The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-16
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, 1885, make tho
following declaration of principles:
l. We congratulate the country on the assured
Of the reconstruction policy OF Congress
evinced 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
duty of the Government to sustain those institutions
and to prevent the people of such States from being
RENTED to 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 safety of gratitude, and Of
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 tn %
payment of the public Indebtedness in the utter
most good faith to all creditors at home aud 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 equalized, and reduced rapidly as
the national faith will permit.
6. The national debt contracted 1t has been for
the preservation of the Union for all time to eome
should be extended over fair period for redemption
and it is the duty of Congress to reduce the rate of
interest thereon, whenever 1t be honestly done.
8. That the best policy to diminish burden of
debt is to improve credit that capitalists will
seek to loan money at lower rates of interest than
we now pay, and must continue to pay long as
-
ened or suspected.
I. The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been shamefuliy nursed
and fostered by Andrew johnson call loudly for rad
cal reform.
8. We profoundly deplore the untimely and tragic
death of Abraham Lincoln, and regret the accession
to the Presidency of Andrew Johnson who has acted
treacherousy to the people who elected him and the
cause he was pledged to support; who has usurped
high legislative and judicial functions; who has
fused to execute the laws; who has used his high
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 powers who has denounced the national legisa-
ture as unconstitutional who has persistently and
every proper attempt at the recon structon of the
States lately in rebellion; who has perverted the
public patronage into an engine of who'll sale
ruption; and who has been justly impeached for
high crimes and misdemeanors, and properly pre-
nounced guilty thereof by the vote Of thirty. five
Senators.
8. The doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu-
ropean powers, that because man Is once subject
he al ways must be resisted at every hazard by
the United States, relic of feudal times, not
thorzed by the laws OF nations, and at war with our
national honor and independence. Naturalized cit
liens are entitled protection in all their rights OF
citizenship, as though they native-born and
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 arrested and imprisoned 1t
is the duty of the Government to interfere in his be-
half.
TO- or all who were faithful In the trials of the
late war, there were mono entitled to especial
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardships of campaign and cruise and i'm
perilled their lives in the service of the country;
the bountes and pensions provided by the laws for
these brave defenders of the nation are obligations
never to be forgotten; the widows and orphans of
the gallant dead the wards of the people--a So
cred legacy bequeaihed to the nations protecting
care.
IL Foreign immigration, which In the past has
added so 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 a oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
49, 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 reconstructing the South
erB 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 disqualihcstions and restrictions i'm
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure as
the spirit of dsoyaty will die out and may be
sistent with the safety of the loyal people.
ID. That recognize the great principles laid
down in the immortal Declaration Of Independence,
as tho true foundation of democratic government
and we hail with gladness every effort toward maxi
ing these principles living reality on every inch of
American soil.