Press enter after choosing selection

The Philadelphia Platform

The Philadelphia Platform image
Parent Issue
Day
14
Month
June
Year
1872
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The Iiepublican pajrty of the United States iu National couvention asseinblexjin the city of Philadelphia, on the fifth and sixth of Juue, 1ÖV2, again dudares its iaith, appeala to its history, and an nounccs its position upou the qucstions beiore the country. 1. Durii:g the eleven years of its su premacy, it has accepted with grand courag5 the solenin duties of the times. It has suppressed a giguntic robolhon ; emaucipated tour i'tilhons of sluves ; deoreed the ecuüü eitizuuship of all, and established universal suffrago ; exhibiting unparallelud magminiiuity, it has criimnully punislied no mui tor political otfenses, and w rmly welui.nied back all who proTed their loj al y by obeying the laws und dealiug justiy wuh their naighbors. ltTha.s steadiiy decreasod with a íirm hand the resultaat disorders of the war, and initiated a wi.o poüey tovards the Indiana; the Paoifio ïailruat! and unilai vust enterprwé have been genorally aided, and snocesstully coudueted; the public l.mds freely given to actual settíers ; iinmigration prutectuJ nnd encouraged, and a full acknowlodgment of naturalized eitizons' righta secured from Kuropean powers. A unitorni national currt'ncy Uas been providud,' repudiation frowned du'.vn, the natioisal credit sustained, under the most extraordinary burdeus, and new bonds tve uegotiated ut lower rates. The rovenues have been carutully collected, and honestly appliea, and despite the annual large ruductions oí rates of taxation, the public debt has boen ri;duccd during Gen. Grant's Presidency at a rato of one hundred niilhon dollars ayear. A great finaneial erii-is has been avoided, and peacc and plenty prevail throughout the land. Meuacmg foruign diSoultiee have been peacefuliy und honorubly Com pi'omised, and the iioT'ur and power of the nation keilt in high respect throughout the world. The glorious record of the past is the party's best pledgo for the future. We believe the people will not entvust the governmeut to any party or combinution of men composed ehiefly of those who havo ri-sisted every step of this beneñcial progi Complete iilrírty and exact equal ity in the eiiioymont cf all civil, volitical, aud public rights should be ettablished and etiectually maintunedthroughoutthe Union by efficiënt and appropriate State and Fedural leerislation. Neither law nor its adinimstratioa should admit ot I uny discriniiniition in respect to citzsns j ot' ïitce, creed, coior, or pr.vious conuition of servitude. 3. The recent amendmonti to the Nation-.il Constitution shouid be cordially sustained. bocauie they are right, not nicrtiy tolerated bteauso they are law, and snould be carried out according to their S})irit by appropriato legislation, the onforcement of' which can b i safelv trustcd only to-the party that eecured those amendments. 4. The National Government should seek to maintain in honorable peace with all nations, protecting its citizens everywhere, and sympathizing with ail people who slrive tor greater liberty. ó. Any systum of civil service in which the subordínate positions ef the government are eonsidered rewanis for nero party -n.t! in t'wt.ully ilíiiao-ttliaÍDg, and -w - therefore favor a reform of the systom by laws which shall abolish thoevils of patronage, and mukc honesty, efficiency and fidelity cssential qualifieations for public position, without practically creating a life ten ure ot' office. 6. We are opposed to f urther grants of public lands to oorporatiqns and monopolies, and dt uiand that ihe nutional do main bo sut apart for froe homes for the puople. 7. The annual revenues, after piying the current dobt, should furnish a moder ate balance tor the reduction of the principal; and the ïuvemie, zeept so ïïiü'eh as uay be derived f'rom n tax on tobáceo and liquers, be raiscd by duties on importations, the duties ot' which shjuld be so adjusted as to aid in securing remunera tive wages for labor, and promote the industrial growtli and prosperity of the whole country. 8. We hold in undying honor the soldiers and siiilors who.se valor saved the Union. Their pensions are a sacred dobt oftbe. natioi:, and t!au w.dows and orpÉañs $t fhu-;o .vho.died for their country are entitled to the care of tí geuerous and gruteful puople. We favor such additionai lugislation as will extond the bounty of tne govermuent to uil our soldiors ndsaüors who were honurubly discharg ed, or who in the liue pi duty became disabïed, without regard to length of service, or tho causo of suuh discharge. 9. The doctrine of Great Britain and Europeau powers coucerning allefrianee - " once a subject, always a subject," bafing at last, through the efforts of the Kepublican party, been abaudoned, and tho American idea of the individual' right to transfer his aUegia&ce, having been acceptcd by European nations, it is the duty of our góyernnieirt to guard with jealous care the rights of acTcpted citizens against the unauthorizcd claims by their tonner government, and Wé urge a careful and continualencouragement and protection of voluntary immigration. 10 The franking privilege oiight to be abolished, and tlu; prupared for a sp?edy reduction in the ratea ot' poitage. 11. Amon; the questians which pross for attention is that which concerns the relations of capital and labor, and the ïiepublican party rceognve tiudr duty in so shaping lefirisïatSon iis to spcufa full pr ■ tectio'. aujplost field for capital and labor tbe creator of capital, ana the largest opportunity for a just share of mutual protits oí' those great servants of civilizat.ii!:. 12. We hold that Congrcss and the President have only fulfilled an inipurabüty in Eatyf móasares tbr the supion of violent and tr -so-Halilc organïzationa in oertain lately robellious regions, and for the protection of the ballot box. and therefore they are entitled to the thanks of the nation. 13. We denounce tho repudiation of the public debt in any form Or disguise as a national crime. We torneas witn pride the reduction of the principal of tho debt, and of the rates of interest upon the bttlinii-1'. iind contklc'tl7 êipoct our twcellent nacional currency will be perfected by a speedy resumption of specie payment. 14. The Eepubliciin party is mindful of its obligations to the loyal v r. Aiueriea, for their noble !■■' : to the cause oi freoaoirt, and their admissioii to wider tields of usefulncss is ivctived with satislaction, aml the honcst denrftnds of any ilass of citizens for additional rights should bo treatcd with res)eotful consideratior. ló. Vi'ii heartily approvo the action of Coiigress in extending aumesty to those lately in ceballion, and rtjoico in t'.'.c growth of peace and fratenrü feeling thToughout the land. 1G. Tlu: Ucpublicnn party proposo to respect the right;. reservad ly the pcóple to themselvi's as carefully as tpB powers delegated by thew to the State and to the Federal goveiument. It disapprovos of a resort to unconstitutional laws ior the purposc of reuovilig evili by iutorference with riiihts not surrendered by the people to either the State or National gov eminent. 17. It i the duty of the general goxornueut to adopt surh uieasures as will tehd to encourogo Auutrioan commcrcü and ghip building. 18. We beliove that the modest patriotism, the earnest purpose, sound judgínent, practical wisdom, incorruptible integrity aríd illustrious serac oí Ulysses 8. Grant have commonded hita to tho heart of the American people, and with him at uur head we start to-day ou a new morcb to victory.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus