The Portland daily press., 1868-06-16
The Republican Platform

The National Republican Party Of the United
States, assembled in National Conrention, in the
city of Chicago on The tceatieh day of May, 1868,
make the fotloaoing declaration Of principles
First We congratulate the country on the assur-
ed OF the reconstruction policy of Congress-
as evinced by the adoption by mljority OF the
States lately in rebellion, of constitutions securing
equal civil and political rights to ALL 1t is the duly
OF the government 10 sustain these institutions and
to prevent the people OF such States from being re-
Mitted to state of anarchy.
Second-The guarantee by Congress OF equal suff-
rage TO all loyal men at the South demanded by
every consideration of public safety, of gratitude,
and of justice, and must be maintained. The whole
question of suffrage in the loyal States properly be-
longs to the people of those States. ~
Ihrd-We denohnce 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 ding to the letter. but to the spirit OF the
law under which it was contracted
Fourth-It is due to the labor of the nation that
taxation shall be equazed aud reduced as rapidly
as the national faith shall permit.
Fifth-The national debt contracted as it has
been tor the pre- eservaion of the Union for all time
to come, should be extended fair period for
redempton and 1t i the duty OF Congress to reduce
the rate OF interest thereon whenever it can he hon
estly dcne.
Sxth-The best policy to diminish our burden of
debt, is to so improve our credit that capitalists will
seek to loan us money lower rates of interest than
we now pay, and must continue pay so long as re-
pudation partial or tota open or covert is threat
ened or suspected A ~
should be administered with the strictest economy,
and the corruptions which have been so shamefully
nursed and fostered by Andrew johnson, call loudly
for a radical reform,
Eighth.-We profoundly deplore the untimely and
tragic death of Abraham Lincoln, and regret the ac
cession of Andrew johnson to the presidency; who
has acted treacherously to the people who elected
him and the cause he was pledged to support; who
has ururpel high legislative and judicial functons
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 employ ed 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
measure i'll his power every proper attemnt at the
reconstruction OF the States lately in rebclon who
has perverted the public patronage into an engine OF
wholesale corruption and who las justly been i'm
peached for high crimes and msdeme anors and prop
ly pronounced guilty thereof by vote OF 50 Sena-
tors. .
Niuth-The doctrine of Great Britain and other
European powers, that because man is once sub
ect he is always must be resisted at every haz
ard by the United States as a relic OF the feudal
| war with our rational honor and independence.
NaturaIized citizens entitled to be protected in
all their rights OF citizenship as though they were
native born; and citizen of the United States,
native or naturalzed must be liable to arrest and
imprisonment by any foreign power for acts done or
words spoken in this country; and if they are so ar
rested and imprisoned it the duty OF the govern
ment to interfere in their behalf
Tenth Of all who were faithful in the trials OF
the late there none entitled to more special
| honor than the rave soldiers and seamen who en-
dureu the hardships Of campaign AMI cruise ana I'M
perilled their lives in the service of the country
The bountes and pensions provided by law for these
brave blenders obligations never to be forgot
| ten; the widows and orphans of the gallant dead
| are the wards of the people-a sacred legacy be.
| oueathed to the nations fostering care.
| Eleventh-Foreign emigration, which in the pas
has added so much to the wealth, development ant