The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-09-27

yention assembled, do hereby declare the
OF the federal government
to be in urgent peed Of immediate reform;
do hereby enjoin upon the nominees OF this
aud OF the democratic party in |
9 sch State, q jealous effort and 60 opera |
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal to
our fellow-citiZens Of every former political
connection to undertake with US this first
an most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION. THE CONSTITUTION. RKfuBLI-
CAS- sELF-GOvERNMENr.
For the democracy Of the whole country,
we do hereby reaffirm our faith 10 the per-
manence of the federal union; our devotion
to the constitution Of the United States,
with its amendments universally accepted
as the final settlement Of the controversies
that engendered civil war, and do bere re-
cord our steadiast confidence in the perpe-
tuity OF republican selt-governme
THE FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiescence In the will of
the maiority--the vital principle OF repub-
lies; 10 the supremacy Of the civil over the
military authority, in the total separation OF
church and state, for the sake alike OF civil
and religious free dom; in the equality OF
all citizens before just laws OF their own en-
actment; in the liberty Of individual Goa
duet, unvexed 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 noblcst products Of
a hundred years OF changeful history; but
while upholding the bond OF our union and
great charter Of these great rights, i. be-
hooves free people to practice also that
eternal vigilance which Is the price OF
liberty.
Reform is necessary to build aud establish
in the hearts OF the whole people the union,
eleven years ago happily rescued from The
danger of a secession OF states but now to
| be saved from corrupt ceutralism, viii ID,
after iBficting upon ten States the rapaciiy
of carpet bag tyrannies, has honey combed
the offices OF the federal government itself
with incapacity, waste and fraud; infected
States and municipalities with the conta-
perity Of an industrious people in the pa
ralysis of hard times.
| REFORM OF THE CURRkNCY-sPECIE
PAYMENTS.
Reform is necessary to establish q sound
| currency, restore the public credit and
| maintain the national honor. We denounce
| the failure for all these eleven years to
| make good the promise Of the legal tender
| notes, which are = changing standard OF
| value in the hands OF the people, and the
non payment Of which IL disr. gard OF the
1
| We denounce the improvidcnce which In
| eleven years Of peace has taken from the
people, in federal taxes, thirteen times the
whole amount of the legal tender notes
and squandered fOul times this sum ia use
less expense, without accommodating any re.
| serve Tor their redemption. We denOunct
the financial imbecility and immortality oil
that party which, during eleven years Of
| peace. has made no advance toward re.
demptiOn; no preparation for resumption
but, instead, has Obstructed resumption by
wasting our resources and exhausting al
our surplus income. and while annually
| protesting to intend speedy return &c
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh
| hindrances thereto-as such a hindrance
! we denouuce the re sumption clause OF thu
act of 1878, and We demand its repeal.
We demand juuiciOus system OF pre-
paration. by public economies. by officia
retrenchment, and by the finances, which
shall enable the nation soon to assure the
whole world Of its perfect ability and 1t,
perfect readiness TO meet any OF its prom
ises at the call Of the creditor entitled u
| We believe such system, well devised
and, above all, entrusted tn competent
hands for its execution, Great ng at no timt
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and at NJ
time alarming the public mind into a with
drswal OF that vast machinery of credit b,
which 80 per cent. of all our business trans
actions are performed o system open I,
the public and inspiring general confidence
would, from the day Of It's adoption, brin,
healing on its wings % oil our hsrrassed in
dustries, set 10 notion the wheels Of com
merce, manufactures and the meahsnica
arts, restore employment to labor, and re
new in all Its national sources the prosper
!, ity OF the people.
( REFORM OF THE TAHYFF-PREE TRADE
Reform il neces sary in the sum and mod
OF federal taxation, 10 the end that capits
may be set tree from distrust and lab
lightly burdened. We denounce the pres
e ent tariff levied upon nearly four thousan
: articles as master piece Of injustice, in
equality and false pretense. 1t yields
dwindling, not yearly rising revenue.
\. has impoverished many industries to sui
= sidize few; 1t prohibits imports that migl
purchase .he products OF American labor
II has degraded American commerce Iro
the first TO an inferior rank upon the hig
Il, seas; it has cut down the sales of Americs
manufactures at home an abroad. and d
pleted the returns of American sgrIcultur
an industry followed by hall our people.
d costs the people five times more than Il pr
duces to the treasury; Obstructs the proce
OF production, and wastes the fruits of
Dor; 1t promotes fraud, fosters smugglin
enriehes dishonest officials and bankrup
m honest merchants. We demand that
w
revenue.
REFORM ECONOMY IN PUBLIC ExPENs
HJorm Is necessary in the scale OF publ
expense-iederal, state and municips
our federal taxation has swollen from sig
millions gold, in 1850, 10 four hundred al
fifty millions currency, in 1870. Our agpr
gate taxation. from one hundred and IN
four millions gold in 1860, to seven hundr,
and thirty millions currency in 1870; or.
one decade, IRON less than five dollars o
1, head to more than eighteen dollars per hes
since the peace the people have paid
their tax-gatherers more than thrice [
sum OF the national debt, and more tn
~ twice that sum for the federal goverpme
Ar alone, We demand a vigorous frugality
ket every department, and from every otfic
oil the government.
REFORM PUBLIC LANDS 10 ACTUAL 81
liars.
Reform IL necessary TO put a stop 10
pronigate waste of the public lands a
ct. theI INVERSION from actual settlers BY I
,p party In power, which has squander
IN soo,Vyo'Ooo acres upon railroads alone, a
on amount OF more than thrice that scp
gate, has disposed Of less than a .ixtb
i. rectly TO the ullers of the soil.
REPoRM-ADOPTED CITIZENS, REJECr
nd MONGOLIA.
Reform Is necessary 10 correct the omm
SION OF republican congress and lho err
OF our treaties and our diploDacy, viii
pot nave stripped our fellow-eitizoAs OF forei
en-. birth and kindred race, reerosxing ths
ern .h auo, y, ,he shieid OF American eitizs
lib up, suo hsNe exposed our brethren Of /
Pacific coast to the incursions of a race !
sprung from the ssma ,,ra.s ,..a,,. :. -