The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-08-27
The Republican Platform,

The National Republican PARTY of the United
States, assembled in National Convention, in the
city Of tss chisGgo S on the oete day q ay 1885,
First We congratulate the country on the assur-
ed success OF the reconstruction policy of Congress-
as evinced by the adoption by minority Of the
equal civil and political rights to all. 1t is the duty
OF the government 10 sustain these institutions and
to prevent the people of such States from being
mtted to a state OF anarchy. .l,s
Second-The guarantee by Congress of equal suff-
rage TO all loyal men at the South demanded by
every consideration of pubic safety, of gratitude
question of suffrage in the loyal States properly be-
longs to the people of those States.
1hird-We denounce all forms of repudia ion as
national crime. The national honor requires the
payment Of the public Indebtedness in the utmost
good faith, to all creditors at home and abroad not
only acco ding to the letter. but to the spirit OF the
law under which IL was contracted. -H
Fourth-It is due to the labor of the nation that
taxation shall be equalized and reduced as rapidly
as the national faith shall permit,
Fifth-The national debt, contracted as it has
been tor the preservation of the Union for all time
to come, should be extended over fair period for
redemption and 1t is the duty of Congress to reduce
estly dcne.
Sixth-The best policy to diminish our burden of
debt is to so improve our credit, that capitalists will
seek to loan money at lower rates OF interest than
we now pay, and must continue pay so long as re-
pudlaon partial or tota open or covert, is threat
ened or suspected. tu)
should be administered with the strctest economy,
and the corruptions which have been so shamefuly
nursed and ostered by Andrew johnson, call loudly
for a radical reform, Ts
Eighth.-We profoundly deplore the untimely and
tragic death OF Abraham Lincoln, and regret the
cession of Andrew johnson to the presidency; who
has acted reacherously to the people who elected
him and the cause he was pledged to support; who
has ururpei high legislative and judicial functions
who has refused to execute the laws; who has used
his high office to induce other officers to ignore and
violate the laws; who has employed his executive
powers to render insecure the property, the peace,
the liberty and the life of the citizen; who has
abused the pardoning power; who has denounced
the national legislature as UNCONSTITUTIONAL; who
has persistently and corruptly resisted by every
reconstruction OF the States lately in rebelion who
has perverted the public patronage into an engine of
wholesale corruption, ana who has justly been i'm
peached for high crimes and misdemeanors and prop
y pronounced guilty thereof by vote OF S5 Sena-
tors.
Ninth-The doctrine of Great Britain and other
European powers, that because man is once sub
jec he always so, must be resisted at every haz
ard by the United States as relic Of the feudal
times not authorized by the law of nations and at
war with our uatlOnal honor and independence.
Naturalized citizens are entitled to be protected in
all their rights OF citizenship though they were
native born; and no citizen OF the United States,
native naturalized, must be liable to arrest and
words spoken in this country; and If they ar
rested and imprisoned it Is the duty of the govern
ment to interfere in their behalf. .t
| Tenth-Of all who were faithful in the trials o.
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardships of campaign and cruise and i'm
perilled their lives in the service of the country
The bounties and pensions provided by law for these
brave defenders are obligations never to be forgot.
ten; the widows and orphans of the gallant dead
are the wards Of the pe0ple-a sacred legacy be-
| queathed to the nations fostering care. -
-Eleventh-Foreign emigration, which in the past
| mas added so much to the wealth, development and
resources, and the increase of power to this nation
the asylum of the oppressed Of all nations, should
| be fOstered and encouraged by a liberal and just
policy. #f tl.r
| Twelhh-This convention declares itself in sympa-
thy with all the oppressed peoples which are strug
| Cling for their rights
| Unanimously added, on motion OF Gen. Schurz:
| Resoired, That we highly commend the spirit Of
/ magnanimity and forbearance with which men who
have served in the Rebellion, but who frankly
and honestly cooperate with in restoring the peace
/ OF the country and reconseructing the Southern
| State governments upon the basis OF Impartial jus
tice and Equal Rights, are received back into the
communion of the loyal people; and we avcr the re
mOva of the disqualfcatons and estrictions impos
ed upon the late Rebels in the same measure as the
spirit of loyalty will direct and may be consistent
with the safety OF the loyal people.
Resolved. That recognize the great principles
laid down in the immortal Declaration OF lndepend
ence, as the true foundation of democratic govern
ment; and we hail with gadness every effort towaru
| making these principles living reahty Oh ever.
| inch of American soil.