The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-07-06
Liberal Republican Platform.
Address and Declaration Of Principles
Adopted by the Convention Of Liberal
Republicans in Cincinnati, May 3rd
1872.
THE ADDRESS.

1872.
THE ADDRESS.
The administration now in power has rend-
cred itself guilty of wanton disregard of the
laws of the land, and has usnlped powers
not granted by the Constitution 1t has
acted as if the laws had binding force only
for those who are governed, and not for those
who govern. 1t has thus struck blow at,
the fundamental principles of constitutional
government, and the liberties OF the citizens.
The President of the United States has
openly used the powers and opportunities of
his high office for the promotion of personal
ends. He has kept notoriously corrupt and
unworthy men in places of power and re-
sponsibIilty, to the detrment of the public
interest. He has used the public service of
the Government as machinery of partisan
and personal influence, and interfered with.
tXrannleal arrogance in the political affairs
OF States and municipalities He has re-
wlrtled with influential and lucrative offices
inen who had acquired his favor BY valuable
presents, thus stimulating decentralization of
our political life by his conspicuous example.
lie has shown himself deplorably unequal TO
the tasks imposed upon him by the neeessi-
ties of the country, and culpably careless of
the responsibilities of his high office.
The partisans of the administration as
Stunning to be the Republican party and con-
trolling its organization, have atte1npted to
justify such wrongs and palliate such abuses.
TO the end OF maintaining party ascendancy.
1hey nave stood IN the way of necessary in4
yestlgatlons and indispensable reforms pre-
tending that no serious fault could be found
with the present administration of pUlllie
affairs, thus seeking to blind the eyes of tho
people. They have kept alive the passions
and resentments of the late civil war to use
them for their own advantage. They have
resorted to arbitrary measures, i'll direct col,-
flct with the organic law. instead of appeal
ing to the better instincts and latent patriot
ism of the Southern people by restoring to
them those rights the enjoyment of which is
Indispensable for a successful administration
OF their local affairs, and would tend to move,
a patriotic and hopeful national feeling.
They have degraded themselves and the
name of their party, once justly entitled to
the confidence of the nation. by u base syco-s
pancy TO the dispenser of executive pewer
and patronage unworthy of Republican free
men. They sought to stifie the voice of lust
criticism, to stifie the moral sense of the peo-
pie, and to suhiugate public opinion by
tyrannieal party discipline. They are striv-
ing to maintain themselves in authority for
selfish ends by an INSCRIPTIONS nse of the
power which riglltfully belongs to the people.
and should be employed only in the service
of the country
believing that an organization thus led and
controlled can no longer be of service to the
best interests of the republic we have re-
solved to make an independent appeal to the
sober Judgment, conscience, and patriotism
OF the American people,
THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
Therefore, We, the Liberal Republicans of
the United States, i'll National Convention
assembled Mt Cincinnati. proclaim the fol-
lowing principles as essential to just Govern
nent:
XJ-a poooon;,a +Io o,,,,aI;+x, ,f III
before the law, and hold that it is the duty
of Government in its dealings with the PEG
pie to meto out equal and exact Justice to all.
of whatever nativity, race, color, or persua-
sion, religious or political. as.
2. We pledge ourselves to maintain the
Union of these States, emancipation, and en-
reimbursement, and to oppose any reopeuinr
of the questions settled by the Thirteenth.
Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments to
the Constitution.
g. We demand the immediate and abso-
lutte removal of all disabilities imposed ON act
count of the rebellion which was finally sub
dued seven years ago, believing that uni
yers;,l amnesty will result i'll complete paci-
fication III all sections Of the country
4. Local seltgov6Innent, with Impartial
suffrage. will guard the rights of all citizens
more securely than any centralized power
The public welfare requires the supremacy
of the civil ever the military authority. and
freedom of person under the protection of
the habeGs corpus. We demand for the IN
dividual the largest liberty consistent with
public order, for the State selEgovernment,
and for the tuition return to the methods of
peace and the constitutional limitations of
power. 4 f.E3f
). The civil service of the Government has
become mere instrument OF partisan tyr
amy and personal ambition and an object
of selfish greed. 1t is IL scandal land rcmuach
upon free institutions, and breeds denoFal-
ization dangerous to the perpetuity of repuh-
lican government. Wethereforc regard such
thorough reforms of civil service as are of
the most pressing necessities of tho hour;
that honesty, capacity, and fidelity eonsti-
tute the only valid claims to public employ
nent; that the, offices of the Government
cease to be matter of arbitrary filveiitisni
and patronage, and that public station be-
come again u post OF honor. To this end il
is impcratively required that no President
shall he candidate for reelection.
D. We demand a system of Federal tax
alton winch shall not unnecessarily inter
fere with the industry of the people, and
which shall provide the means necessary to
pay the expenses OF tie government, econo-
inically administered the peilsions, the M
terest Oh the public debt, and p moderate re-