The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-08-16

we, the ueleEates OF the tie mOcratlc
party OF the United states, in nation al con-
Vention assembled, do hereby declare the
administration Of the federal government
to be in urgent need OF immediate reform:
do hereby erjoin upon the nominees of this
convention, and OF the democratic party in
ich State. jealous effort and eO.opera-
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal to
our fellow-ciiiZens of every former political
connection to undertake with us this first
All | most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, RRPUBLI-
CAS- sELF-GOVERNMENT.
For the democracy of the whole country,
we do hereby reafirm our faith in the per-
manence of the federal union our devotion
to the constitution of the United States.
with its amendments universally accepted
a. the final settlement of the controversies
that engendered civil war, and do here re.
cord our stoadfast confidence in the perpe.
tuitv of republican selt-gOvernment.
1HE FIRST CENTURY.
In 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
all citizens before just laws of their own en-
actment; in the liberty of individual con-
duct, unvexcd 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 upholding the bond OF our union and
great charter OF these great rights, /. be-
hoOves q free people to practice also that
eternal vigilance which IS the price of
liberty.
REFoRM-CoRRUPTIoN
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 to
be saved from corrupt centraism, viii ch,
after inilicting upon ten States the rapacity
OF carpet-bag tyrannies, has hone Y. cOmbed
the offices of the federal government itself
with incapacity, waste and fraud; infected
States and municipalities with the conta-
glon OF misrule, 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 a sound
currency, restore the public credit and
maintain the nationalhon We denounce
the failure for all these eleven wears 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 pay ment VI WHICH ls ulers gard OF the
plighted faith Of the nation.
We denOunce the imDrovidence which in
eleven years Of peace has taken from the
people, Ia 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 denOilnce
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 eXhausting all
our surplus income, and while annually
processing to intend speedy return to
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh
Lindrances theretO-as sucn a hindrance
we denOunce the rt sumption clause OF the
act Of 1879, and we demand its repeal
We demand judiciOus system of pre-
paratiOn, 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 system, well devised,
and, above all, entrusted to competent
hands for its execution, creating at no time
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and at no
time alarming the public mind into with.
drawal OF that vast machinery Of credit by
which % per cent. of all our business trans
actions are perfOrned; a system open to
the public and inspiring general confidence,
would, from The day of its adoption, bring
healing on its wings to all our harrassed in
dustries, set in motion the wheels of com
merce, manufactures and the me chanIcal
arts, restore employment to labor, and re-
new in all Its national sources the prosper
ity OF the people.
REFORM OF THE TARIFF-FRRE TRADE
Reform is necessary in the sum and mode
OF federal taxation, to the end that capital
may be set tree from distrust and labor
lightly burdened. We denounce the pres
ent tariff levied upon nearly four thousand
articles as master piece of injustice, i'll |
equality and false pretense. 1t yields |
dwindllng, not yearly rising revenue, IL |
has impoverished many industries to sub. |
slulze afew; 1t prohibits imports that might |
purchase me products of American labOTs; |
II has degraded American commerce from
the hrst 10 an inferior.rank upon the high |
seas; II has cut down the sales of American |
manufactures at home an 4 abroad, and de. |
pleted the returns Of American agriculture.
an industry followed by halt our people. II |
costs The people hve times more than IL pro-
uuces 10 The treasury; obstructs the process |
OF production, and wastes the fruits OF la |
Dor; 1t promotes fraud, fosters smuggling. |
enrlches dishonest officials and bankrupts
honest merchants. We demand that all |
custom house taxation ehall be only tor
revenue.
REFORM ECONOMY IN PUBLIC EXPENSE,
Reform Is necessary in the scale OF public
expense-fcderal, State and municipal.
Our federal taxation has swollen from sixty
millions gold, In 1860, 70 four hundred and
hlts millions currency, in 1870 Our aggre-
gate taxation. IRON one hundred and nfty-
TOUR millions gold IN 1850, To seven hundred
and thirty millions currency 10 1870: or in
one decade, from less than live dollar. per
head TO more than eighteen dollars pc head.
Since the peace the people have paid TO
their tax-gatherers more than thrice the
sum OF the national debt, and more than
twice that sum for the federal government
alone. We demand vigorous frugality in
every department, and from every officer
oil the government.
REfoRM-PUBLlC LANDS TO ACTUAL SET
TLHRs.
IiefOrM II necessary 10 put stop TO the
pfoiiigate waste OF the public lands and
their diversion from actual settlers by the
party In power, which has squandered
2OO,0Oo.OOO acres upon railroads alone, and
I'D amount OF more than thrice that aggre-
gate, has disposed OF less than Q sixth d.
reetly to the tillers Of the soil.
kkFokM-ADoPTED CITIZENS, REJECTED
AONGOLs.
Reform ID necessary to correct the ommi,-
| sion Of republican congress and the errors
OF our treaties and our diplomacy, which
nave stripped our fellOw-eitizens OF foreign
birth and kindred race, recrossing the At
J iantic, Of the shield Of American citizen.
snip, ana have exposed our brethren of the
racine coast To the incursions Of \ race NOT
sprung from the same great parent stock |