The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-02
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM

The National Republican party of the United
States, assembled in National Convention in the city
of Chicago on the 2lst day of May, 1886, make the
following declaration of principles:
l. We congratulate the country the assured
success OF the reconstruction policy of Congress,
evlnced by the adoption, in the majority of the
States lately in rebellion of constitutions securing
equal civil and political rights to all; and it is the
dnty of the Government to sustain those institutions
and to prevent the people of such States being
RENTED to a state of anarchy.
2. The guaranty by Congress Of equal suffrage to
all loyal men at the South demanded by every
consideration of public safety, of gratitude, and of
justice, and must be maintained; while the question
of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to the people OF those States.
8. We denounce all forms of reputation as a ma
tional crime and the national honor requires the
payment of the public indebtedness in the utter
most good faith to all creditors at home and abroad
not only according to letter, but the spirit OF the
laws under which it was contracted
A. 1t is due to the labor Of the nation that taxa
ton should be equalized, and reduced rapidly
the national faith will permit
g. The national debt, contracted it has been for
the preservation of the Union for all time to come
should be extended over fair period for redemption
and it the duty of Congress reduce the rate of
interest thereon, whenever it be honestly done.
g. That the best policy to diminish our burden of
debt is to improve our credit that capitalists will
seek to loan money at lower rates of interest than
we now pay, and must continue TO pay long
pudation partial or total open or covert, is threat
| ened or suspected.
y The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been 80 Bhamefully nursed
and fosered by Andrew johnson call loudly for rad
g. We profoundly deplore the untmely and tragic
death of Abraham Lincoln, and regret the-accession
to the Presidency of Andrew johnson, who has acted
treacherously to the people who elected him and the
| cause he pledged to support; who has usurped
high legislative and judicial functions; who has re-
| fused to execute the laws who has used his high
ofce to induce other officers to ignore and violate
| the laws who has employed his executive powers
to render insecure the property the peace, liberty
and life of the citizen; who has abused the pardon
ing power; who has denounced the national 1egsla-
| ture as unconstitutional who has persstently and
| corruptly resisted, by every means in his power,
every proper attempt at the reconstruction Of the
| States lately in rebellion; who has perverted the
| public patronage into an engine of Wholesale cor
| ruption; and who has been justly impeached for
| high crimes and msdemeanors, and properly pro-
nonnced guilty thereof by the vote of thirtyfv
| Senator's
.. The doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu.
i ropean powers that because man is subject
he is always So must be resisted at every hazard by
the United States relic of feudal times, not
torzed by the laws OF ratons, and at war with our
national honor and independence. Naturalzed cit
liens entitled TO protection in all their rights OF
citizenship, though they were natiye-born; and
no citizen of the United States, native natural
lied must be liable to arrest and imprisonment by
apy foreign power for acts done or words spoken in
this country; and If arrested and imprisoned, 1t
is the duty Of the Government to interfere in his be-
| half.
| TO- OF all who were faithful in the trials of the
| late war, there entitled to especial
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardships OF campaign and cruise and inn
perilled their lives in the service of the country
the beunties and pensions provided by the laws for
these brave defenders OF the nation obligations
| never to be forgotten the widows and orphans of
the gallant dead the wards of the people-a sa-
cred legacy bequeathed to the nations protecting
| care.
| H. Foreign immigration, which in the past has
added 30 much to the wealth, development, and re
sources and of power to this republic the
| ASYLUM of the oppressed of all nations, should be
tostered and encouraged by liberal and just policy
| r. This convention declares itself in sympathy
with all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
49, That we highly commend the spirit of msg-
| papimity and forbearanee with which men who have
| served in the rebellion, but who now frankly and
| honestly cooperate with us in restoring the peace
of tho country and reconstgucting the south.
ern State governments upon the basis Of impartial
Justice and equal rights received back into the
| communion OF the loyal people; and we favor the
removal of the disquaihcations and restrictions I'M
| posed upon the late rebels in the same measure aa
the spirit of dsloyaty will die out and as may be con
sistent with the safety of the loyal people,
Ia. That we recognize the great principles laid
| down in the immortal Declaration of Independence
| as the true foundation of democratic government
and we hail with giadness every effort toward max
ing these principles living reality on every inch Of
American sol.