The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-05
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM

The National Republican party of the United
States assembled in National Convention in the city
of Chicago, on the 21st day of May, 1885, make the
following declaration of principles
1. We congratulate the country on the assured
success OF the reconstruction policy of Congress
ev.nced 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
and to prevent tho people of such States from being
RENTED to o 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
justice, and must be maintained while the question
of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs
to the people of those States.
8. We denounoe all forms of reputation as a ma.
ional 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
tion should be equalized, and reduced as rapidly as
the national faith will permit.
8. The national debt, contracted it 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 can be honestly done
6. That the best policy 10 diminish our burden of
debt is to improve our credit that capitalists will
seek to loan money at lower rates of interest than
we pay, and must continue pay SO long as re-
pudiation partial or total open or covert is threat
ened or suspected.
7. The Government of the United States should be
administered with the strictest economy; and the
corruptions which have been shamefully nursed
and fstered by Andrew johnson call loudly for radi-
cal reform.
s. We profoundly deplors the untimey and tragic
dtath 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 usurpsd
high legislative and judicial functions; who has re-
fused to execute the laws; who has used his h Ugh
Office TO induce other officers to ignore and violate
the laws; who has employed his executive powers
to render insecure the property tho peace, liberty
and life of the citizen who has abused the pardon
ing power; who has denounced the national legisla
ture as unconstitutional who has persjsently and
corruptly resisted, by every means in his power
every proper attempt at the reconstruction of the
States lately in rebellion; who has perverted the
public patronage inte an engine of wholesale cor.
rupton and who has been Justly impeached for
high crimes and misdemeanors, aud properly pro-
nounced guilty thereof by the vote of thirty five
9. The doctrine OF Great Britain and other Eu.
ropean powers that because a man is once subject
he s always So must be resisted at every hazard by
the United States relic of feudal times not aiI-
thorized by the laws OF ratons and etwar with our
national honor and Independence. Naturalized cit.
liens entitled to protection in all their rights OF
as though they were native-born; and
no citizen of the United States, native OF natural
lied, must be liable to arrest and imprisonment by
any foreign power for acts done words spoken In
the duty OF the Government to interfere In his be-
half
10. or all who were faithful in the trials of the
late war there were entitled to more especial
honor than the brave soldiers and seamen who en-
dured the hardships Of campaign and cruise and inn
perilled their lives in the service of the country;
the bounties 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 sa-
cred legacy bequeathed 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
2 II. This convention declares itself in sympathy
with all oppressed peoples struggling for their rights
Is. That we highly commend the spirit of mag
and forbearance with which men who have
served in the rebellion, but who now frankly and
honestly cooperate with In restoring the peace
Of tho country and reconstructing the South
8rn State governments upon the basis of impartial
Justice and equal rights, received back into the
OF the loyal people; and favor the
of the dRqualicltons and restrictions i'm
posed upon the late rebels in the same measure as
The spirit of dsloyaty will die out and may be
istent with the safety of tho loyal people.
IA. That we recognize the great principles laid
Town in the immortal Declaration Of Independence,
is tho true foundation Of democratic government
md We hail with gladnoss every effort toward max.
ng these principles living reality on every inch of
American SOIL