The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-10-05
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
adop,.d at 81. Louis. June IS. 1879.

We. the delegates of the democratic
party of the United states, in national con-
yention assembled, do hereby declare the
administration OF the federal government
to he in urgent need OF immediate REFORM
do hereby erjoin upon the nominees oil TINS
convention, and OF the democratic party IN
each State, a jealous effort and 60 opera
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal 10
our fellow.citizens of every former politica!
CONNIE ction to undertake with US this first
an most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION. REPuBLl-
CAS- sELF-GovERNMENT
For the democracy Of the whole country,
we do hereby reaffirm 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 bere re-
cord our stesdiast confidence in the perpe.
tuity of republican selt-goyernment.
THE FIRST CENTURY.
10 absolute acquiescence in the will OF
the majority-the vital principle OF repub-
lies; in the supremacy Of the civil over the
military authority, In tIe total separation OF
church and state, for the sake alike OF civil
and religious freedom; in the equality OF
ali 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
| q hundred years OF changeful history: but
while unfolding the bond OF our union and
great charter OF these great rights, /. be-
| hoOves free people TO practice also that
| eternal vigilance which Is the price oil
| liberty.
| RECONSIDERATION
Reform Is necessary to build aud establish
| in the heart. OF the whole people the union,
eleven years ago happily rescued from The
| danger of . secession OF states but now 10
| be saved from corrupt ceutralism, viii n.
| after intlicting upon ten States the rapaci y
| Of carpet. bag tyrsnDies, has honey combed
| the offices OF the federal government Itself
| with incapacity, waste and fraud; infecte d
states and municipalities with the contl-
| glon of mi ,rue, and locked fast the pros
| perity OF an industrious people in the pa
ralysis Of hard times
REFORM OF THE CuRRENCY-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 EDOu Ol tllt IcRtI
| notes, which are . changing standard Of
| value in the hands OF the people, and the
non payment Of which Is a di-rs gard OF the
plighted faith of the nation.
| We denounce the improyidence which In
eIoven years ~ peace has taken from the
people, in federal taxes, thirteen times the
| whole amount OF the legal tender notes
and squandered foui times this sum in use
less expense, without accumuistipg any re-
serve TOR their redemption. We denounct
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 obstructed resumption BY
wasting our resources and exhausting a!
our surplus income, and while annual,
protesting to intend a speedy return L
specie payment, has annually enacted fresf
hindrances thereto-as such hindranct
we denounce the re sumption clause OF th'
act of 1875, and we demand its repeal.
| We demand judicious system OF pre-
paration, by public economies. by of!icia
retrenchment, and by the finances, which
shall enable the nation soon TO assure th'
whole world OF its pei1ect ability aud IL
perfect readiness to meet any OF its prom
ises at the call Of the creditor entitled I,
payment.
We believe such a system, well devised
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 pubic mind into with
drawal OF that vast machinery Of credit b.
which % per cent. of all our business trans
actions are performed; q system open I
the public and inspiring general confidence
! would, from the day Of its adoption, bnn
healing on its wings TO all our hsrrassed iu
dustries, set in motion the wheels OF con
meree, manufactures and the mechanics
I arts, restore employment TO labor, and rs
{ new in all its national sources the prosper
!, iiy OF the people.
REBORN OF THE IAEIFF-FRRE TRADE
Reform IL necessary In the sum and mod
OF federal taxation, TO the end that capt..
may be Get tree from distrust and labJ
. lightly burdened. We denounce the pre-
: ent tariff levied upon nearly four thousan
articles a. master piece Of injustice, in
equality and false pretense. IL yield.
dwindling, not yearly rising revenue.
= hts impoverished many industries 10 sul
sidiZe sfew; IL prohibits imports that migt
purchase he products Of American labor
II has degraded American commerce iroi
+, the nrst 70 an inferior rank upon the hig
seas; II has cut down the sales Of America
maDuisctures st home an abroad, and d
pleted the returns Of American sgrieuitur,
4 an industry followed by halt our people.
eos,s the people i've times more than il pr,
duces 70 the treasury; obstructs the proce
OF production, and wastes the fruits OF 4
Dor; II promotes fraud. fosters smuyglin
q enriches dishonest officials and tankrup
n honest merchants. We demand that
custom house taxation shall be only 4
revenue.
REFoRA-EcoSoAY IN PUBLIC KxPESs
Reform 10 necessary in the scale OF publ
sxpense-federal, State and munich,
Our federal taxation has swollen from az
millions gold, in 1860, 20 four hundred A,
fifty millions currency, in 1870. Our aggr
gate taxation. from one hundred and III
four millions gold in 1860, TO seven hundr
and thirty millions currency in 1870; or,
I one decade, from less than i've dollars I
10 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 Ia
IL twice that sum tor the federal governms
az alone. We demand q vigorous frugality
Ae' every department, and from every Off,
OF the government.
RKFoRM-PUBLIc LANDS TO ACTUAL 81
TLIRS.
REFORM Is necessary 10 put stop TO
o., pronigate waste OF the public lands a
thelr diversion from actual settlers by
~. party IN power, which has squsndeI
N IoO,OO,OOO acres upon railroads alone. a
. rn amount Of more than thrice that agg
4 gaze, has disposed Of less than q sixth
l. reetly TO the tilers Of the soil.
kKFoRA-ADoPTED CITIZENS, REJECT
md AONGOLs.
Hgorm IL necessary 10 correct the omu
sion OF republican congress and the err
OF our treaties and our diplomacy. VIII
Dot have stripped our fellow-eitizens OF fore
EN-. pir!n and kindred race. recrossing the
ern lantie, OF the shield OF American citlz
III. ship, and have exposed our brethern of
racine coast TO the incursions OF a race
- sprung from the same great parent sto