The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-08-04
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
Aaop,ed a, 81. Louis. June as. 1876.

.
,ch State, Jealous effort and so opera
tlon to this end, and do hereby appeal to
BUR fellow-citizens of every former political
CONNIE elton to undertake with us this first !
an most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, REPuBLi-
CAN sELF-GovERNMENT.
For the democracy of the whole country,
we do hereby rcaffirm our faith In the per-
manence of the federal union; our devotion
to the constitution of the United States,
with its ameL dments universally accepted
as the final settlement of the controversies
that enrenuered civil war, and do bere re- |
cord our steadiast confidence in the perpc.
tuity of republican seli-government.
The FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiescence in the will of
the msiority-thc vital principle of repub-
lies; in the supremacy of the civil over the
military authority, in tle total separation OF
church and state. for the sake alike OF civil
and religious freedom; in the equality OF
al, 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 chanSeful 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--CORRUPJION
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 q secession of States but now to
be saved from corrupt centralism, WIFI n,
after inflicting upon ten States the rapacl y
of carpet.bag tyranpies, has honey. combed
the offices OF the federal government itself
with ncapacity, waste and fraud; infected
states and municipalities with the cOnta-
glon OF mi rule. 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. res ore the public credit and
maintain the national honor. We denounce
| the failure for all these eleven years to
make good The promise of the legal tender
| notes, which are q changing standard Of
valur in the hands OF the people, and the
| non payment OF which is disrs gard OF the
plighted faith OF the marion.
| We denounce the improNidence which in
eleven years of peace has taken from the
| people 10 federal taxes, thirteen times The
whole amount of the legal tender notes,
and squandered foui times this sum 10 use.
serve Tor their redemption. We denOunce
the financial imbeciity and immortality OF
that party which, during eleven years OF
| peace. has made no advance toward re-
deInption no preparation for resumption,
but. Instead, has obstructed resumption by
wasting our resources and eXhaustng all
our surplus income. and while annually
protesting to intend speedy return 10
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh
bindranc-s there,o-as such hindrance
we denounce the rt sumption clause OF the
act of 1873. and we demand its repeal.
We demand a juuicious system OF pre-
psration, 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 10
payment, .,, , on s.,.o,
and, above all, entrusted u competent
hauds 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 90 per cent. OF all our business trans
actions are performed: 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 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 capita
may be set free from distrust and labOl
lightly burdened. We denounce the pres.
ent tariff levied upon nearly four thousand
articles a. a master piece Of injustice, in
equality and false pretense. 1t yields q
dwlndllng, not yearly rising revenue. IL
, has impoverished many industries to sub
sidize few; II prohibits imports that might
purchase The products of American laboIs
1t has degraded American commerce from
the tirS TO an inferior rank upon the higt
. seas: II has cut down the sales Of American
manufactures al home an 1 abroad, and de
pleted the returns Of American agriculture
A an industry followed by halt our people.
costs the people five times more than it pro
duces TO the treasury; obstructs the process
OF production, and wastes the fruits OF la
Dor; II promotes fraud, fosters smuggling
., | enriehes dishonest officials and bsnkrup,
w honest merchants. We demand that a
" custom house taxation shall be only 1,
revenue.
REFORM-ECoNOMY IN PUBLIC EAPESS
Reform il nece ssary in the scale of publ
expense-federal, State and municip,
Our federal taxation has swollen from six
millions gold, In 1860, TO four hundred al
fiity millions currency, in 1870. Our aggi
gate taxation, IRON one hundred and lift
four millions gold in 1860, to seven hundr
and thirty millions currency 10 1870; or,
"a one decade, from less than live dollars I
30 head to more than eighteen dollars per he,
Since the peace the people have paid
their tax-gatherers more than thrice
sum OF the national debt, and more Ii
GE twice that sum for the federal goyernms
ar alone. We demand vigorous frugalty
ket every department, and from every Off,
OF the government.
REFORM-PUBLIC LANDS 10 ACTUAL 81
TLIRs.
Reform is necessary to put stop to
prof. gate waste of the public lands Q
'gt their diversion from actual settlers by
ZIP, psrty in power, which has squandel
IN 200, 0o0, 200 acres upon railroads alone, q
. an amount OF more than thrice that agg
- gate, has disposed Of less than a sixth
- rectly TO the tillers Of the soil.
. REPORM-ADoPTED CITIZENS, REJECT
MI hONG0Ls
Reform Is necessary TO correct the omn
sion Of republican congress and the err
Of our treaties and our diplomacy, VIII
have stripped our fellow-yitizens OF fore
b nth and kindred race, recrossing the
70 lantic, OF the shield Of American citlz
De ship, and have exposed cur hrethern Of
Pacific coat TO the incursions Of q race
sprung from the same great parent ste
and, in fact, now by law denied citizens
thrauvh N turali Z.ti0n. = heinU neither