The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-08-05
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
Adopted ut -. Louis. June IS. 1879

We, the delegates of the democratic
party of the United states. in national con-
| Nention assembled, do hereby declare the
| administration of The federal government
to be In urgent need of immediate reform;
| do hereby enioin upon the nominees of this
con entioL, and OF tue democratic party in
| e ,ch State, a Jealous effort and eo.opera-
| ton to this end, and do hereby appeal to
| our fellow-citizens of every former political
| connection to undertake with us ih. first
an most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, RRPuBLi-
| CAS- sELF-GOvERNMENT.
For the democracy of the whole country,
| we do hereby reafiirm 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
a. the final settlement of the controversies
that cngendered civil war, ana do here re-
cord our steadiast confidence in the perpe.
| tuity OF republican seli-government.
! 1HE FIRST CENTURY.
la absolute acquiescence In the will Of
| the majority-thc vital principle of repub-
| lics in the supremacy Of the civil over the
| military authority, in tie 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
a hundred years OF changeiul history: but
| while upholding the bond OF our union and
! great charter OF these great rights, i: be-
hooves free people 10 practice also that
eternal vigilance which is the price of
| liberty.
| REFoRM-CORRuPTIoN-
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 secession OF states but now to
| be saved from a corrupt centralism, viii IN.
after inflicting upon ten States the rapaciy
| of carpet-bag tyrannies, has hone '. combed
the offices OF the federal government itself
with iucapacity, waste and fraud; infected
| states and municipalities with the conta-
glon of mi srule. and locked fast the pros
perity of an industrious people in the pa
ralyss of hard times.
| REFORM OF THE CURRENCY-SpECIE
| PAYMENTS.
| Reform is necessary to establish a 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, and the
| non payment of which is a disre gard OF the
plighted faith of the nation.
We denounce the improyidence which in
| eleven years Of peace has taken from the
people, ia federal taxes, thirteen times The
! whole amount of the legal tender notes,
| ana squandere iOul times this sum in use
less expense, without accommodating any re-
serve tor their redemption. We denounce
the financial imbeclity and immortality OF
that party which, during eleven years of
peace. has made no advance toward re-
demption; 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
| blndrances theretO-as such a hindrance
we denounce the re sumption clause of the
act of 1879. and we demand its repeal.
| We demand Juuicious 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 believe such a system, well devised,
! and, above all, entrusted to 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; 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 It's 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 capital
| may be set free from distrust and labor
| lightly burdened. We denounce the pres
| eDt tariff levied upon nearly four thousand
| articles a. Il mater piece Of injustice, in
equality and false pTetense. 1t yields q
dwindling, not yearly rising revenue. 1t
has impoverished many industries to SUBJ
sldiZe a few; II prohibits imports that might
purchase me products of American labors;
IL has degraded American commerce from
the first 10 an inferioTsrank upon the high
seas; il has cut down the sales of American
manufactures al home an abroad and de-
peted the returns Of American agriculture,
an industry followed by half our people. Ii
costs the people five times more than il pro-
duccs 10 the treasury; obstructs the process
OF production, and wastes the fruits OF la
Dor; 1t promotes fraud. fosters smuggling,
enrches dishonest officials and bankrupt. |
honest merchants. We demand that all |
custom house taxation shall be only Tor |
| revenue.
| REFORM -ECOSOMY IL PUBLIC EXPENSE
| Reform is nece ssary in the scale OF public |
| eNpense-icderal, state and municipal
! our federal taxation has swollen from sixty
| millions gold, IN 1860 20 tour hundred and
| MY millions currency, in 1870 Our aggre-
| gate taxation, IRON one hundred and iifty-
| iour millions gold IN lsG0, To seven hundred
| ana thlrty millions currency in $50; or. In
| one decade, from less than i've dollars ner
| mead 10 more than eighteen dollars per head.
| since the peace the people have paid TO
| tueir taX-gatherefs more than thrice the
! sum OF the national debt, aud more than
| twice that sum Tor the federal government
| alone. We demand vigorous irugality i'm
| every department, and from every officer
| OF the government.
REFoBM-PUBLIC LANDS 10 ACTUAL SIT
| ILxRs.
HgoTW T. necessary to put "a stop to the
| profligate waste OF the public lands and
| their diversion from actual settlers by the
party in power, which has squandered
2oo,OO,OJ0 acres upon railroads alone, and
an amount OF more than thrice that aggre-
gate, has disposed of less than "a sixth d.
rectly 10 the lillers Of the soil.
REFoRM-ADorIED CITIZENS, REJECTED
| MONGOLs.
| EcfOfm Is necessary TO correct the ommis-
| sion OF ii republican congress and the errors
OF our treaties and our diplomacy, which
have stripped our fellow-citizens OF foreign
birth and kindred race. reerossing the At
lantic, OF the shield Of American citizen
chip, and have exposed our brethren OF the
Pacific coast 10 the incursions of "A race not
rFsF