business.

4. We protest against the further issue of gold bonds for foreign market sales.

5. We also protest against the sale of Government bonds to buy silver as a substitute for paper currency.

The election resulted in the success of the Democratic ticket. The vote was as follows:

The Legislature continued in session from early in January till the latter part of May. Among the laws passed was one providing that the Superintendent of State-prisons shall have the management and control of the prisons and the convicts therein, and of all matters relating to the government, discipline, police, contracts, and fiscal concerns thereof. It further provided that the system of labor in the Stateprisons shall be by contract or by the State, or partly by one system and partly by the other, the matter being left to the discretion of the Superintendent. By another act the Superintendent is authorized to appoint a State agent for discharged convicts, whose duty it shall be to visit from time to time the various penal institutions and reformatories of the State, and to confer with all convicts whose terms of imprisonment are soon to expire, for the purpose of inducing them to proceed at once from their place of confinement to suitable homes and places where employment will be secured for them. The agent is empowered to furnish discharged convicts with transportation, food, clothing, and necessary tools and advice, so that they may enter upon employment.

The act to prohibit the selling of intoxicating liquors to children provides that no minor under the age of 14 years shall be admitted to or allowed to remain in any saloon or place of entertainment where any intoxicating liquors are sold, or at places of amusement, concert-saloons, or dance-houses, unless accompanied by parent or guardian.

the sale of the lateral canals. Under its provisions the Chenango Canal extension is to be discontinued after May 1, 1878. The Chemung and the Genesee Valley Canals are to be abandoned after September 30, 1878, while the Crooked Lake Canal ceases to exist as a State water-way.

Among important bills vetoed by the Governor were "an act to secure better public administration of the city of New York," popularly known as the Woodin charter; an act reducing the departments and commissions in Brooklyn to a single head; an act relating to

A law was passed providing that boards of education in cities and villages shall designate the text-books to be used in the public schools under their charge. In the other school-districts of the State the text-books are to be designated by a two-thirds vote of all the legal voters voting. When a text-book has been so adopted it cannot be changed or superseded within five years from its adoption, except by a three-fourths vote of the Board of Education or of the annual school-meeting.

An important bill was passed providing for

education in the city of New York; and the bill conferring additional powers upon the insurance department. The act for the government of New York City had consumed considerable time of the Legislature, and the subject had been much discussed by the general public. Governor Robinson vetoed it for the following reason:

of New York City statutes. It seeks to regulate many It would be a bulky addition to the existing mass details of administration, and some of its provisions are, on their face, unobjectionable and wholesome,