The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-07-18
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.


We, the delegates of the democratic
party Of the United states, in national con-
yentiOu assembled, do hereby declare the
administration Of the federal government
TO be i'll urgent need Of immediate reform;
do hereby enjoin upon the nominees OF this
convention, and OF the democratic party in
each State, jealous effort and 60 Opera
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal to
our iellow-citizens Of every former political
connection to undertake with us thi. first
ana most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, REPuBLr.
CAN sELf-GOyERNMENT.
For the democracy of the whole country,
we do hereby reafiirm our faith in the per-
manence of the federal union; our devotion
TO the constitution of the United States,
with it, amendments universally accepted
a. the final settlement Of the controversies
that engendered civil war, and do here re-
cord our steadiast confidence in the perpe.
tuity OF republican selt-goyernment.
The FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiescence in the will OF
the msjOrity-the vital principle OF repub-
lies; in the supremacy OF the civil over the
military authority, in the total separation OF
church and state, Tor the sake alike OF civil
and religious freedom; in the equality OF
all citizens before just laws OF their own en-
ac,ment in the liberty of individual con-
duct, unyeXed by sumptuary laws; in the
| faithful education Of the rising generation,
| that they may preserve, enjoy and transmit
| these best conditions Of human happiness,
and hope We behold the noblest products of
| hundred years OF changeiul history; but
while UNFOLDING the bond OF our union and
great charter OF these great rights, /. he
hooycs Tree people to practice also that
etelhal NsiianCc "hiNn ~ uIv Iri,. -
| liberty.
l a. 1
Reform Is necessary to build and establish
| in the hearts OF the whole people the union
| eleven years ago happily rescued from the
| danger oil secession OF states but now "a
be saved from a corrupt centralism, which
| alter iniilctng upon ten states the rapacit,
| OF carpetbag tyranpies, has hone y. combed
| the offices OF the federal government ii>eII
with ncapacity, waste and fraud: infectet
States aud municipalities with the conta
glon Of mi srule, and locked fast the pros
perty oil an industrious people in the pa
fslyss OF hard times.
REFORM OF TIE CURRENCY-SprcIr
PAYMENTS.
| H,fprm is necessary To- establish a so,,nd
currency, restore the public credit and
maintain the national honor. We denounc,
the failure for all these eleven wears ia
make good the promise of the legal tender
notes, which are a changing standard 81
value in the hands OF the people, and tn,
non payment of which is di.rs gard of tb,
pllghted faith OF the nation.
We denounce the improyidence which in
eleven years Of peace has taken from ms
people, IN federal taxes, thirteen times The
whole amount Of the legal tender notes
ana squandered foui times this sum in use
less expense, without accommodating any re
serve for their redemption. We denoune,
the financial imbecility and immortality O
that party which, during eleven wears o
peace. has made no advance toward re
demption; no preparation for RESUMPTION
Dut, instead, has obstructed resumption b,
washing our resources and exhausting al
our surplus income. and while annual,
processing 10 intend speedy return Il
specie payment, has annually enscted fresl