The Montana post., 1868-10-09
OUt PLATFORM.

OIR PLATFORM.
Unanimously adopted hy the National
Uui0u Republican Conventional Chicago
MAY 2l=t. lS6S.
First. We congratulate the country or the
assured success of the reconstruction projects
OF Congress, as evInced by the adoption, IN q
majority Of the States lately IN rebellion, of
constitutions securing equal civil and pollti-
cal rights TO all, aud regard lt as the duty OF
tine Government to sustain these constitutions
and TO prevent the people of such states from
being remitted 60 a state of anarchy.
second. The guarantee of Congress Of equal
suffrage To all loyal men az the South was de-
mandel by every consideration Of public
safety, OF gratitude, and OF justice, and must
be maintained, while the question of suffrage
In ali the loyal States properly belongs TO the
people of those States.
Thicd. We danounce all forms of repudia-
alton a. a national crime. and national honor
requires the payment of the public indebted
ness 30 the utmost good faith 10 all CREDITORS,
at home and abroad, not only according TO
the letter but the spirit of the laws under
which NJ was contracted.
Fourth. IL IS due TO the labor Of the nation
that taxation should be equalized, and redo
ee,i as rapidly as the national faith will per
NIT.
Fifth. The national debt, contracted as it
has been for the preservation OF the Union
rau time TO come should be extended over
n
Of Congress TO reduce the rates Of interest
thereon whenever IL can possibly be DONE
Sixth. That the best policy TO diminish our
burden Of debt 4 to so improve our credit
that capitalists will seek 70 loan Us money at
lower rates of interest than we now pay, and
must continue 10 pay SO long as reputation,
partial OF total, open OF covert, Is threatened
or suspected
seventh The government of the United
States should be administered with the strict
e>t economy, and the corruptions which have
been so shamefully uurSed and fOstered bv
Andrew johnson call loudly for radical re-
form.
Eight. We profoundly depIore the untimeiy
and tragic death of Abraham Lincoln. and
regret the accession of Andrew johnson to
the Presidency, who has acted treacherously
to the people who elected him and the cause
he vas pledged to support has usurped leg
islatiye and judicial functions has refused to
execute the laws has used bis high of5ce to
induce other officers to ignore and violate the
avs has employed his executive power to
render insecure the property, peace, liberty
aud life of the citizens has abused the par
doning power, has denounced the National
Legislature as unconstitutional has persist
emily aud corruptly resisted, by every means
N his power, every proper attempt at the
recBustTuCtiOn Of the States lately IN rebel
lion has pery yerted the public patronage into
an engine of wholesale corruption, and has
been Justly impeached for high crimes and
misdsmeanors, and properly pronounced
guilty by the votes of thIrty-fye Senator'S
Ninth. The doctrine Of Great Britain and
other European powers, that because a man
oLce a subject he Is always so, must be re-
sisted at every hazard by the United States as
a relic Of the feudAl times, not authorized by
the law Of nations and at war with our
tionaI honor and Independence. NaturaliEed
citizens are entitled to be protected in all
their rights of citizenship as though they
were native born, and no citizen of the United
States, native or naturalizeL, must be liable
TO arrest and imprisonment by any foreign
power fu- acts done or words spoken IN this
country. And If 80 arrested and imprisoned,
10 Is the duty OF the government to interfere
an his behalf.
Tenth. OF all who were faithful In the TRIALS
of the late var there were none entitled TO
more especial honor than the brave soldiers
and seamea who endured the hardships of
campaign and cruise, and lmpeTllled their
lives In the service of the country. The
bountIes and pensions provided by law for
these brave defenders of the nation are o5h-
cations never To be forgotten. The widows
and orphans of the gallant dead are the wards
of the people, sacred legacy bequeathed TO
the nations protecting care.
Eleventh. Foreign immigration, which 10
the past has added much to the wealth and
development Of the resources and the increase
of power Of this nation, "the asylum OF the
oppressed Of all nations" should be foStered
aAu tAlNNnAa.eA u AlbeIal dllu just pohCg-
Twelfth. This convention declares Its SYM
pathy with all oppressed people who are
struggling for their rights,
On motion of Gen. Carl Schurz. the follow
ing additional resolutions were unanimously
adopted as part of the platform:
Resolved, That we highly commend the
spirit of magnanimity and fOrbearance with
which the men who have served IN the rebel
lion, but now frankly and honestly cooperate
with Us In restoring the peace Of the country
and reconstFuctiug the Southern State gov
ernments upon the basis of impartial justice
and equal rights. are received back into the
communion OF the loyal people aud we favor
the removal Of the disqualifcations and re
Itrietions imposed upon the late rebels IN the
same measure.as the spirit of disloyalty Will
die out, aud as may be consistent with the
safety of the loyal people
Resolved, That we recognize the great
principles laid down in the immortal Declara-
ration Of Independence as the true foundation
OF Democratic government, and We hail with
gladness every effort toward making these
rinciples living reality every inch of
American soil.