The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-09-21
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
Adopted nj a. Lo.mis. June IS. 1879.

administration OF the federal government
TO be in urgent pced of immediate reforms:
DO hereby enjoin upon the nominees of this
convention, and of the democratic party in
each state. jealous effort and co opera
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal to
our fellow.ctizens of every former political
| connection TO undertake with Us thi. first
an most pressing patriotic duty.
| THE UNION. THE CONSTITUTION, RgPuBr;.
cas- sELF-GoNERNMENT
For the democracy of the whole country,
we do hereby reaifirm our iai.h in the per-
| manence OF the federal union; our devotion
Il the constitution of the United States,
with is a,DcLdmsnts universally accepted
"a the final sctt 'Cment of the controS eTsies
that engendcred civil wsr. ana do here re-
| cord our steadfast confidence in the perpc
tuitv of republican scli-government.
1IIE FIRST CENTURY.
Ia absolute acquiescence in the will of
the msjpriiy--thc vital principle of repub.
les; Ia the supremacy If the civil over the
military authority, in tIe total separation of
church snd state. for the sake alike of civil
and religious reedom; in the equality OF
all citizen, before just laws OF their own en-
actment; in the liberty of individual cou-
duct. unye by sumptuary laws; in the
faithful education of the rising generation,
that they may preserve, enjoy and transmit
these best conditions If human happiness,
and hope we behold the noble>t products of
a hundred years of changeiul history; but
while upholdin- the bond OF our union and
great charter OF these great rights. i. be-
hooyes free people 10 practice also that
eternal vigilance which Is the price OF
| liberty.
REFoRM-CoRR UFIIoN-CENTRALIS
Reform lie necessary to build and establish
in the hearts OF the whole people the union,
eleven years ago happily rescued from he
| danger of secession of states but now TO
| be saved from a corrupt ceutraism, viii h
| after in1lcting upon ten states the rapaci
| Of carpet bag tyranoies, has hone v. cOmbed
| the offices OF the federal government itself
with incapacity, waste ard fraud; infected
States and municipalities with the conta-
glon o! MI :rule, and locked fast the pros
perity OF an industrious people in the pa-
ralysls of hard times.
REFORM OF THE CURRRNCY-SPECIE
PAYMENTS.
Reform is necessary to establish a sound
currency, restore the public credit and
maintain the national honor. We denounce
the failure for all these eleven wears to
make good the promise of the legal tender
notes, which are a changing standard OF
value in the hands OF the people, and the
non payment Of which is Il di.rI gard OF the
plighted faith Of the nation.
We denounce the improvidence which in
eleven years of peace has taken from the
people, 10 federal taxes, thirteen times the
whole amount of the legal tender notes
anu squandercd ioui times this sum in use.
less expense, without accommodating any re-
serve Tor their redemption. We denounce
the financial lmbcciiity and immortality OF
that party which, during eleven wears of
peace. has made no advance toward re.
demption; no preparation for resumption,
llIn -. Oh. .s...l
wasting our resources and eXhausting all
our surplus income, and while annually
protesting to intend speedy return TO
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh
hindrances there;o-as such hindrance
we denounce the resumption clause OF the
act of 1879. and we demand its repeal.
We demand judicious system OF pre-.
paration, by public economies. by official
retrenchment, and by the finances, which
shall enable the nation soon to assure the
Whole world OF its perfect ability and its
perfect readiness to meet any OF its prom
ises at the call of the creditor entitled TO
payment.
We believe such system, well devised.
and, above all. entrusted 70 competent
hands for its execution, Great ne at no time
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and at no
time alarming the public mind into n with.
draWal o. that vast machinery OF credit by
which 30 per cent. OF all our business trans
Ia 10,
III a init; ~ ;nn;s ssH'e'n open 10
would, from the day OF its adoption, bring
healing on its wings TO all our harrassed in.
dustries, set in motion the wheels Of corn.
merce, manufactures and the mechanical
arts, restore employment TO labor, and re-
new IN all Its national sources the prosper.
ity OF the people.
-
REFORM OF THE TARIFF-FRKE TRADE.
Reform l. necessary in the sum and mode
Of federal taxation, to The end that oam;,aT
may be set free IRON distrust and iab"r
lightly hardened We denounco a. 49,
ent tariff levied upon nearly fo1,r ,ho,ppa,,,
articles as a mast sr niece of In;,st;o'' -,
equality and false pretense +, rii
dwindling, not a yearly risiny ravo1no IL
hiss imnoSerisbed many 49,. &c enue. AZ
sidiZe q few; IL prohibits imports that might
purchase .he products Of American l,hnrs.
~ Has uesiaueu American commerce Iom
the Drst 10 an inferior rank upon the high
seas IL mas cut down the sales of American
manufactures at home an abroad, and de.
pIeted Tue returns OF American agriculture,
an INDUSTRY followed by halt our people IL
costs the people five times more than il pro-
duces TO The treasury; obsuuets the process
oil productloh, anu wastes the fruits OF la
poIi ~ Poinotes iriud. fosters smuggling,
ei,icnes ulshohes' oinelals ana oankrupts
n,s,n,o moi,sn , We demand That all
rowen''a ''"''''n eh"h De ohiy Tor
REFORM IN PUBLIC EXPENSE.
HgoTm Is necessary in the scale OF public
cApehse-iederal, State and municipal.
our federal taxation has swollen from sixty
,iiitioh7 eolu' IN 1850, 70 four hundred and
nifty millions currency, in 1870. our ap~re.
gate taxation, from oro hundred and iity-
lour inilllon> gold IN lsG9, To seven hundr.,