The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-06
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM

Ihe National Republican party of the United
States, assembled in National Convention in the city
OF Chicago, on the 2lst day of May, 1885, make the
following declaration of principles;
l. We congratulate the country on the assured
success of the reconstruction policy OF Congress-
eylnced by the adoption, in the majority of the
States lately in rebeiiou of constitutions securing
equal civil and political rights to ALI and it is the
duty of the Government to sustain those institutions
and to prevent the people OF such States from being
RENTED to q state of anarchy.
2. The guaranty by Congress OF equal suffrage to
all loyal men at the South was demanded by every
consideration of public eafety, of gratitude, and Of
Justice and must be maiDtained while the question
of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to the people of those States.
8. We denouuce all forms of reputation as 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
4. 1t is due to the labor of the nation that taxa
ton should be eaualized, and reduced rspidly az
the national faith will permit
g. The national debt, contracted as it has been for
the preservation of the Union for all time to come,
should be extended fair period for redemption;
and 1t is the duty of Congress to reduce the rate of
interest thereon whenever il can be honestly done.
G. That the bost policy to diminish our burden of
debt is to so improve credit that capitalists will
seek to loan money at lower rates Of interest than
now pay, and must continue 10 pay 80 long as re-
ened or suspected.
7. The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been so shamefully nursed
and fJstered by Andrew johnson call loudly for radi-
cal reform.
s. We profoundly deplore the untimely 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 was pledged to support; who has usurped
high legislative and judicial functions; who he's re-
I'm To the lava who has used his hirh
Office 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 legsla-
ture as unconstitutional who has persistently and
corruptIy rosiated, 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 misdemeaDors, and properly pro-
nounced guilty thereof by the vote of thirty five
Senators.
o. The doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu.
ropean powers that because man is once subject
he is always So must be resisted at every hazard by
the United States, relic of feudal times, not
thorized by the laws of rations and atwar with our
national honor and independence. Naturalized cit
izens are entitled to protection in all their rights
citizenship, as though they were native-born; and
no citizen of the United States, native natural
lied, must be liable to arrest and imprisonment by
any foreign power for acts done words spoken in
this country and, If SO arrested and imprisoned, it
is the duty Of the Government to interfere in his be-
half.
10. Of all who were faithful In the trials of the
late war, there entitled to more especial
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardships Of campaign aud cruise, and i'm
perilled their lives in the service of the country
the bounties 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 are the wards of the people-a
cred legacy bequeahed to the nations protecting
care.
IL. Foreign immigration, which in the past has
added much to the wealth, Development, and re-
sources and increase of power to this republic the
asylum of the oppressed of all nations, should be
fostered and encouraged by liberal and just policy
IL. This convention declares itself in sympathy
with all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
Is. That we highly commend the spirit of mag
nanimity and forbearance 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 reconstructng the south-
ern State governments upon the basis of impartial
Justice and equal rights are received back into the
communion OF the loyal people; and we favor the
removal of the disquaiicatons and restrictions i'm
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure as
the spirit of sloyaly will die out and may be
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 gadness every effort toward maxi
ing these principles living reality on every inch Of
American soiI.