The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-09-10

w neTeUy eTyoln upon Tue HOtulnces VI tnls
convention, and OF the democratic party in
each State, o jealous effort and co opera
ton to this end, and do hereby appeal TO
our fellow.citizens of every former political
come ction to undertake with us this first
AMI most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, RHPUBLi-
CAN sELF-GOvERNMENT
For the democracy of the whole country,
we do hereby reafirm our faith ia the per-
manence of the federal union; our devotion
to the constitution of the United States,
with its amendments universally accepted
as the final settlement of the controversies
that engendered civil war, and do here re-
cord our steadfast confidence in the perpe.
tuity of republican self-government.
THE FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiescence in the will of
the msjority-the vital principle of repub-
lies; ia 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; 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
hundred years of changeiul history; but
great charter of these great rights, /: be-
hooves a free people to practice also that
eternal vigilance which Is the price OF
liberty.
RKFoRM-CORRUPTyON
Reform is necessary to build aud establish
in the hearts OF thewhOle 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,
.,,As tnn tata
; Of carpet-bag tyrannies, has hOney.combed
the offices Of tue federal government itself
with incapacity, waste and fraud: infected
States and municipalities with the conta-
gion of mi srule, and locked fast the pros
perity Of an industrious people in the pa.
ralysis Of hard times.
REFORM OF THE CURRKNCY-SPECIE
PAYMENTS.
Reform is necessary to establish sound
currency, restore the public credit and
maintain the natiOnalhonor. 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 Disregard of the
plighted faith of the nation.
We denOunce the imprOvidence 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 foui times this sum in USE
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-
demption; no preparation for resumption,
but, instead, has INSTRUCTED resumption BY
wasting our resources and eXhausting all
our surplus income, and while annually
processing to intend speedy return to
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh
hindrances thereto-as such hindrance
we denounce the resumption clause OF the
act of 1873, and we demand its repeal.
We demand judicious system of pre-
paration, by public economics. by official
retrenchment, and by the finances, which
shall enable the nation soon to assure the
whole world of its perfect ability and its
ises at the call Of the creditor entitled to
payment.
We believe such 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 with.
drawal OF that vast machinery Of credit by
which 95 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 its national sources the prosper.
| ity OF the people.
REFORM OF THR TARIFF-FRRE 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 hardened. We denounce the pres.
| ent tariff levied upon nearly four thousand
| articles as a master piece of injustice in
| equality and false pretense. 1t yields q
dwindling, not yearly rising revenue. II
has impoverished many industries to sub.
sidize Anew; 1t prohibits imports that might
| purchase me products Of American lsbOrs:
1t has degraded American commerce from
| the nrst TO an interior rank upon the high
seas; II has cut down the sales of American
| manufactures at home an 4 abroad, and de.
pleted the returns of American agriculture.
an industry followed by half our people. 1t
costs the people five times more than IL pro.
duces to the treasury; obstructs the process
OF production, and wastes the fruits of Ia
Dor; 1t promotes fraud. fosters Smuggling.
enriches dishonest officials and bankrupts
honest merchants. We demand that ali
custom house taxation shall be only for
revenue.
REPoRM-EcoSoMY IL 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 1860, to four hundred and
hity millions currency, In 1870 Our aggre.
gste taxation. from one hundred and fifty.
four millions gold in 1850, 70 seven hundred
and thirty millions currency in 1870. or I'm
one decade, from less than five dollars nar
} head 10 more than eighteen dollars per head
Since the peace the people have paid 10
their tax-gatherers more than thrice the
sum OF the national debt, and more than
, twice that sum tor the federal government
alone. We demand q vigorous frugality m
I every department, and from every officer
OF the government.
REfoRM-PUBLIC LANDS 10 ACTUAL spT
TIERS.
Tgorm Is necessary to put a stop to the
prohigate waste Of the public lands and
their diversion from actual settlers by the
party In power, which has sQuandereC
Ioo,oU,O00 acres upon railroads alone, AM
an amount OF more than thrice thst ssere
gate, has disposed OF less than o sixth di
recty TO the tillers Of the soil.
!, kkFokM-ADoPTRD CITIZENS, REJRcrrD
AONGOLs.
4 Ayorm - necessary to correct the ommis
sion OF republican congress and the error,
OF our treaties and our diplomacy which
have stripped our fello -citixens Of forsior
1 birth and kindred race, recrossinr ths A..
iantie, OF the shield OF Amerieav cit,yen
, snip, and have exposed our hrsthern OF I'M
racine coast TO tue incursiOns of a race moi
sprung from the came great parent stoeL'
ana, IN Tact, now by law denied citizenshin
| through ntturRllz atfOn. ne hotu~ m e;sh..