The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-10-27
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by tho
Committee.
Adopted al ST. Louis. June -. 1870.

We, the delegates Of the Democratic
party of the United states, in national con-
vention assembled, do hereby declare the
administration OF the federal government
TO be in urgent reed OF immediate rcform
do hereby erioiD upon the nominees OF this
convention, and of the democratic party in
each state. IA Jealous effort aud 60 opera
ton to this end. and do hereby appeal to
our fellow.citizens of every former political
connection TO undertake with us thi, first
an most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION. THE CONSTITUTION. EEFCBE-
CAS- sELf-GoNERNAiENr
For the democracy of the whole country.
| we do hereby rcatiirn our faith in the per-
manence of the federal union: our devotion
to the constitution OF the nlted States,
with its amel dment> universally accepted
| H. the linal sctt ement oi the controversies
that cngcndered civil Wsr, and do bere re-
! cord our steadia-t confidence in the pcrl1.
tuity of republican seli-%ovcrnment.
HE FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiesccnce in the will of
the majOrity-the vital principle OF rcplb
lies: ia the supremacy Of the civil over the
military authority, ia tle totai separation Of
church and state, for the sake alike OF civil
and religious freedom; in the equalit. OF
| all citizens before just laws OF thelr own eIt-
| ac,mcnt; in the liberty of individual con-
| duct. unveXed by sImptuary laws; in the
faithful education OF the rising generation,
that they may preserve. enjoy and transmit
these best conditions # human happiness.
aud hope We behold the nOb,cst prOdGc,s OF
bundled years OF chaDgsiui history; but
I while upholding tie bond OF our union and
| great charter OF these great rights, i. be-
| hooycs a fee people TO practice also that
/ eternal vigilance which T. the price OF
/ liberty.
RErORM-CoERUrT.o
! R.f1rm is necessary to build and establish
! in The hearts Ga the whole peoIl. the union.
eleven years ago happily rescued from The
/ danger OF u secession VI States but now TO
/ be saved from corrupt centralsm, viii h.
/ after infictin- upon ten states the raplci
| of cIrpetba tyrannies. has honey cOlnbed
| the Offices oil the federal government itself
| with-nc1p opacity, waste and traId: injected
/ States aud municipalities with the cont1-
| glon OF mi sruie. and locked fast the pros
perity OF All industrious people in the pa
/ ralysis of hard times.
| REFORM or THE CUERkNCY-SPECIE
PAYMENTS.
Reform is necessary 10 establish a soand
! currency. restore the public credit and
maintain the nationalhon We denounce
| the failure for all these eleven years to
| make good The promise of the legal tender
notes, Which are 4 changing standard Of
value in the hands Ct the people. aud The
non payment Of which i. a dir. gard OF the
plighted faith OF the nation.
We ieDounce the ImErONllence which N
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 use
less expense. without accuuiUla,ing any re-
serve Tor their redemption. We denOllnce
the financial imhccility and immortality OF
that party which, during eleven year. OF
peace his made 40 advance toward re.
dclnpt!on: no preparation Too resumption.
but instead, hts "b>tlucted resumption by
wasting our resources aui eNhau,tipg all
| or surplus income. and while ANNUALLY,
processing 10 intend u speedy return 10
specl5 payment, has annually enacted fresh
hlndranc@s therelO--a- Sucu q hindranre
We denounce the II sumption clause OF the
act OF lSlj, and we demand its repeal.
We demand judcious system OF pre-
paration, by public economies. by official
retrenchment, and by the finances. which
shall enable the nation soon 10 assure the
Whole world o! its peliect ability aud its
perfect readiness to meet any of lis prom
lses at the call Of the creditor entitled 10
payment.
We believe such a system, we'll devised,
and, above all, entrusted t. competent
hand3 Tor us execution, Great ng st no time
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and at no
time alarming the public mind into with.
drawai OF that vast machinery Of credit by
when % 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
duslries, set in motion the wheels of COM
merce, manufactures and the mechanical
arts, restore employment 10 labor, and re-
new IN all its national sources the prosper
lty OF The people.
REFORM OF THE TARlFF-FREE TRADE.
Reform l. 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-
ent tarih levied upon nearly four thousand
articles as mast r piece Of injustice, in
equaiity ana false pretense. IL yields
dWindling, not yearly rising revenue. II
has impoverished many industries 10 sub.
sidlZe aiew; 1t prohibits imports that might
purchase me products OF American ,bOrs.
IL mas degraded American commerce from
the nrst 10 an inferior rank upon the high
seas; II has cut down the sales of American
manufactures at home an abroad. and de.
pleted the returns of American agriculture
an industry followed by halt our people. Ii
costs The people i've times more than il pro.
| uuces to the treasury; obstructs the Process
OF production, and wastes the fruits OF la
Dor; II promotes fraud. fosters smuggling.
| enrlches dishonest officials and bankTuuts
custom house taxation shall be only for
revenue.
REFORM ECONOMY Is PUBLIC EXpES Sc
Heform Is necessary in the scale of publir
| cNpense-fcderal, state and mupieipal
our federal taxation has sw ollen from sixty
millions gold, IN 1860, 20 four hundred and
hity millions currency, in leo Our aggre.
gate taxation, IRON one hundred and nifty
iouf millions gold in 1860, 10 seven hundred
J and lhlrty miillons currency ia 1870: or In
one decade, IRON less than five dollars per
head 10 more than eighteen dollars per head
since tue peace the people have paid Il
their taX-gatherers more than thrice the
sum OF the national debt, and more than
Twice Thai sum tor the federal government
alone. we demand vigorous frugality i'm
every department, ana from every officer
oil the government.
kkfoRM-PUBLfC LANph 10 ACTUAL sgt
TLxRs.
Refty8t T. necessary TO put "A stop Ia tho
pfonigate waste of the public lands and
lhelr diversion from actual settlers by the
psrty IN power, which has squandered
Eo",o~,VOO acres upon railroads alone. and
fh amount OF more than thrice that a.are.
gate, mas disposed OF less thaa a sixth IN.
feeuy TO the tillers OF the soil.
hffohM-ADoPrED CITIZENS. REELECTED
m hoSGoLs.
AJofm Il necessary To correct the omm il
sion Oh republican eongre. 5 and The err or
pt our treaties and our diplomacy. wh,es
naNe stripped our fellow, itizens OF FOREIGN
phtil anu kindred race. recros-in., tine A.
ianlle, oil the shield OF American citizen.
snp, ana nave exposed our hr elhcn of ~.