The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-09-23

cOnVenuOL, ana OF the democratic party IN
each State, a jealous effort and eO.opern-
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, RRPUBLi.
CAN SELF-GOVERNMENT.
For the democracy of the whole country,
we do hereby reaflirm 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 engendered civil war, and do here re.
cord our steadfast confidence in the perpe.
| tuity of republican self-goyernment.
THE FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiescence in the will Of
| the majority-the vital principle OF repub-
lies; 10 the supremacy of the civil over the
military authority, in the 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, 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
| 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 10 practise also that
| eternal vigilance which IS the price Of
liberty.
REFoRM-CORRUPIIO
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 a secession OF states but now to
| be saved from corrupt ceptralism, wifi cb.
4 ffor infii m 10 NJ ha itr-
of carpet.bag tyrannies, has honey. combed
the offices OF the federal government itself
with incapacity, waste and fraud: infected
States and municipalities with the conta-
g1on Of mi srule. and locked fast the pros
perity OF an industrious people in the pa
ralysis of hard times.
REFORM OF THE CURRENCY-sPECIE
PAYMENTS.
R,foTHa is necessary 10 establish q 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 changing standard of
value in the hands OF the people, and the
non payment of which il di.rs gard OF the
plighted faith Of the nation.
We denounce the improvidence 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 squandercd fouI times this sum 10 use
less expense, without accommodating any re-
serve for their redemption. We denolnce
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 obstructed resumption by
wasting our resources and eXhausting all
our surplus income, and while annually
protesting to intend speedy return to
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh
hindrances thereto-as such a hindrance
we denounce the re resumption clause OF the
| act of 1873, 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 beheVe such system, Well devised,
| and, above all, entrusted II competent
hands for its execution, creating at no time
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and at no
time alarming the public mind into a with.
drawal OF that vast machinery of credit by
which % per cent. OF all our business trans
actions are performed; 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 mechanical
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 free from distrust and labor
| lightly hardened. We denOunce the pres
ent tariff levied upon nearly four thousand
| articles as master piece Of injustice, in
equality and false pretense. Ii yields a
dwindling, not yearly rising revenue. 1t
has impoverished many industries TO sub
sidize a few; 1t prohibits imports that might
purchase The products of American labors.
| 1t has degraded American commerce from
the first TO an inferior. rank upon the high
seas; II has cut down the sales of American
| manufactures at home AMI abroad, and de.
pleted the returns OF American agriculture.
an industry followed by half our people. Ii
costs the people five times more than il pro-
duees TO the treasury; obstructs the process
Of production, and wastes the fruits OF la
Dor; it promotes fraud, fosters smuggling.
enriches dishonest officials and bankrupts
honest merchants. We demand that ali
custom house taxation shall be only Tor
| revenue.
REFoRM-ECOSOMY IN PUBLIC EXPENSE.
Reform is necessary in the scale of public
NAPthcC--iSNciois Ctatc ouu u.
| Our federal taxation has swollen from sixty
millions gold, in 1860, TO four hundred and
fifty millions currency, In 1870 Our aggre.
gate taxation. from one hundred and fiity-
four millions gold in 1850, To seven hundred
and thirty millions currency in 1870; or, in
one decade, from less than five dollars pei
, head TO more than eighteen dollars per head
since the peace the people have paid tC
tneir tax-gatherers more than thrice tn,
sum OF the national debt, and more thar
i, twice that sum for the federal government
, alone. We demand a vigorous frugality i,
/ every department., and from every otficeI
OF the government
REfoRM-PUBLIC LANDS TO ACTUAL SIT
Tiers.
Rsform Is necessary TO put a stop 10 III,
proiligate waste of the public lands ant
. Their diversion from actual settlers by ths
party IN power, which has squanderet
Ioo,0O,OO0 acres upon railroads alone. ant
an amount Of more than thrice that aeora
gate, has disposed of less than a siyth "A
. rectly to the tillers Of the soil.
kEfohM-ADoPTED CITIZENS, RyJrcrru
AONGOLs.
HJorm 10 necessary 10 correct the ommi..
sion OF republican congress and the error,
OF our treaties and our diplomacy which
I have stripped our feliow W. citizens OF foreion
birth and kindred race, reeros,Inp ths a.
, lantic, Of the shield OF American citizen,
ship, and have exposed our brethren of tha
Pacific coast 70 the incursions of a race no,
| suyunO {ram tha sam. ,..... wv