Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-10-28
The Platform

The National Republican party of the United
| states, assembled in national Convention in tn,
makes the following declaration of pripcinIes
1. we congratulate the country on the assured
success OF the reconstruction policy of Congres,
as eSlnced oy the adop tion in majority of the
a'es iateiy IN rebellion, Of constitutions secur
ing equal civil and political rights to all and -e
gard 1t as the duty of the Government to sustain
nose institutions, and to prevent the people OF
archy. - on
2 The guarantee by Congress of equal sufrags
10 all loyal men at the south was demanded bv
every consideration of public safety of gratitud
ana Of justice, and must be maintained while the
question OF suffrage in all the loyal States prop
erIy belongs to the people of those States
5. We denounce all forms of reputation as a
NATIONAL crime, and the National honor reoui res
the payment OF the public indebtedness in the ut.
most good faith to all creditors at home and a.
broad, not only according to the letter. but the
spirit OF the law under which it was contracted
It Is due to the labor of the nation that tax
alton should be equalized and reduced as ranid
iy as the national faith will permit
o. The national debt, contracted as it has been
Ior the preservation of the Union for all time to
come should be extended over fair period for
redemption, and it is the duty of Congress to re-
duce the rate Of interest thereon Whenever il can
honestly be done
g That the best policy to diminish our burden
Vi oeot, is TO SO Improve our credit that capi-
'ans's VIII seek to loan us money at lower rates
OF interest than We now pay, and must continue
10 pay SO long as repudiation, partial or total
open % or covert,is threatened or suspected.
T. The Government of the United States should
De oe administered with the strictest economy, and
the corruptions, which have been SO shamefuIIy
nursed and tostered by Andrew johnson call
loudly for radical reform
D. We profoundly deplore the untimeIy and
tragic death of Abraham Lincoln and regret the >
accession of Andrew johnson to the Presidency.
VINO has acted treacherousIy to the people who
elected him and the cause he was pledged to sum-
port. has usurped high legislative and judicial
functions, has refused to execute the laws has
used his high office to induce other officers to ig-
more and violate the laws, has employed his exc
cutive powers to render insecure the property,
peace liberty and life of the citizen. has abused
the pardoning power, has denounced the national
legislature as unconstitutional, has persistently
and corruptly resisted, by every measure in his
power, every proper attempt at the reconstruo-
ton of the States lately in rebellion, has peryer-
ted the public patronage into engine of whole
sale corruption, and has been justly impeached
Tor high crimes and misdeIn eanors, and properly
pronounced guilty thereof by the vote of thirty
five Senators
9. be doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu-
ropean powers, that, because a man is once a sub
lect he is always SO, must be resisted at every
hazard by the Quilted States a relic of the feu-
da times, not authorized by the law of nations |
and at war with our national honor and indepen
dence. Naturalized 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 naturalized must be
liable to arrest and Imprisonment by any foreign |
power for acts done words spoke in tn is coun-
try and. if so arrested and prisoned it is the
iuty of the government to interfere in his be- |
half
10. of all who faithful in the trials of the
ate war, tn IRE were none entitled to more espe-
;ial honor than the brave soldiers and seamen |
who endured the hardsbips of the campaign and |
'ruise, and imperilled the lives in the service
If the country. The bOuntes and pensions pro-
'ided by law for these brave defenders of the ma
ion are obligation never to be forgotten The
WIDOWS and orphans of the gallant dead are the |
Yards Of the people-asacred legacy bequcathed
o the nations protecting care
IL. Foreign emf grafton, which in the past has
dded so much TO the wealth, development of re-
ources and increase of power TO the nation
hould be fostered and encouraged by liberial
md just policy.
IL This Convention declares its sympathy with
III oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
ID We highly recommend the spirit of mag |
animity and forgiveness with which men who
ave served the rebellion. but now frankly and
onestly cooperate with us in restoring the peace
the country and reconstructng the Southern |
tate Governments upon the basis of impartial |
Istice and equal rights. received back into |
he communion of the loyal people and we favor
he removal of the disquaiifcations and restric- |
ions imposed upon the late ebes in the same
leasure as the spirit of dI.oyaty will direct and
may be consistent with the safety of the loyal
eople.
IA We recognize the great principles laid down
the Immortal Declaration of Independence as
nd we hail with gladness every effort toward
aking these principles living reality on every
,ch of American soil