The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-11-03
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
Adopted AT 81. Ouis. June -. 1875

| convention, and OF the democratic party in
e sch state. 4 Jealous effort and co opera
ton to this end. and do hereby appeal to
our fellow-citizens of every former political
connection to undertake with us this first
sn most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION. RKruDLi.
| Can sELF-GoVERNMENT
| 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 its amendments universally accepted
as the final seit ement OF the controversies
that engendered civil war. ana do here re-
cord our steadisst confidence in the perpe.
tuitv OF republican sclt-government.
The FIRST CENTURY.
In ab solute acguiescence in the will of
the msiority--the vital principle OF repub.
lies; in the supremacy Of the civil over the
church snd state, for the sake alike OF civil
and religious free dom; in the equality of
all citizens before Just laws of their own en-
actmcnt; 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
hundred years of changeiul history; but
while UNFOLDING the bond OF our union and
great charter OF these great rights, i. be-
hooyes 4 free people to practice also that
eternal vigilance which Is the price of
liberty.
RKfORM-CORRUPTION
Reform Is necessary to build and establish
in the hearts OF the whole people the union,
eleven years ago happily rescued from the
danger of secession OF states but now to
be saved from corrupt centrslism, viii IN,
after inilicting upon ten States the rapaciy
of carpet-bag tyrsnnies, has houey.combed
the offices OF the federal government itself
with inesPacity, waste and fraud; in 'ecte d
States and municipalities with the conta-
glon Of misrule, and locked fast the pros
perity OF an industrious people in the ps.
ralysis of hard times.
REFORM or THE CURHENcY-spHCJg
PAYMENTS.
Reform is necessary to establish sound
CURRENCY, restore the public credit and
maintain the national honor. We dcnounce
the failure for all these eleven years TO
make good the promise of the legal tender
notes, which are q changing standard of
value in the hands OF the people, and the
non payment Of which is a disrs gard OF the
piighted faith OF the nation.
We denOunce the ImDroyidcnce 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 fouI times this sum in use
less expense, without accommodating any re.
serve Tor their redemption. We denounce
the financial imbecility and immortality OF
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 eXhsustiny all
our surplus income, and while annually
PROCESSING to intend speedy return to
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh
Llndrances thereio-as such hindrance
we denouucc the re sumption clause OF the
act OF 1910. and We demand its repeal.
We demand judicious system of pre.
paratlon. 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 q system, well devised.
and, above all, entrusted u competept
hands for its execution, Great ng at no time
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and at no
time alarming the public mind into with.
dra"ai OF that vast machinery Of credit ty
winch % per cent. OF all our business trans
actions are performed; a system open to
the pubic and inspiring genera confidence
would, from he day of It's adopt ON, bring
healing on its wings TO all our harrassed in
du-tries, set in motion the wheels of eOfn-
merce, manufactures and the mechanical
arts, restore employment to labor, and re-
new Ia ali Its national sources the prosper
ity OF the people.
REFORM OF THE TARIFF-FRRE TRADE.
RgoTm Is necessary III the sum and mode
OF federal taxation, to the end that canital
may be set free from distrust and labor
hghty DGrdened. We denounce the pres
eht tarlu levied upon nearly four thousand
articles as "A master piece OF Injustice. in
equality and false pretense. IL yie,ds a
lWindiihg, not yearly rising revenue. II
mas impoverished many industries 10 sub.
sloize Anew; II prohibits imports that might
purchase :he products of American labors.
| ! mas degraded American commerce from
the nrst 10 an inferior rank upon the high
reas, ~ aas CUT DOWN the sales Of American
| manufactures at home an 4 abroad. and dc.
| pleted the returns Of American agriculture
an industry followed by halt our people. Ii
| costs The people i've times more than in nro.
duces 10 the treasury; Obstructs the process
ol production, and wastes the fruits OF la.
Dor; II promotes fraud, fosters smueelipp.
ehIlcnes di'honest officials and bankrlIpts
honest merchants. We demand that an
custom house taxation shall be ONLY Tor
revenue.
hhfohA-ECoNoMY IN PUBLIC EXPENSE
reform Is necessary in the scale OF public
| eApehse-iederal, State and municipaI
mi s leaerai taxation has swollen from sixty
ann. goid, in 1850, to four hundred and
| my mllhons currency, In 1870. Our aggre
| gate taxation. from one hundred and tItv.
iour !nllions gold in 1850, to seven hundred
ana thirty millions currency In 1870: or. in
one decade, from less than five dollars ner
mead 10 more than eighteen dollars per head
since the peace the people have paid n
tneif tax-gstherers more than thrice the
sum OF the national debt, and more than
twice thst sum Tor the federal government
alone. We demand a vigorous frugaIitv in
every department, and from every officcr
oil the government.
RkfoEA-ruBLIc LANDS TO ACTUAL sgt
Tiers.
Reform is necessary TO put O stop 10 the
piohigate waste OF the public lands and
.aen Inversion from actual settlers BY the
p p"n 10 10 power, which has squandered
<oo,oO,VOo acres upon railroads alone. and
IN amount OF more than thrice that agra.
gaze, has disposed OF less than sixth M.
ree'y 70 the tilles OF the soil.
| hkfoRa-ADoPTED CITIzESs. RrIrc,,n
| AONGOIB.
hvef" Is necessary 10 correct the omm 20
ION OF republican congress and the err or
~ our treaties and our diplomacy. wb,Ss
nave stripped our fellow-eitizeps oi ,oraio,
pirth AND kindred race, reeros,ng The a.,
iantie, OF The shield OF American citizsn.
mp, anu nave exposed our hr etbep of H.
iAcihc coast 10 the incursiOns OF 3 race NOT
sriuIg from the same great parent stoct
s ahu, IA iaet' now by law deniedctizenssh,n
,na,,n ua'uialiation, asbeing neither AZ
,u I',,iu 70 The traditions OF progrsssivo
CIVILIZATION nor ev.rcieot 10 It,f.'sseesiNe