The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-11-07
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
Adopted at SO. outs. June ~, 1876

con- eDtluL, ana oil the oemOcTatlc party ID
.ch state. q jealous effort and 60 opera
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal TO
our fellow.ciiizens of every former political
connection TO undertake with Us this first
an most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, RErCBLi-
CAS- sELF-GovERNMENT.
For the democracy OF the whole country,
We do hereby reaffirm our faith in the per-
mancnce OF the federal union: our devotion
{, the constitution of the United States,
with It's amen ments universally accepted
as the final sett ement OF the controversies
that cngendered civil war. ami do bere re-
cor / our steadast confidence in the perpo.
tuity OF republican selt-Royernment.
IuE FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiescence in the will Of
the n ajority--lhe vital principle Of repub.
les; 10 the supremacy # the civil over the
military authority, in tle total separation OF
church and state, for the sake alike OF civil
and religious freedom; in the equalit, Of
all citizens before just laws OF their own en-
ac'ment; in the liberty of individual con-
du t, unvexed by sumptuary laws; In the
faithful education OF the rieing generation,
that I ey may preserve, ehiOy and transmit
these best conditions of human happiness,
| and hope we behold the nObest products OF
| "A hundred yeas OF changeiul history; but
| while Il iholding the bond of our union and
| l.
| hooves &c people TO practice also that
eternal vigilance which IL the price OF
| liberty.
REFoRM--CORRUPTION
Reform Is nece. sary to build aud establish
| In the heart- o, the whole peoLle the union,
| eleven years ago happily rescued from The
| danger of n secession 81 states but H. W to
| he saved from IA corrupt ceutraiism, Viii h.
after inilicting upon zen states the rapsci !
| of carpet bag tyrinnie-, has no icy coinbeu
! the offices o! the federal government Itself
| with incspaciiy, waste and irald; nc Ct e d
| states atG nun clip iliiits with the conta-
| gion OF mi rue. and locked fast the pros
| perity OF an industrious people in the pa
| rdysls of hard times.
| REFORM OF THE CURRENCY-sPECIE
| PAYMENTS.
| Reform is necessary 10 establish a sound
currency, res ore the public credit and
| maintain the national honor. We denounce
| the failure for all these eleven years to
J make good The promise of the legal tender
notes, which are cuanginy standard OF
valur in the hands OF the people, and he
non payment OF which is disregard OF the
| plighted faith OF the nation.
| We denOunce the ImDrUvldence which in
! eleven years Of peace mas taken from The
people, ia federal taxes, thirteen times the
whole amount of the legal tender noteY,
| less expense, without accommodating 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-
deinption; no preparation for resumption,
| but. in 'tead. has obstructed resumption by
wasting our resources and eXhau.ting all
+ Surplus income. and while annually
protesting to intend q speedy return 10
speci payment, has ANNUALLY enacted fresh
hindrances there Gas such q hinirance
we denounce the r. sumption clause OF the
act OF 1919. and we demand its repeal.
We demand juuicious sy stem 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 it's perfect ability aud its
perfect readiness 70 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 II competent
hands for its execution, Great ng at no time
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and at no
time alarming the public mind into q with.
drawal OF that vast machinery Of credit by
which % per cent. OF all our business trans
sections are performed; system open to
the public and inspiring general confidence,
would, from he day OF it's adoption, bring
healing on It's wings to all our hurrassed in.
dustries, set Ia motion the wheels Of com.
merce, manufactures and the mechanical
arts, restore employment 20 labor, and re-
new In all IT, national sources the prosper.
ity OF the people.
REFORM OF THE TARIFr-PREE TRADE,
Reform Is necessary in the sum aud mode
OF iederl taxation, to the end that capital
may be set Tree from distrust and lab r
lightly burdened. We denounce the pres.
ent tariff ievied upon nearly four thousand
articles as mast n piece of injustice, in
| equality aud false pretense. IL yields a
dwindling, not yearly rising revenue. II
| has impoverished many industries 10 sub.
sidizs few; II prohibi imports that might
| purchase The products Of American ,bors;
| II has degraded American commerce rom
the brsi 10 an inferior rank upon the high
| seas; IL has cut down the sales of American
manufactures at home an abroad, and de.
pieted the returns of American agriculture,
! an industry followed by halt 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
I Dor; II promotes fraud. fosters smuggling,
enriches di' honest officials and oankrupts
honest merchants. We demand that all
custom house taxation shall be only tor
revenue,
REFORM ECONOMY II PVBLiC EXPENsE
Reform Is neces airy IN the scale OF public
eNpense-fedeTal. STATE aud municipal
our federal taxation has swollen from sixty
| millions gold, in LEGO, 90 four hundred and
nIty millions currency, in 1870 Our aggre.
& 'to taxation. IRON oue hundred and hity-
four millions gold in 1860, 10 seven hundred
anu thirty millions currency Ia 1870; or, in
one decade, from less than i've dollars per
head to more than eighteen dollars per head.
Since the peace the people have paid Il
their tax-gatherefs more than thrice the
sum OF the national debt, and more than
twice thst sum tor the federal government
alone. We demand vigorous frugality in
every department, and from every officer
OF the government.
RRFoRM-PUBLIC LANDS To ACTUAL SET
TLsRS.
RCf0rM Is Necessary 70 put a stop 10 the
pron gate waste OF The public lands ana
their diversion from actual settlers by the
psriy in power, which has squandered
100000, 900 acres upon railroads alone, and
IN amount o. more than thrice that aggre-
gate. has disposed OF less than sixth III.
rectly to the ti'lers Of the soil.
REFoKM-ADoPTED CITIZENS. REJECTED
AoEGOLs.
RJorm + necessary TO correct the omm is
sion OF q republican congress and the err or
Of our treaties and our diplomacy. whles
have stripped our fellow. .itizens OF foreign
nth and kindred race. reerossiug the Al.
iantic, OF the shield OF American citizen.
ship, and have exposed our br etheu Of the
Pacific coast to the incursions of y race not
sprung from the same great parent stock,
and, In fact. now by law denisdcit We nsship
chrouyh naturalization. ssbetng neither %
tass,, ssas to 70: usdson; o. p.osrsssivs