The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-10-11
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
al 81. Louis. June rs. 1879.

yentlon assembled, do hereby declare the |
OF the federal government |
TO be in urgent need OF immediate reform; !
10 hereby enjoln upon the nominees of this |
and OF the democratic party in |
e sch state, . jealous effort and co opera |
ton to this end. and do hereby appeal to |
orr fellow.cltizens of every former political |
connection to undertake with Us this first
and most pressing patriotic duty.
TIRE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, REruBLt-
CAN SELF-GovERNMENT
For the democracy of the whole country, |
we do hereby reafUrn our faith 10 the per- |
manence of the federal union: our devotion
to the constitution of the United States. !
with its amendments universally accepted
az the final settlement of the controversies
that cngendered civil wal, ana do here re.
cord our stcadiast confidence in the parpe.
tuitY of republican seli-government
HE FIRST CENTURY.
10 absolute acquiescence in the will of
the maiority--the vital principle OF repub-
hes; in 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; III the equality Of
all citizens before just laws of their own en-
aclment; in the liberty OF individual con-
duct, unveAcd by sumptnary laws; in the
faithful education OF the rising generation,
that they may preserve. enjoy and transmit
and hope we behold the noblcst products of
hundred years Of chanSeful history; but
while uphodipg The bond of our union and
great charter OF these great rights, i. be-
hooves free people to practice also that
eternal vi.ilsnce which /, the price of
liberty.
REFORM CORRUrTION-CENT
Reform is necessary to build and establish
III 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 ccntralisn, viii III
after inDlctiHg upon ten states the rapaci
of carpetbag tyrannies, has honey combed
the offices of the federal government itself
with incapacity, waste and fraud injected
states aud municipalities with the conta-
glon of mi -rulc. and locked fast the pros-
perity OF an industrious people in the pa.
ralysis of hard times.
REFORM on THE CuRRRNCY.spFCiE
PAYMENTS.
Reform is necessary to 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 "A changing standard Of
value in the hands OF the people, and The
non payment Of which IL a disrs gard OF the
plighted faith of the nation.
VIZ NtbOhhCo TIC liltIONiutICt 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 squandered foul times this sum in use
less expense, without accommodating any re-
serve Tor their redemption. We denounce
the financial imbecilily 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 obstTuctcd resumption by
wasting our resources and eNhausting all
our surplus income, and while annually
protesting to intend q speedy return TO
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh
hindrancts thereto-as such 4 hindrance
we denounce the re sumption clause OF the
act OF 1873. and we demand its repeal.
We demand juuicious system of pre-
paration, by public economies, by official
retrenchmcnt. and by the finances, which
shall enable the nation soon 10 assure the
whole world OF Its perfect ability aud Its
perfect readiness TO meet any OF its prom.
ises at the call of the creditor entitled to
payment.
We believe such system, well devised.
and. above all, entrusted u competent
hands for its execution, Great n2 at no time
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and at no
time alarming the public mind into with.
drawal OF that vast machinery OF credit by
which 95 per cent. OF all our business trans
actions are performed; q system open to
the public and inspiring general confidence,
would, from the day OF its adoption, bring
healing on its wings to all our hsrrassed 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-FREE TRADE.
Reform IL necessary in the sum and mode
OF federal taxation, 10 the end that capita
may he set Tree from distrust and lab r
lightly hardened. We denounce the pres.
ent tariff levied upon nearly four thousand
articles as master piece OF injustice, in
equality and false pretense. 1t yields Q
dwlndling, not yearly rising revenue. II
has impoverished many industries TO sub
sidize few; II prohibits imports that might
purchase .he products of American libors;
II has degraded American commerce from
the nrst 10 an interior rank upon the high
seas; IL has cut down the sales of American
manufactures at home an 1 abroad. and de-
pleted the returns of American agriculture,
an industry followed by halt 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
hor; 1t promotes fraud. fosters smuggling,
enriches dishonest officials and bankrupts
honest merchants. We demand that all
custom house taxation shall be only for
revenue.
REFORM IN PUBLIC EXPENsE.
Reform is necessary in the scale of public
expense-federal, State and municipal.
Our federal taxation has swollen from sixty
millions gold, in 1850, to four hundred and
fiity millions currency, in 1870 Our aggre-
gate taxation, from one hundred and tifty-
four millions gold in 1850, 10 seven hundred
and thirty millions currency in 1870; or, In
one decade, from less than five dollars per
head 10 more than eighteen dollars per head
since the peace the people have paid t6
their tax-gatherep more than thrice the
sum OF the national debt, and more than
twice that sum for the federal government
! alone. We demand vigorous frugslity in
every department, and from every officer
OF the government.
REToRM-PUBLIC LANDS 10 ACTUAL SET
TLYRS.
| Ht00l IL necessary 10 put a stop 10 the
| protigate waste OF The public lands and
their diversion from actual settlers by the
party IN power, which has squandered
| @OV,oU'ooo acres upon railroads alone, and
| IN amount OF more than thrice that apgre-
| gate, has disposed OF less than a sixth al
rectiy TO the tillers Of the soil.
| REfoRM-ADoPTKD CITIZENS, REELECTED
| NoSGoLs
AgTM ID necessary 10 correct the ommia.
! sion OF republican congress and the errors
OF our treaties and our diplomacy. which
have stripped our followed tizens OF foreign
| pirth and kindred race, recrossing the Al.
iantie, OF the shield OF American citizen.
amp, and have exposed our brethren of The
racine coast 70 the iacursions OF race not
sprung from the same great parent stock,
ans, ID iact, now by law denied citizenship
thIolgn nAturalization, as being neither ac.
cuSfDmed IN thu traAitnp. - nrr~.-SC