The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-08-10
Liberal Republican PLATFORM.
Address and Declaration of Principles
Adopted by the Convention of Liberal
Republicans in Cincinnati, May Bird
1872,

Adopted by the Convention of Liberal
Republicans in Cincinnati, May Bird
1872.
THE ADDRESS.
The administration now in power has rend.
cred itself guilty of wanton disregard of the
laws OF the land, and has usurped powers
not granted by the Constitution. Ii has
acted as it the laws had binding force only
ior those who are governed, and not for those
VINO 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
hls high office for the promotion of personal
ends. he has kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and
unworthy men IN places of power and re-
sponsibility, to the detriment of the nnbIic
interest. He has used the public service of
the Government as machinery of partisan
ana personal influence, and interfered with
tyrannlcal arrogance in the political affairs
OF States and municipalities. He has re-
Warded with influential and lucrative Offices
men who had acquired his favor by valuable
presents thus stimulating decentralization of
our political life by his conspicuous EXAMPLE.
ne mas shown himself deploraEly unequal to
the tasks imposed upon him by the neeessi-
tles OF the country, and culpably, careless of
the responsibilities of his high Office.
Inc paftsans of the administration, as
|
| ironing ITS organization, have attempted to
JUSTIFY such wrongs and palliate such abuses
10 10 Inc END OF maintaining party ascendancy.
They have stood in the way of necessary IN
designations and Indispensable reforms, pre-
tending that no serious fault could be fonna
Win the present administration of public
aAalrs, thus seeking to blind the ewes of the
people. They have kept alive the passions
anu resentnlents of the late civil war TO use
them Tor their own advantage They have
resorted to arbitrary measures in direct CON
met with the organic law, instead of appeal-
ing TO the better instincts and latent patriot
ism OF the Southern people by restoring tn
them those rights the enjoyment of which is
indispensable for successful administration
OF Their local affairs, and would tend TO move
q patriotic and hopeful national feeling
They have degraded themselves and the
name OF their party, once justly entitled to
inc commence OF the nation, by a base syco-
phancy TO the dispenser of executive power
ana patronage unworthy of Republican free
men, They sought to stifie the voice of Just
criticism, to stlfie the moral sense of the Deo-
pie, and to suhiugate public opinion by
tyrslnincal party discipline. They are striy
lnS 10 MAINTAIN themselves in authority for
selilsh eEtls by an unscrupllous use of the
power which rightfully belongs to the people.
and shonld be employed only in the service
of the country.
believing That's an Organization thus led and
controlled can no longer be of service to the
Dest interests OF the republic, we have re-
solved to make an independent appeal to tho
sober judgment, conscience, and patriotism
OF the American people
THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
Therefore We the Liberal Republicans of
the United States, in Nationyl Conventions
assembled Mt Cincinnati proclaim the fol-
lowing principles as essential to just Govern
meilt
!. We recognize the equality of all men
before the law, and hold that 1t is the duty
OF government IN its dealings with the pea-
pie to mete out equal and cxae. Justice to all,
OF whatever nativity, race, color, or pers,ia,
sion, religious or political
= We pledge ourselves to maintain the
Union OF these States, emancipation, and en-
and to oppose any reopeuing
OF the questions settled by the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments 10
the Constitution A
8. We demand the immediate and abso-
lutte removal of all disabilities imposed ON ac-
count OF the rebellion which was finally sub
dued seven years sgo, believing that uni
yersai amnesty will result in complete paci,
heat1on IN all sections of the country.
4. Local self-governme2t, with imnar4ial
suffrage, will guard the rights of all citizens
more securely than any centralized power.
The public welfare requires the supremacy
OF the civil over the military authority, and
irettlom Vi person under the protection of
the hGbeds corpus. We demand for the In
dividual the largest liberty consistent with
public order, Tor the State selfgeyernment,
and for the nation return to the methods of
peace and the constitutional limitations of
power.
s. The civil service of the Government has
become mere instrument of partisan tyr,
amy and personal ambition, and am object
Df selfish greed. 1t is a scandal and feproaeb
upon free institutions and breeds a democrat
cation dangerous to the perpetuity of repub-
bean government. Wetherefore regard such
thorough reforms of civil service as are of
Ihe most pressing necessities of the hour;
that honesty. capacity, and fidelity consti-
tute the only valid claims to public empIoy
ment; that the offices OF the Government
cease to be q matter of arbitrary fayoritism
and patronage, and that public station be-
come again post of honor. To this end IL
s inperatively required that no President
shall be a candidate for reelection.
8. We demand system of Federal tax
ltion which shall not unnecessarily inter
ere with the industry of the people. and
which shall provide the means necessary to
pay the expenses of the. Government, eeono-
nically administered; tlle pensions, the IN
crest on the public debit and a moderate re-
iuction annually of the principal thereof:
md, recognizing that there are in our midst
lnnest but irree0ncilable differences of otin
ons with regard to the respective systems OR
protection and free trade, we remit the dis
,rlssioil OF the subject to the people, in their
districts, and to the decision
It Congress thereon, wholly free of Exeeu-
i've Interference or dictatioI.
q The public credit must be sacredly
and We den0unce Reputation iii
very form and guise.
O. steady return to specie payment is
demanded alike by tho highest CONSIDERS
ions of commercial morality and honest
9. We remember with gratitude the hero
SIN and sacrifices OF the soldiers and suffers
t the republic, and no act of ours shall ever
etraet from their justly fame, or the
ull reward OF their patriotism
10. We are opposed to all further grants of
ands to railroads or other corporations.
The public domain should be held sacred to
ctual settlers.
IL. We hold that it is the duty of file Gov
Ill its intercourse with foreign ma
ions, to cultivate the friendship of peace, by
reatIng with all on fair and equal terms, re-
arding it alike dishonorable either to de-
land what is not right, or to submit to what
wrong.
Es,ts fi,n, !