Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-26
RADICAL MANIFESTO.
Declaration of Principles by Gin.
cinnati Republicans,

RADICAL MANIFESTO.
Declaration of Principles by Gin
cinnati Republicans.
Leading Cincinnati Republicans ha,
adopted the following declaration of pr,
ciples:
"The first meeting was held Saturday
March IL, and was attended by abol
twenty leading Republicans. A commit
tee OF five was appointed to draft a dec
laration of principles. Judge Stanle
Matthews, Judge George Hoadly, Georp
r. Sage, Gen. ii. L. Burnett and Fred
Hsssaurek were appointed the committee
Their report was made and adopted Sal
urday, March Is. On Tuesday q consti
tuition was adopted, and Judge Matthew
was elected President by reclamation
and Judge Hoadly chairman of the exec
utive committee. Judge Hoadly, Levi
Il. Mills and Fred. Hassaurek was sd
pointed COMMITTEES to nominate remain
ing officers, to be elected next Saturday
sit is proposed to have an advisor,
committee of at least one member TO
each ward and township, and similar or
CARNATIONS are to be set on foot in othe]
counties. Arrangements for public dem
onstration are to be made, and the or
ganization is to be as effective and ex.
tensive as possible"
We, the undersigned, members of the
Republican party, proud of its past ser.
vices in preserving the Union, sbolishing
slavery and establishing the political
| equality of all citizens, but convinced
that its continued usefulness and success
will depend upon its meeting the ques-
tons of the present and the immediate
future in the spirit of justice, independ-
ence and equality which have illustrated
its progress hitherto, have organized the
Central Republican Association of Ham
ilton county, for the promotion by our
united efforts ard influence of the follow
ing views and principles, which it is our
earnest conviction should be adopted by
the Republican party for lis future guild
ance:
1. We believe the further continuance
of the policy of disfranchisement to be
incompatible with proper regard for
the fundamental principles of republican
government and sound craftsmanship /;
and, while unalterably determined to
maintain the great results of the war,
we insist that its enmities and resent
mems shall be buried, that all re-
naming causes of irritation shall be re-
moved, and that all political disabilities
imposed for participation In the rebellion
shall be abolished.
2. We believe that to defray the ex-
penses of the government, to pay the in
terest on the national debt, and the prin-
cipal as it shall from time to time become
due, considerable portion of the public
revenues should be derived from duties
on imports, but that such duties should
be imposed for revenue and for no other
purpose.
We are opposed TO the present system
of protective duties. 1t is unjust and
wrong in principle, and defeats its own
ends in practice. 1t is at war with every
principle of equality and justice on which
the Republican party was founded. 1t
promotes corruption in legislation and
plumber in high places. 1t has needlessly
and heavily increased the cost of living,
crippled our export trade, destroyed our
shipbuilding and paralyzed our industry.
1t has created onerous monopOlies, aug
mented the expenses of collecting the
revenue, encouraged smuggling, stimu-
lated frauds and dishonesty in custom
houses, and SO increased the cost of pro-
duction as to enable foreign manufactu-
Ters to undersell us in our own markets.
We are willing to be taxed for the sup
port of the government, but we protest
against being taxed for the benefit of pri-
vate individuals and corporations, and
we further protest against making the
shroud of the old Wing party the mantle
of Republicanism. We, therefore, de-
mand that tariff duties be so adjusted as
to derive the requisite revenue from the
smallest possible number of taxable ar
ticles.
3. We are opposed to the employment
of Government patronage for party pur-
poses. We believe that the maxim 'To
the victors belong the spoils" is immoral,
unwise, and detrimental to the public
service, and that Its tendency has been to
corrupt the political life-blood of the ma
ton. We protest against the use of
public Offices to reward political friends
or punish political enemies. We are in
favor of an immediate aud thorough re-
form of the civil service of the Federal
Government and we insist that the ap-
pointments of subordinate officers should
be made on the ground of fitness only,
with promotions for merit, and the ten
ure of the Office depending on the hon
esty and efficiency of the officer, without
regard to the fluctuations of political
opinions and the changes of party rela-
tons. We further believe that party
nominations should be made only when
party principles are at stake, and that the
custom of applying party or political
tests to candidates for merely local offices
degrades the standard of public morality,
lowers the tone of political affairs, breeds
corruption and ineff1ciency in Office, and
transfers the peoples right to choose
their own municipal rulers and represen-
tatives to the fraudulent lottery of eau
cuses and conventions, which, instead of
facilitating, impede, clog and obscure the
expression of the popular will.
4. We believe that an irredeemable cur
rency is fraught with great evils and
dangers 10 the well being of the country.
1t causes pernicious fluctuations, unsettles
values, destroys confidence and forms a
dangerous weapon in the hands of dema-
gOgues appealing to ignorance and preju
dice. With boundless resources, and
revenues in excess of the expenditures of
the government, Notwithstanding the
fearful war through which we have passed,
we can see no excuse for endsngering the
public credit by floating the broken prom
ises of the nation. We, therefore, deem
it the duty of the Republican party to
take initiatory steps for gradual but
certain return to god and silver as the
only true basis of curencies.
Animated by an abiding conviction that
these views will sooner or later be vindi-
Gated by the intelligence and patriotism of
the American people, we present them to
our fellow citizens for their deliberate and
candid consideration.
Stanley Mathews, ]. D. Cox, George
Hoadly, Gustav Tafel, George R. Sage,
George Mclaughlin, H. L. Burnett, Jas.
Espy, Fred. Hassaurek, Louis Heidelbach,
Lewis E. Mills, Charles Strobel, Thorn
ton NJ. Hinkle, John E. Brodhsgen NJ.
A. Jacobs, Gerhard SasL E. w. Kilt
ridge, Kenner Garrard, ]. B. Wright, D.
Thew Wright, E. S. Throop, VIM. Henry
Davis, II. w. Thompson, John w. Hart
well, II. Hsacke, Robert Mitchell, NJ.
Hunb MoPirnnv Tobu