Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-03-29

ports, and that such duties should
imposed for revenue, and for no other
| purpose. We are opposed to the
/ present system of protective duties.
/ It Is unjust and wrong in principle,
| and defeats its own ends in practice.
/ II Is at war with every principle OF
equality and justice on which the Re
| pnOlican. party was founded. IL pro-
/ NOTES corruption in legislation ana
plunder in high places. 1t has need
lessly and heavily increased the cost
of living, crippled our export trade,
destroyed our shipbuilding, and para
lyzed our industry. 1t has created
OnerOus mOnOpOlies, augmented the
expenses of collecting the revenue,
encouraged smuggling, stimulated
frauds and dishonesty IN custom
houses, and so increased the cost OF
production as to enable foreign manu-
factuTers to undersell US in our own
markets. We are willing to be taxed
for the support of the Government,
but we protest against being taxed for
the benefit Of private individuals and
corporations, and we further protest
against making the shrOud Of the old
Whig party the mantle of Republican
ism. We therefore demand that tariff
duties be so adjusted as to derive the
requisite revenue from the smallest
possible number of taxable articles.
3. We are opposed to the employ
ment Of Government patronage for
party purposes. We believe that the
maxim, "TO the victOrs belong the
spOiis," is immoral, unWise, and detri-
mental to the public service, and that
its tendency has been to corrupt the
political life-blOOd of the nation. We
protest against the use Of public offices /
to reward political friends OF punish |
political enemies. We are in favor of
an immediate and thorough reform of
the civil service Of the Federal Gov |
eminent, and we insist that the ap.
pOintmentS of subordinate officers !
should be made on the ground of fit !
ness only, with promotions for merit, |
and the tenure Of the Office depending
on the honesty and efficiency of the |
officer, without regard to the fluctua- |
tons Of political opinions and the |
changes OF party relations. We fur |
ther 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 Of /
fees degrades the standard of public |
morality, lowers the tone of political |
affairs, breeds corruption and inefiici-
enCy in office, and transfers the peO- !
pies right to choose their own muni- /
Cipal rulers aud representatives to the |
lottery Of caucuses and con-
ventiOns, which, instead Offacilitating, |
impede, clog and obscure the express
sion OF the popular will.
4. We believe that an irredeemable !
is fraught with great evils
and dangers to the Weil-being of the
country. 1t causes perniCiOus fiuctua-
hOn5, unsettles values, destroys conf.
dence, and forms q dangerous weapon
in the hands OF demagGgues appealing
to ignorance and prejudice. With
bOundles5 resources, and revenues in
excess Of the expenditures Of the gov
eminent, notwithstanding the fearful
war through which we have passed,
we can sec no excuse for endangering
the public credit by floating the bro.
ken promises Of the nation. We, |
therefore, deem it the duty of the Re
publican party to take initiatOry steps
Or a gradual but certain return to gold
and silver as the only true basis of cur
renCies.
Animated by an abiding conviction
that these views will sooner or later
be vindiCated by the intelligence and
of the American people, !
we present them to our fellow citizens
Tor their deliberate and candid cOnsid-
aratioD