Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-05-29
Platform Of the National Republican
~ Party.

GfauoFm OF tuo NduOudt nc PubuCaHs
rs Party.
The National Republican party Of the
United States, assembled in National Con-
vention in the city Of Chicago on the Goth
day Of May, 1868, make the following
declaration Of principles:
L.. Ws.copgratulate the country on
the an 4 sccess Of the reconstruction
policy6f Uopgress, as evinced by the
adoption 10 a majority Of the States late
/ ~ in rebellion Of constitutions securing
equal civil aud political rights to all, and
regard 10 a. the duty Of the Government
to sustain those institutions, and TO pre-
vent the people of such States from being
RENTED to state of anarchy. (Chcers.)
2. The guarantee by Congress OF equal
suffrage to all loyal men in the South was
demanded by every consideration Of pub.
lie safety, Of gratitude and justice, and
must be maintained. while the question
Of suffrage in all the loyal States proper
ly belongs to the people Of those States.
(Cheers.)
g. We denounce all forms Of rcpudi-
alton as a national crime prolonged
Cheers and our national honor requires
the payment of the public Indebtedness
in the utmost good faith to all creditors
at home and abroad, not only according
to the letter but the spirit of the laws un
der which II wascontracted. (Applause.)
4. Ii is due to the laborer Of the ma
ton that taxation should be equalized and
reduced as rapidly as the national faith
will permit.
s. The national debt, contracted as il
has been for the preservation Of the Union
for all time to come, should be extended
over fair period for redemption, and il
is the duty Of Congress to reduce the rate
Of interest thereon whenever it can hon
estly be done.
6. That the best policy to diminish
our burden Of debt is to SO improve our
credi, that capitalists will seek to loan us
money at lower rates of interest than we
now pay and must continue TO pay as
long us reputation. partial or total, open
or covert, is threatened or suspected.
7. The government Of the United
States should be administered with the
strctest economy, and the corruptions
which have been so shamefully nursed
aud fostered by Andrew johnson call
loudly for radical reform.
8. We profoundly deplore the untime-
ly and tragic death Of Abraham Lincoln,
and regard as national calamity the as
cension of Andrew johnson TO the Presi-
dency, who has acted treacherously to the
people who elected him aud to the cause
he was pledged to support has usurped
high legislative and judicial functions;
has refused to execute the laws; has used
his high Office TO induce other officers TO
ignore aud violate the laws; has employed
his executive powers 10 render insecure
the property, liberty and life of citizens;
has abused the pardoning power has de.
nounced the national legislature as IN.
constitutional; has persistently and cor
ruptly resisted, by every measure 10 bis
power. every proper attempt at the re-
construction OF the States lately in rebel
lion; has perverted the public patronage
into engine of Wholesale corruption;
and has been justly impeached for high
crimes and misdemeanors and properly
pronounced guilty thereof by the votes
OF thirty FIVE Senators.
Q. The doctrine Of Great Britain and
other European powers that because
nan is once subject he Is always SO,
must be resisted ut every hazard by the
United States as q relic Of the ieudal
times, aud is not authorized by the law OF
nations, aud is ut war with our rational
power aud independence that naturalized
citizens are entitled TO be protected in all
their rights Of citizenship us though they
were native born, and no citizen OF the
United States, native or naturalizcd, must
be liable to arrest aud Imprisonment by
any foreign power for acts done or words
spoken in this country, and il arrested
aud imprisoned il is the duty Of the Gov.
eminent to interfere in his behalf.
10. or all who were faithful in the
trials Of the late war, there were mono en-
titled to more especial honor than the
brave soldiers aud seamen who endured
the hardsbipsof campaign aud cruise, and
imperiled their lives ia the service of the
country. The bounties aud pensions pro-
vided by law for those brave defenders OF
nation are obligations never to be for
gotten. The widows and orphans Of the
gallant dead are the wards OF the people;
a sacred legacy bequcathed to the nations
protecting care.
IL. Foreign emigration, which in the
past has added so much 10 the wealth aud
development Of the resources. aud TO the
Increase of the power Of this nation-the
asylum Of the oppressed Of all nations
should be iostered aud encouraged by
just aud liberal policy.
IL This Convention declares It's sym.
paihy with all oppressed people who IRE
struggling for their rights.
Resolved, That we highly commend the
spirit Of mngnanimity aud forgiveness
with which the men who have served In
the rebellion, but now frankly aud honest
ly cooperate with US in restoring the peace
OF the county aud reconstIucing the
Southern State Governments upon the
basis ofimpartial justice aud equal rights,
are now received back into the commnn-
ion OF the. loyal people; aud that We favor
the removal OF the disqualiications and
restrictions imposed upon the late rebols
IN the same measure ~ the spirit OF dis.
loyalty Will direct, and rs may be consst.
ent With the safety OF the loyal people.
Resulted. That we recognize the great
principles laid down in the immortal Dec