The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-10-06
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
Adopted at st. Louis, June 2s, 1875.


convention, and OF the democratic party III |
e ,ch state a Jealous effort and 60 opera |
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal 10
our fellow-citizens of every former political
connec elton to undertake with Us thi. first
an / most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION. REPuBLi-
CAS- sELF-GONERNMENT
For tue democracy of the whole country,
we do hereby rea1firm our faith III the per-
of The federal union; our devotion
to the constitution Of the United States.
with It's ameL dments universally accepted
as the final sett ement of the controversies
that engendered civil war; anu do here re-
cord our steadiast confidence in the pcrpe.
tuitv OF republican telt-goyernment.
the FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acQuiescence in the will OF
the msjority-the vital principle OF repno-
hes: ia tue supremacy Of the civil over the
military Authority, in tle total separation OF
church and state, tor 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-
duet, uuvexed by sumptuary laws; in the
faithful education of The rising generation,
that they may preserve. enjoy and transmit
these best conditions If human happiness,
and hope we behold the nob.est products OF
hundred years OF changeiul history: but
while upholdipg the bond OF our union and
great charter OF these great rights, |. be-
hooyes fee people to practi, e also that
eternal vigilance which Is the price OF
liberty.
RRFoRM-CoRRUPTIO
Reform is necessary to build and establish
in the hearts OF the whole people the union,
eleven year, ago happily rescued from ,he
danger Of a secession oi states but now 10
be saved from corrupt centralism, viii b.
after nflicting upon ten States the rapaci Y
of carpet bag tyrannies. has honey combed
the Offices OF the federal government Itself
with inclpacity, waste and trald; injected
states and municipalities with the contl-
gnon OF mi .rIle, and locked fast the pros
perity of AN industrious people in the pa
ralysis of hard times.
REFORM OF THE CURRENCY-sPECIE
PAYMENTS.
Return is necessary TO establish Il sound
currency, restore 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
value in the hands OF the people, aud The
non payment of which js a di,r. gard OF the
| plighted faith OF the nation.
| We denounce the ilnproNidence 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 foul times this sum in use
less expense, without accumula,ipg 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-
| denption; no preparation for resumption,
| but, Instead, has obstlucted resumption by
| wasting our resources and eXhsusting all
our surplus income, and while annually
| protesting to intend a speedy return 10
| specie payment has annually enacted fresh
Lindrances therelo-as such q hindrance
| we denounce the re sumption clause OF the
act of 1873. and we demand it, 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
Uses at the call Of the creditor entitled to
payment.
We believe such system, well devised,
and, above all, entrusted u competent
hands for its execution, Great ng at no time
! al artificial scarcity OF currency, and at no
time alarming the pubic mind into with
drawal OF that vast machinery Of credit by
which 80 per cent. OF all our business trans
actions are performed; a system open "a
the public and inspiring general confidence,
would, from the day OF its adoption, bring
healing on its wings to all our hsrrassed in
dustries, set 10 motion the wheels Of com
merce, manufactures and the mechanics
arts, restore employment to labor, and re
new in all its national sources the prosper
ty OF the people.
| REFORM OF THE TARiFF-FREE TRADE.
Reform is necessary in the sum and mode
OF federal taxation, 10 the end that capita
may be set tree from distrust and lab1l
| hlIrH1nnH Wa ha
ent tariff levied upon nearly four thousanc
articles as master piece of injustice. in
equality and false pretense. Ii yield,
dwindling, not yearly rising revenue. Il
has impoverished many industries to sub
sidize few; II prohibits imports that nigh
purchase :he products of American labor ;
II has degraded American commerce IRON
the first TO an inferior rank upon the high
seas; il has cut down the sales of America.
manufactures at home an abroad, and de
pleted the returns Of American agriculture
an industry followed by half our people.
costs the people five times more than il pro
| duces to the treasury; obstructs the process
OF production, and wastes the fruits OF la
Dor; 1t promotes fraud, fosters smuggling
enriches dishonest officials and bankrupt
honest merchants. We demand that al
custom house taxation shall be only 10
| revenue.
REfoRM-ECoNoMY IN PUBLIC EXPENSE
reform Is necessary in the scale OF publ
sXpense-federal, state and municipal
Our federal taxation has swollen from sixt
millions gold, in 1860, to four hundred an
nifty millions currency, in 1870 Our aggrs
gate taxation. from one hundred and lift,
four millions gold in 1860 to seven hundre
ana thirty millions currency in 1870; or, j
one decade, from less than five dollars De
head to more than eighteen dollars per heaC
since the peace the people have paid
their tax-gatherers more than thrice tn
=, sum OF the national debt, and more tina
twice that sum for the federal goyerpmer
!, alone, We demand vigorous irugality i
every department, and from every office
OF the government
REfoRM-PuBLiC LANDS 10 ACTUAL Sc
TLHRs.
Reform l. Necessary to put a stoD Ia II
4 prohigate waste of the public lands an
thelr diversion from actua. settlers by N
= party In power, which has souandere
oo,VOV'OOO acres upon railroads alone mn
IN amount OF more than thrice that aoor
gate, has disposed Of less than a sixih a
reciiy to the tiilers Of the soil.
RkFoRM-ADoPTED CITIZENS, REJE,rp
reform IL necessary TO correct the onmi
sioii OF republican eongres IS and The erro
OF our treaties and our diplomacy viii,
OF have stripped our fellow citizens OF toreio
n birth and kindred race. recro.,luo he 4
IN laul", oi 'he shield Of American citizel
d. mp, anu nave exposed our brethren of n
racine coast 10 the incursi0us of a race n,
sprung from the same great parent stocl
l. L.. a