The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-07-25
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
mt ~. Louis, June 2s, 1876.

We, the delegates Of the democratic
party Of the United states, in national con.
'ehtlon assembled, do hereby declare the
administration OF the federal government
10 be In urgent need Of immediate reform:
90 hereby ehloin upon the nominees Of this
convention, and OF the democratic party In
each state, q jealous effort and so-opera-
tioh 70 THIS end, and do hereby appeal to
our iellow-citiZens Of every former political
connection to undertake with US thi. first
and most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, REpUBL,.
CAS- sELP-GOVERNMENT.
For the democracy Of the whole country,
We 90 hereby reaifrm our faith ia the DER
manence OF the federal union; our devotion
70 the constitution OF the United States,
with Its amendments universally accented
as the nnal settlement Of the controversies
that engendered civil war, and do here re.
cord our stesdfsst confidence in the perpe.
'uitS OF republican self-9overnment
The FIRST CENTURY.
10 absolute acquiescence In the will Of
the mAlority-the vital principle OF repub.
iicsi In the supremacy of the civil over the
lninlary authority, in the total separation OF
ehurch ana state, tor 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 taey may preserve, enjoy and transmit
these best conditions of human happiness.
anu nope we behold the noblest products of
hundred years OF changefuI history: hut
while upholding the bond OF our union and
great charter OF these great rights, i. be-
hooNes Tree people TO practice also that
eternal vigilance which ulc pIivc vf
liberty.
Observation-Disclosures.
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 corrupt centralism, viii Oh
after inllicting upon ten States the rapacity
OF carpet-bag tyranpies, has hone y.combe,l
the offices OF the federal government itself
with incapacity, waste and fraud infecte d
| States and municipalities with the conta-
| gion Of mi srule, and locked fast the pros.
perity OF an industrious people in the pa.
rslys sis OF hard times.
REFORM OF THE CURRKNCY-spECIR
PAYMENTS.
Reform IL necessary to establish q sound
| currency, restore the public credit and
maintain the nstional honor. We denounce
the failure for all these eleven years 10
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 Is disrs gard OF the
pllghted faith OF the nation.
| We denounce the improyidence 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 squsndered foui times this sum in nse'
| less expense, without accumulatino snv 70
serve tor their redemption. We deno1nce
the financial imbecility 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
Washing our resources and exhausting al
processing TO intend . speedy return ~
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh