The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-10-13
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text az Reported by the
Committee.
At -. Louis. June -. 1879.

We, the delegates of the democratic
party of the United States, in national con-
yentiou assembled, do hereby declare the
Of the federal government
to be in urgent need Of immediate reform;
do hereby enjoin upon the nominees Of this
convention, and OF the democratic party In
each State, q Jealous effort and go opera
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal TO
our fellow citizens Of every former political
connection to undertake with us this first
an most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION. THE CONSTITUTION. REruBLi-
CsN sELF-GovERNMENT
For the democracy Of the whole country,
we do hereby reaffirm 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 settlement Of the controversies
that emgendered civil war. and do bere re.
cord our steadiast confidence in the perpe
tuitv of republican self-government
THE FIRST CENTURY.
Iu alb sollite acquiescence in the will Of
the majority-ihe vital principle of repub-
lies: ia the supremacy Of the civil over the
military authority, in tue 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-
actmcnt; ia the liberty of individual con-
duct. upvexed by sumptuary laws; in the
faithful education Of the rising generation,
that they may preserve. enjoy aud transmit
these best conditions Of human happiness.
and hope We behold the noblest products OF
a hundred years Of changetul history; but
while upholdipg the bond of our union and
great charter OF these great rights, i: be-
hooyes free people to practice slso that
eternal vigilance which 1. the price OF
liberty.
REFoRM-CoRRUFTIO cENIRALIeM.
Reform IL 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 ceptralism, which,
after infiicting upon ten States the rapaci Y
Of carpet-bsg tyrsnnies, has hooe y.combed
the Offices OF the federal government itself
with incapacity, waste and fraud; infacte
States and municipalities with the cOnta-
gIOn Of mi sIule. and locked fast the pros.
perity OF an industrious people in the pa.
ralysis of hard times.
REFORM OF THE CURRENCY-sFECIE
PAYMENTS.
Etforbt IL necessary to establish a sound
currency, restore the public credit and
maintain the national honor. We denounce
the failure for all these eleven wears 10
make good the promise of the legal tender
notes, which are a changing standard OF
value in the hands OF the people, and the
non payment of which IL a dir gard OF the
plighted faith OF the nation.
We donounce the improvilence which II
eleven years of peace has taken from III,
people, 10 federal taxes, thirteen times the
whole amount Of the legsl tender notes
aud tQuandercd tout times this sum 10 use.
lets expense. without accommodating any re-
serve TOR their redemption. We denouncs
the financial imbecility and immortality o
that party which. during eleven years o
peace. has made no advance toward re
demptiOn; no preparation Tor resumption
but, instead, has obsfucted resumption by
wasting our resources and CXhsu.tipg al
our surplus income, aud while annually
protesting to intend a speedy return L
specie payne nj, has annually enscted fresh
bindrances thereto-as sucn a hindranc,
we denounce the re sumption clause Of tn,
act Of 1875, and we demand its repeal.
We demand judiciOus system OF pre-
paration. by public economies. by otfcia
retrenchment, and by the finances, which
shall enable the nation soon 10 assure tn,
whole world Of its perfect ability and il
| perfect readiness to meet any OF its prom
ises ut the call of the creditor entitled L
payment.
We believe such system, well devise
and. above all, entrusted tn competen
hands for its execution, creating at no tim,
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and at n,
time alarming the public mind into with
drawal OF that vast machinery Of credit b,
| which 80 per cent. OF all our business trans
actions are performed; o system open {,
would, from the DAY Of lis adoption. brin,
healing on Its wings to all our harrassed In
dustries, set In motion the wheels Of com
merce, manufactures and the mechanlcs
arts, restore employment to labor, and re
new in eli Its national sources the prosper
ity OF the people.
REFORM OF THE TARIFF-FReE TRADE.
Reform is necessary in the sum and mod
| OF federal taxation, 10 the end that capita
may be set tree from distrust and labo
| lightly burdened. We denounce the pres
| ent tarin levied upon nearly four thousan,
articles as msstsr piece OF injustice, in
equality and false pretense. 1t yields
| dwindling, not yearly rising revenue.
has impoverished many industries to sub
sidize Afew; II prohibits imports that nigh
| purchase :he products of American l.bors
| IL has degraded American commerce IRON
the nrst to an inferior rank upon the higl
| seas; il has cut down the sales of Americal
manufactures at home an abroad, and de
pleted the returns OF American agriculture
an industry followed by half our people.
| sOots tho PVoPic hNc tiulcs uONt tlau IL ptO
ouces 10 the treasury; Obstfucts the process
l OF production, and wastes the fruits OF Ia
Dor; II promotes fraud, fosters smuggling
enriches dishonest officials and bankrupt
honest merchants. We demand that a
custom house taxation shall be only 10
revenue.
REfORM-ECoNoMI IN PUBLIC EXPENSE
REFORM IL necessary in the scale OF publ
expense-federal. State and municipa
Our federal taxation has swollen from 81 III
millions gold, in 1850, TO four hundred an
fifty millions currency, 10 1870. Ours ggr,
gate taxation, from one hundred and NIT,
four millions gold in lsGO, to seven hundre
| snG thirty millions currency 10 1870; or, /
one decade, from less than five dollars ps
head to more than eighteen dollars per az
since the peace the people have paid
their tax-gatherers more than thrice III
sum OF the national debt, and more thu
twice that sum for the federal goyernmeI
alone. We demand vigorous irugality
! every department, and from every Office
OF the government.
RHFoRA-PUBLIC LANDS 70 ACTUAL Sc
Tiers.
Rsforna lie pecesssry to put 4 stop TO Il
pronigste waste Of the public lands an
teelr diversion from actual settlers BY u
T. party IN power, which has squsnders
So,oU,OOo seres upon railroads alone, n
% amount OF more than thrice that sggr
. gste, has disposed OF less than a sixth
recty TO the tillers Of the soil.
, hHfokN-ADoPIED CITIZENS, REJECIE
MONGoLs.
|. R.form 10 Necessary TO correct the ommi
> non Of republican congress and the erro
OF our treaties and our diplomacy. who
neve stripped our fellow-tittxens OF foreil
ustn snd kindred race. reerossihg the