The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-13
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM

1he National Republican party Of the United
States assembled in National Convention in the city
of Chicago OH the 21st day of May, 1885, make the
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 la'ely i'll rebellion, of constitutions securing
equal civil and political rights 10 ALI and it the
duty of the Government to sustain those institutions
and tn preven the people of such States from being
RENTED to a state OF anarchy
z. 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
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
tionsl crime; and the national honor requires the
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 eauaized, and reduced as rapidly as
the national faith will permit.
8. The national debi, contracted 1t has been for
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 reduce the rate OF
interest thereon, whenever it be honestly DONE
9. That the best policy to diminish burden of
debt is to improve credit that capitalists will
seek to loan us money at lower rates of interest than
now pay, and must continue to pay long as re-
pudaton, partial or total open or covert is threat
ened or suspected
l. The Government of the United States should be
administered with tho strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been shamefuiy nursed
and fosered by Andrew johnson call loudly for radi-
cal reform.
g. We profoundly deplore the untimely and tragic
death of Abraham Lincoln, and regret the accession
to thePresidency 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 has re.
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 power; who has denounced the national legisa-
ture unconstitutional who has persistently and
corruptly resisted, by every means in his power,
every proper attempt at tho reconstruction of the
States lately in rebellion; who has perverted the
public patronage into an engine of wholesale cor
rupton and who has been justly impeached for
high crimes and misdemeanors, and properly pro-
nounced guilty thereof by the vote of thirty.fve
Senators.
Q. The doctrine of Great Britain and other Eu.
ropean powers, that because man is once subject
he is al ways must be resisted at every hazard by
the United States, relic of feudal times,
thorized by the laws of nations, and at with
national honor and independence. Naturalzed cit
liens entitled to protection in all their rights OF
citizenship, as though they were native-born; and
citizen of the United States native or 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 cuy Oh Tue NoVernnent 10 interfere IN MS De-
half
10. OF all who were faithful In the trials of the
late war; there were none entitled to especial
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardshps Of campaign and cruise, and i'm
peried their lives in the service of the country;
the bounties and pensions provided 10y 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 peope--a sa-
cred legacy bequeaihed to the nations protecting
care.
IL. Foreign immigration, which in the past has
added 30 much to the wealth. development, aud re-
sources, and increase Of power to this republic the
asylum of the oppressed of all nations should be
fostered aud encouraged by liberal and just policy.
IL This convention declares itself in sympathy
with all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
IL. That we highly commend the spirit of mag
nanimity and forbearance with which men who have
served in the rebellion bu who now frankly and
honestly cooperate with in restoring the peace
of tho country and reconstructing the South
err State governments upon the basis OF impartial
justice ana equal rights, received back into the
communion OF the loyal people; and we favor the
removal Of the dquaiificstons aud restrictions i'm
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure as
the spirit of disoyalty will die out and 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 gladness every effort Toward maxi
ing these principles living reality every inch OF
American scil