The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-09-22
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.
Adopted at ~. Louis. June ~. 1874.

our ieiloW-ciuzens oil every former political
connection to undertake with us thi. first
an most pressing patriotic duty.
THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION, RKrUBL,-
CAN sELF-GOVERNMENT
For the democracy of the whole country,
we do hereby rcaflirln our iaiih in the per-
mancnce of the federal union: our devotion
II the constitution of the United States,
with It's ancI dments universally accepted
a. the final scit cement of the controversies
that engeIdered civil war, ana do here re-
cord our stcadast confidence in the perpe.
tuity of republican scli-@oyernmcnt.
TIE FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiescouce in the will of
the majority-ihc vital principle of rcpub-
hcs; in the supremacy Of the civil over the
military authority. in tle total separation of
church and state for the sake alike OF civil
and religious freedoms in the equality of
all citizens befcro just laws Of their own en-
actment; in the liberty of individual con-
duet, 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 nob!cst products of
a hundred years OF changeiul history; but
while upholding the bond of our union and
great charter OF these great rights, j. be-
hooves a free people TO practice also that
eternal vigilance which Is the price of
liberty.
REFoRM-CoRRUrT!oN
Reforq-is necessary to build aud establish
in the hearts of the whole people the uni on,
eleven years ago happily rescued from The
danger of a secession Of states but now to
be saved from a corrupt centraism, viii Ii.
after intlrctlng upon ten States the rapaci
of carpet bag tyrannies, has honey cOmbed
the offices OF the federal government itself
with iucapacity, waste ard fraud; infected
States and municipalities with the conta-
GIon OF mi srue, and locked fast the pros
periry OF an industrious people in the pa
rayss of hard times.
REFORM OF THE CURRRNCY-sPECIE
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 is 4 disr gard OF the
plighted faith OF the nation.
We denounce the lmproyidcncc 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 squaniered ioui times this sum in use
less expense, without accommodating any re-
serve Tor their redemption. We dcnOuncc
the financial imbecility and immortality OF
that party which, during eleven years of
peace. has made no advance toward re-
deinptioh; no preparation for resumption,
but, in,tead, has obstructed resumption by
wasting our resources and eXhau,ting all
OR surplus income, and while annually
protesting to intend a speedy return TO
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh
Lindrances thereto-as such hindrance
we denource the rt sumption clause or the
act of 1919. and we demand its repeal.
We demand judicious system of pre-
paration. by public economies. by official
and by the finances, which
shall enable the nation soon to assure the
whole world of its perfect ability and its
perfect readiness to meet any OF its prom
ses at the call of the creditor entitled to
payment.
We believe such system, well devised.
and, above all. entrusted 10 competent
hands for it, execution, Great rs at no time
an artificial scarcity OF currency, and at no
ume alarming the public mind into with.
uraWal oil that vast machinery of credit by
which % per cent. of all our business trans
actions are performed: system open TO
the puOllc 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 me chanlcal
arts, restore employment TO labor, and re-
new III ell its national sources the prosper
ity OF the people.
REFORM or TIE TARIFr-FREE Tn.pp
Rr0t7a is necessary in the sum and mode
OF feder. taxation, to the end that capital
may he set free from distrust and lab +
lightly hardened. We denounce the pres
ent tariff levied upon nearly four thousand
articles a. master piece of injustice, in
equality aud false pretense. II yield,
dWlndllng, not yearly rising revenue. II
has impoverished many industries TO sub.
sidile "a few; tprohibiis imports that might
purchase me products of American bbors.
II has degraded American commerce rom
the irst TO an inferior rank upon the high
seas; 1t has cut down the sales of American
manufactures at home an | abroad, and die.
pleied the returns of American agriculture,
an industry followed by half our peoplc. II
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; II promotes fraud, fosters smuggling,
enrlches dishonest officials and bankrupts
honest merchants. We demand that all
custom house taxation shall be only Tor
revenue.
REFORM IN pUBIIC ryprSsv
HJ0rm Is necessary in the scale of public
eNpense-federal, state and municiDal.
our federal taxation has swollen from sixty
millions gold, IN 1860, 10 four hundred and
MY ihlillons currency, in 1870. Our apore
gaze taxation. from one hundred and iiftv.
four millions gold IN 1860, To seven hllndrcd
and thirty millions currency in $50: or i'm
one decade, from less than five dollars ner
head TO more than eighteen dollars per head.
since the peace the people have paid to
thelr tax-galherers more than thrice the
sum OF the national debt, and more than
twice that sum Tor the federal government
alone. We demand u vigorous frugality i'm
every department, and from every officer
oil the government.
REfORM-PUBLfC LANDS TO ACTUAL sgt.
TIERS.
H.torm T. necessary TO put a stop TO the
prohigate waste of the public lands and
thelr diversion from actual settlers by the
Psry IN power, which has squandered
-oo,oJo'ooo acres upon railroads alone. and
Pm amount OF more than thrice that aegre-
gate, has disposed of less than a SIKH al.
rectly to the tillers OF the soil.
REFORM ADOPTED CITIZENS ppIvc-,,,,
H.f0rDs Is necessary 10 correct the ANNIE.
eioh Vi republican congress and thu error.
OF our Treaties and our diplomacy. which
nave stfippei our fellow citizens OF foreipn
p'rtn anu klhdred race. recrossing tbe Al.
lantle, oil The shield Of American cit'ysn-
EMP, anu nave exposed our hrethern OF the
racine coast TO the incursions of a race no,
sprung IRON the same great parenr stock
ana, In TACT, now by law denied citIzenshin
through naturalization, as being neither ar.