The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-09-06
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
Adopted ut -. Louis. June rs. 1879.

We, the delegates Of the democratic
party of the United states. in national con-
vention assembled, do hereby declare the
administration of the federal government
to be in urgent need Of immediate reforms;
do hereby enjoin upon the nominees of this
and OF the democratic party in
e. sch state, q jealous effort and so opera
ton TO this end, and do hereby appeal TO
our fellow-citizens Of every former political
connection to undertake with u. thi. first
an most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, RRrUBLl.
CAS- sELF-GoVERNMENT.
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
a. the final settlement of the controversies
that engendered civil war, and do here re-
cord our steadiast confidence in the perpe.
tuity OF republican seli-goyernme
HE FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiescence in the will of
the msjority-the vital principle OF repub-
lies: ia 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
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-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 a corrupt centralism, viii ch
after int,icting upon ten States the rapaei v
of carpet.bag tyrannies. has honey. combed
the Offices OF the federal government itself
with incapacity, waste and fraud: infecte d
States and municipalities with the conta.
gion 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 q sound
currency, restore the public credit and
maintain the national honor. We denounce
the failure for all these eleven years to
notes, which are changing standard OF
value in the hands OF the people, aud the
non payment of which Is a di-rs srd OF the
plighted faith OF the nation.
We denounce the imDroyi1ence which in
eleven years Of peace has taken from tine
people, i'll federal taxes, thirteen times the
whole amount of the legal tender notes
and squandered ioui 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 obstiucted resumption BY
wasting our resources and exhausting all
our surplus income, and while annually
processing to intend a speedy return TO
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh
hlndrances thereto-as such hindrance
we denounce the II sumption clause OF the
act OF 1910, and We demand its repeal.
We demand a judiciOus system oil pre-
paration, by public economies. by official
rerenchment, and by the finances, which
shall enable the nation soon to assure the
Whole world OF its peifect ability aud its
perfect readiness to meet any of its prom.
lses at the call of the creditor entitled to
payment;
We believe such system, We'll devised,
and, above all, entrusted to competent
hands for its execution, creating ut no time
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and ut no
time alarming the public mind into a with.
| drawal OF that vast machinery Of credit by
which 30 per cent. OF all our business trans.
| actions are performed; system open 10
the public and inspiring general confidence,
would, from the day OF its adoption, bring
healing on its wings TO all our harrsssed in.
dustrles, set in motion the wheels of com.
merce, manufactures and the mechanical
arts, restore employment to labor, and re-
new in all its national sources the prosper.
ity OF the people.
REFORM OF THE TARIFF-FREE 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 tarln levied upon nearly four thousand
articles a. mast;r piece Of injustice, in
equality and false pretense. 1t Weld. a
dwindling, not yearly rising revenue. Ii
has impoverished many industries TO sub
sldlze q few; II prohibits imports that might
purchase .he products OF American labors.
II has degraded American commerce nom
The 1rst 10 an inferior rank upon the hiph
seas; 1t has cut down the sales of American
manufactures at home AMI abroad, and de-
pleted the returns of American agriculture
an industry followed by halt our peopIe, II
costs the people live times more than il pro.
duces to the treasury; obstructs the process
OF production, and wastes the fruits OF la
Dor; II promotes fraud, fosters smugglinp.
enflches dishonest officials and bankTupt,
honest merchants. We demand that ali
custom house taxation shall be only Tor
revenue.
BkfokM-EcoNoMr IN PUBLIC yxPESsy.
Rgor'" is necessary in the scale OF public
sAPehse-iederal. state and muricipal.
Oui ieoeral taxation has swollen from ,ixty
at.lhohs gola, IN 1850, TO four hundred and
hI.! miIlIons currency, 10 $50. Our acgre-
gate taxation. from one hundred and no.,
iour mllllons gold IN lsG0, to seven hnndr.d
and thirty millions currency in ls-o. or H.
one decade, from less than five dollar 80,
| head TO more than eighteen dollars per head
since the peace the people have paid I,
their tax-gatherers more than thrice m.
sum OF the national debt, and more tina,
twice that sum for the federal goyernmen,
alone. We demand vigorous frupaIity /,
every department, and from every offico,
OF the government.
RkfoRM-PUBLiC LANDS TO ACTUAL sEI
| TL1Rs.
H.fogm Is necessary TO put a stop 10 IN
profigate waste Of the public lands an,
thelr dlversion from actual settlers by Nh,
party In power, which has squandere,
Soo,oO'Uo0 acres upon railroads alone. An,
IN amount OF more than thrice thai aegre
sate, mas disposed OF less than q sixth di
recily to the tillers Of the soil.
hkFoRM-ADoPTED CITIZENS, REyxcrY,
hONGOLs.
| Hgorm Is necessary TO correct the ommis
Sou OF a republican congress and the error