The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-06-11

who proved their loyalty by obeying
the laws and dealing justly with their
neighbor; it has steadily decreased,
with firm hand, the sentiment and
discords of the great war and initiated
a wise policy towards the Indians.
The Pacific Railroad and similar vast
enterprises have been generally and
successfully conducted, the public
lands freely given to actual settlers
immigration protected and encouraged
and full Acknowledgement of natur-
allied citizens rights secured from
European powers; a uniform nation
al currency has been provided, repudi.
alton frowned down, the national cred.
1t sustained under most extraordinary
burdens, and new bonds negotiated at
lower rates the revenues have been
carefully collected and honestly ap.
pli2d, and despite the annual large re-
ductions in rates of taxation the public
debt has been reduced during General
Grants presidency at the rate of one
hundred million dollars year; great
financial crisis has been avoided and
peace and plenty prevail throughout
the land; menacing foreign difficulties
have been peacefully ana honorably
compromised, and the honor and pow
er of the nation kept in high respect
throughout the world. This glorious
record of the past is the party's best
pledge for the future, and we believe
the people will not entrust the govern
ment to any party or combination of
men who have resisted every step in
this beneficial progress.
2. Complete liberty and equal
equality and the enjoyment of all civ
il, political and public rights should
be established and effectually main
tanned throughout the Union by eff
cient and appropriate State and feder-
al legislation neither the law or its
administration should admit of any
discrimination in respect to citizens by
reason of race, creed, color, or previ-
GUS condition of servitude.
3. The recent amendments to the
national constitution should be cordial
ly sustained, because they are right
not merely tolerated because they are
a law-and should be carried out ac-
cording to their spirit by appropriate
legislation, the enforcement of which
can be safely entrusted only to the
party that secured these amendments.
4. The National Government should
seek to maintain an honorable peace
with all nations, protecting its citizens
everywhere, and sympathizing with all
who strive for greater liberty.
3. Any system Of civil service under
which subordinate positions of the
Government are considered rewards
for mere party zeal, is fatally demor-
alizing, and we therefore favor re-
form in the system of laws which shall
abolish the evils Of patronage and
make honesty, efficiency and fidelity
essential qualifications for public posi-
ton, without practically creating a life
tenure of office.
6. We are opposed to further grants
of public lands to corporations and
monopolies, and demand that the ma
tional domain be set apart for free
homes for the people.
Z. The annual revenues, after pay
ing current debts, should furnish a
moderate balance for the reduction of
the principal, and that revenue except
as much as may be derived from tax
on tobacco and liquors, be raised by
duties on importatons, the duties on
which should be so adjusted as to aid
in securing remunerative wages to la
Dor, and promote the industries, growth
and prosperity of the country.
s. We hold that in the undying
honor of the soldiers and sailors, whose
valor saved the Union. that their pen
sions are sacred debt of the nation,
and the widows and orphans of those
who died for their country are entitled
to the care of generous and grateful
people; we favor such additional leg
islation as will extend the bounty of
the Government to all our soldiers and
sailors who were honorably discharged,
and who in line Of duty became dis
abled, without regard to length of SER
vice or cause of such discharges.
8. The doctrine of Great Britain
and other European powers concern
ing allegiance, "Once subject, always
a subject" having at last through the
efforts of the Republican party been
abandoned, and the American idea of
individual right to transfer his allegi-
ance having been accepted by the Eu-
ropean nations, it is the duty of our
Government to guard with jealous
care the rights of adopted citizens
against assumption and unauthorized
claims by their former governments,
and We urge continual and careful en-
couragement and protection of volun-
tary immigration.
10. The franking privilege ought to
be abolished and the way prepared
for speedy reduction in the rates of
postage.
II. Among questions which press