The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-08-10
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
AIopse, at -. Louis. June -. 1876

We. the delegates of the democratic
party of the United States, in national con-
ventiou assembled, do hereby declare the
administration OF the federal government
to be in 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 eo.opera-
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal TO
our fellow-citizens of every former political
connection to undertake with Us this hrst
an most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, REPUBLi-
| CAN SELF-GONERNMENT
For the democracy of the whole country,
we do hereby rea1iirm our faith in 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 here re-
cord our steadfast confidence in the perpe.
| tuity of republican selt-government.
The FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiescence in the will of
| the msjority-the vital principle of repub-
| hes; in 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 freedom: in the equality OF
all citizens before just laws OF their own en-
actment; in the liberty of individual con-
| duct, 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 noblest products of
| a hundred years OF changeful history; but
while upholding the bond OF our union and
| great charter OF these great rights, l. be-
hooves a free people to practice also that
| eternal vigilance which is the price OF
| liberty.
| EXPERIMENTATION
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 secession OF states but now tC
| be saved from 4 corrupt centralism, viii eh
| after inilicting upon ten states the rapaciiy
| OF carpet-bag tyrannies, has hone y-combed
| the offices OF the federal government itsel
with incapacity, waste and fraud; infected
| States and municipalities with the contn
glon of misrule, and locked fast the pros.
perity OF an industrious people i'm the pa
| ralysis of hard times.
REFORM OF THE CURRRNCY-sPECIr
| PAYMENTS.
R.form is necessary to establish a sound
| currency. restore the public credit ant
maintain the national honor. We denounc,
the failure for all these eleven years L
make good the promise Of the legal tender
notes, which are changing standard o
value in the hands OF the people, and tn,
non payment of which Is disrs gard OF The
plghted faith of the nation.
We denounce the improvidence which il
| eleven years of peace has taken from III,
| people, In federal taxes, thirteen times III
whole amount of the legal tender notes
and squandered foui times this sum in use
less expense, without accommodating any re
serve Tor their redemption. We denounc,
the financial imbecility and immortality o
that party which, during eleven years o
peace, has made no advance toward re
| demption; no preparation for resumption
but, instead, has Distracted resumption b,
wasting our resources and eXhausting al
our surplus income, and while annual,
protesting to intend u speedy return L
specie payment has annually enacted fresl
hindrances thereto-as such q hindrane
we denounce the re sumption clause OF tn
act of 1919, and we demand its repeal.
We demand judicious system OF pre-
paratiOn, by public economies, by Officia
retrenchment, and by the finances, whicl
= shall enable the nation soon to assure tn
whole world OF its perfect ability and it
perfect readiness to meet any OF its prom
ises at the call of the creditor entitled 4
payment.
l We believe such system, well devised
j and, above all, entrusted to competen
, hands for its execution, creating at no tim
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and at n
time alarming the public mind into a will
4 drawal OF that vast machinery Of credit b
which % per cent. of all our business tran
actions are performed; a system open I
the public and inspiring general coniidenc,
| would, from the day OF its adoption, brin
! healing on its wings to all our harrassed il
dustries, set in motion the wheels of con
merce, manufactures and the mechanic;
I arts, restore employment TO labor, and r,
e new in all its national sources the prosper
3 ity OF the people.
reform OF THE TARIFF-FRRE TRADE
Reform is necessary in the sum and mod
OF federal taxation, 10 the end that capt.;
. may be set free from distrust and labo
lightly burdened. We denounce the pres
ent tariff levied upon nearly four thousan,
articles as master piece Of injustice, in
equality and false pretense. 1t yields
dwindllng, not yearly rising revenue,
b has Impoverished many industries TO sui
sldize afew; 1t prohibits imports that Nigh
purchase .he products of American labor
II has degraded American commerce Iror
=, the first 10 an inferiOr..rank upon the hig
seas; IL has cut down the sales of America
manufactures at home AMI abroad, and Il,
pleted the returns CT American agricultur,
4 an industry followed by halt our people.
costs the people five times more than il Or,
| duces 10 the treasury; Obstructs the prOce,
of production, and wastes the fruits OF Ia
| Dor; IL promotes fraud, fosters smuggling
|, | Sa-"hes dishonest officials and BANKRUPT
| honest merchants. We demand that n
custom house taxation shall be only 1,
| revenue.
hEfoRM-ECONoMY IN PUBLIC EXPENsI
Rporm is necessary in the scale OF publ
eNpense--federal, State and municipa
Our federal taxation has swollen from sixt
millions gold, III loGO TO four hundred an
MY millions currency, in 1870. Our aggr,
gate taxation, from one hundred and MI,
four millions gold In lsO0, To seven hundre
and thirty millions currency in 1870; or, /
one decade, from less than i've dollars d,
. head TO more than eighteen dollars per he a,
since the peace the people have paid
thelr tax-gatherers more than thrice Il
sum OF the national debt, and more tha
l. twice that sum for the federal governmel
At alone. We demand vigorous frugality
e' every department, and from every otiic,
OF the government.
REFoRM-PUBLIc LANDS To ACTUAL SIC
TIERS.
H.tortD Il necessary 10 put "a stop to Il
proligate waste OF the public lands an
y thelf diversion from actual settlers by n
,, party IN power, which has squandere
a 2oo,ooo'OOO acres upon railroads alone. an
- an amount OF more than thrice that aegr,
gate, has disposed OF less than sixth a
rectly 10 the tillers Of the soil.
, kEfOkM-ADOPrED CITIZENS, REJKCrr
AONGOLs.
III ,Hgorm 10 necessary 10 correct the ommi
SION OF republican congress and the crrol
OF our treaties and our diplomacy, wLic
nave stripped our feliow-citizens OF foreig
Dirih and kindred race, recrossing The A
OF lantic, OF the shield Of American cit,ze,
" snip, ano have exposed our brethren of m
I" racine coast 10 the incursions of a race No
- sprung from the same great parent stocl
anu, In Tact, now by law denied citizensbi