The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-08-18
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.
Official Text as Reported by the
Committee.


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 need Of immediate reform;
do hereby enjoin upon the nominees of this
convention, and OF the democratic party in
each State, jealous effort and 90 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, RRPUBLl-
CAS- SELF-GOVERNMENT.
For the democracy of the whole country,
we do hereby reaffirm our faith in 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 steadiast confidence in the perpc.
tuity of republican selt-government.
The FIRST CENTURY.
In absolute acquiescence in the will of
the msjority-the vital principle of repub-
lies: 10 the supremacy Of the civil over the
military authority, in tae 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
a hundred years OF changeful history: but
while upholdng the bond OF our union and
great charter OF these great rights, i. be-
ho0ves Il free people TO practi. re also that
eternal vigilance which Is the price of
liberty.
RM-CORRUPTION-CRN
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 eh,
after lnfllcting upon ten states the rapaciIy
of carpet-bag tyranDies, has hone '. combed
| the offices OF the federal government itself
with lncapacity, waste and fraud; infected
States and municipalities with the contl-
gion of mi srule. and locked fast the pros
perity OF an industrious people in the pa
ralysis of hard times.
REFORM OF THE CURRENCY-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 wears to
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 a di,rs gard OF the
plighted faith OF the nation.
We denounce the imDroyidence 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 10 use
lees 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 obstructed resumption by
wasting our resources and eXhausting all
our surplus income, and while annually
protesting TO intend a speedy return to
specie payment, has annually enacted fresh
Llnurances thereto-as sucn hindrance
we denounce the IT sumption clause OF the
act of 1873, and we demand its repeal.
We demand judicious system OF pre-.
paration. by public economies, by official
retrenchment, 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
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, Great ng at no time
an artificial scarcity of currency, and at no
time alarming the public mind into a with.
drawal OF that vast machinery of credit by
which % 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
dustrles, set in motion the wheels of CON-
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-FRRE TRADE.
Reform is necessary i'm the sum and mode
OF federal taxation, TO the end that capital
may be set tree from distrlIst and labor
hghty Durdened. We denounce the pres
ent tarih levied upon nearly four thousand
articles AS master piece Of injustice, in
equality and false pretense. IL yields a
dwindllng, not yearly rising revenue, II
has impoverished many industries to sub
sidize afew; 1t prohibits imports that might
purchase me products Of American lsbors;
II mas degraded American commerce from
the nrst 10 an lnferior.rank upon the high
seas; 1t has cut down the sales of American
manufactures at home AM 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-
duces TO the treasury; Obstructs the process
OF production, and wastes the fruits OF Ia
Dor; Ii promotes fraud, fosters smuggling.
enriches dishonest officials and bankrupts
honest merchants. We demand that all
custom house taxation shalt be only Tor
revenue.
BEfoRM-ECONoMY IN PUBLIC EXPENSE.
Reform Is necessary in the scale Of public
| expense-federal, State and municipal.
| our federal taxation has swollen from sixty
| niiilohs goiu, IN 1860, TO four hundred and
| MY ihliiiohs currency, in 1870. Our aggre-
gate taxation, from Que hundred and nity-
| four millions gold in 1860, to seven hundred
and thirty millions currency in 1870; or. i'm
one decade, from less than five dollars per
head to more than eighteen dollars per head.
since the peace the people have paid 10
| thelr taX-gatherers more than thrice the
sum OF the national debt, and more than
| twice that sum tor the federal government
alone. We demand vigorous frugality i'm
every department, and from every officer
OF the government.
REfoRM-PUBLiC LANDS TO ACTUAL srT.
| ILERs.
HIorm Is necessary TO put stop to the
prohlgate waste of the public lands and
thelr diversion from actual settlers by the
party In power, which has squandered
<oo,oo'Ooo acres upon railroads alone, and
gu a'nount OF more than thrice that aggre-
rect! TO the uilers Of the soil.
AA'oh"-ApofIED CITIZENS, REACTED
| hOSGOLs.
Hgof" ID necessary TO correct tbs Ommis-
SION OF republican congress and the errors
OF our treaties and our diplomacy, which
nave stripped our fellOw-eitizens OF foreign
ohtn anu klhured race, reerossing the At
lantic, Of the shield Of American citizen.
ship, and have exposed our hrethern Of th.
| facinc coast to the iDcursions of a no ,a -,