The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-09-16
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
ssopted "a, -. Louis. jane as. 1915.

party OF the United States, in national con-
yention assembled, do hereby declare the
administration OF the federal government
10 be in urgent need of immediate reform;
do hereby enloin upon the nominees OF this
convention, and of the democratic party In
tch state, jealous effort aud 60 opera
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal to
our fellow citizens Of every former political
come elton to undertake with Us this iirst
an most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION. THE CoNJITUTION, REPUBLi-
CAS- sELE-GONERNMENT
For the democracy of the whole country,
we do hereby reaffirm our faith ia the per
manence of the federal union. our devotion
to the constitution of the United states,
with its amer dments universally accepted
as the final settlement of the controversies
that engendered civil war, and do bere re.
cord our steadiast confidence in the perpe
tuitv Of republican selt-goveInment.
1HE FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiescence in the will of
the IN aorty--the vital principle of repub-
| lies: in the supremacy OF the clNii 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
| all citizens before Just laws OF their own en-
ac,ment: in the liberty of individual con-
| duet. uuyeXed by sumptuary laws: in the
| faithful education of the rising generation,
| that they may preserve. enjoy and transmit
| these best conditions Of human happiness.
aud hope we behold the noblest products of
| a hundred years of changeiul history: but
| while uoholding 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-CoRRUPTIo N-CRNTRALIsM.
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 tC
| be saved from corrupt centralism, viii n
| after intiictIIg upon ten States the rapaci y
| of carpet bag tyranDies. has honey combeC
the offices OF the federal government itsel
| with inclpacity, waste and fraud: intecte
| States and municipalities with the contl
glon of mi .rue. and locked fast the pros
perity OF an industrious people in the pa
| ralysis of hard times.
| REFORM OF THE CURRENCY-sPECIT
PAYMENTS.
| Reform, is necessary to establish a sounc
| currency. restore the public credit anC
maintain the national honor. We denounc,
the failure for all these eleven years Il
make good the promise Of the legal tendeI
notes, which are changing standard o
value in the hands OF the people, and thu
non payment of which is "A di-re gard OF thu
plighted faith of the nation.
We denounce the imDrovidence which il
eleven years of peace has taken from III,
| people, in federal taxes, thirteen times TIT
whole amount of the legal tender notes
and squandered foui times this sum in use
less expense, without accommodating any re
serve TOR their redemption. We dcnounc
the financial imbecility and immortality O
that party which, during eleven years o
peace. has made no advance toward re
demption; no preparation for resumption
| but, instead, has obstiucted resumption b
wasting our resources and eXhaustiDg "a
cur surplus income, and while annual
processing 10 intend speedy return
specie payment, has annually enacted fires
| hiudrances theretO-as such "a hin iranC
: we denounce the II sumption clause OF th
act OF 1875. and we demand it, repeal.
We demand juuicious system OF PR
paration, by public economies. by offici
retrenchment, and by the finances, while
! shall enable the nation soon to assure til
whole world Of its perfect ability and i
perfect readiness to meet any OF its prom
ises at the call of the creditor entitled
a payment,
II We believe such a system, well devise
and, above all, entrusted u competel
hands for its execution, Great ny at no tin
an artificial scarcity of currency, and at
time alarming the public mind into a wit
which % per cent. of all our business trar
actions are performed: system open
the public and inspiring general coniident
would, from The day of its adopt on, bri
healing on its wings TO all our harrassed
dustries, set in motion the wheels Of col
merce, manufactures and the me cham,
a, arts restore employment TO labor, and
ne new in all it, national sources the prosp'
in ity OF the people.
|
Reform is neces sary IN the sum aud mo
Of federal taxation, to the end that capi
4 may be set tree from dstrust and lat
lightly burdened. We denounce the DR.
ne ent tariff levied upon nearly four thousa
= articles rs II mast n piece OF injustice,
equality and false pretense. II yield.
dwindllng, not yearly rising revenue.
In. has Impoverished many industries 10 Il
" sidize few; II prohibits imports that mig
purchase he products OF American | ,bo
IL has degraded American commerce IT,
the trst 10 an inferior rank upon the hi
D. seas; il has cut down the sales VI Amerc
manufactures at home an abroad, and
pleted the returns OF American agricultu
an industry followed by halt our people.
nd costs the people i've times more than IL p
duces 10 the treasury; obstructs the proc
Of production, and wastes the fruits OF
Dor; IL promotes II aud. fosters smugglil
enriches dishonest officials and Dsnkru
,W honest merchants. We demand ia At
~ | custom house taxation shall be- only
| revenue.
REFORM -ECONOMY IL PUBLIC EkPEN
reform Il necessary in the scale OF pu
eNpense-federal, STATE and munich
our federal taxation has swollen from ii
millions gold, IN lst;o, 90 tour hundred
nifty millions currency, in 1870 our az
Ite taxation, IRON ore hundred and ii
Iour millions gold in 1860, To seven hund
and thirty millions currency ia 1870; OF
one decade. from less than i've dollars
,es. head TO more than eighteen dollars per h,
since the peace the people have paiC
their tax-gatherers more than thrice
sum OF the national debt, and more
AGE twice that sum tor the federal goyernu
car alone. We demand q vigorous fTugalit
cket every department, and from every of
OF the government.
r RKFoRM-PUBLIC LANDS To ACTUAL
TIERS.
Reform. T. necessary 10 put stop 10
prom gate waste of the public lands
Agt | their diversion from actual settlers by
,pp party in power, which has squand,
2OO,op,0OO acres upon railroads alone.
" an amount % more than thrice that az
gate, has disposed OF less than a sixth
al feetiy 10 the tillers OF the soil.
~ kEfokM-ADoPTED CITIZENS, REJEC
hONGoLs
anu NJ0fSa l. necessary TO correct the ON