The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-08-17
Liberal Republican Platform.
Address and Declaration of Principles
Adopted by the Convention of Liberal
Republicans in Cincinnati, May Bird
1872.


! 1872.
THE ADDRESS.
The administration now in power has rend-
cred itself guilty of wanten disregard of the
laws of the land, and has usurped 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 a 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 VIGOROUSLY corrupt and
unworthy men in places of power and re-
| sponsibility, to the detriment of the public
| interest He has used the public service of
the Government as Il machinery of partisan
| and personal influence, and interfered with
tyrannical arrogance i'll the political affairs
| of States and municipalities He has re-
warted 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.
He has shown himself deplorably unequal to
the tasks imposed upon him by the necessi-
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 eolas
trolling its organization, have attempted to
justify such wrongs and palliate such abuses,
TO the end OF maintaining party aseendancy.
They have stood in the way of necessary in
vestigations and indispensa BILE reforms, pre-
tending that no serious fault could be found
with the present administration of public
affairs, thus seeking to blind the eyes of the
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, in direct con-
fiict 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 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
the confidence OF the nation, by a base syeo-
phancy to the dispenser of executive power
and patronage unworthy of Republican free
men. They sought to stifle the voice of Just
criticism, to stitie the moral sense of the PEG
pie, and to subjugate public opinion by
tyrannical party discipline They are striv-
ing TO maintain themselves in authority for
selfish ends by an INSCRIPTIONS use of the
power which rightfully belongs to the people.
and should be employed only in the service
of the country.
Relieving 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 tho
sober judgment, conscience, and patriotisul
of the American people
THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
Therefore. we, the Liberal Republicans of
the United States, in National Convention
assembled at Cincinnati, proclaim the fol-
lowing principles as essential to Just Govern
ment
l. We recognize the equality of all men
before the law, and hold that it is the duty
of Government in its dealings with the peo-
pie to mete out equal and exact Justice to all,
OF whatever nativity, race, color, or persua-
sion, religious or political
= We pledge ourselves to maintain the
Union of these States, emancipation, and en-
reimbursement, and to oppose any reopening
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 ae-
count OF the rebellion which was finally sub
dued seven years ago, believing that nni-
yersal amnesty will result i'll complete paci-
fication in all sections of the country.
a. Local selfgoyernment, 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 over the military authority and
freedom of person under the protection of
the habeds corpus. We demand for the in.
diyitlual the largest liberty consistent with
public order, for the State selfgovernment.
and for the nation u return to the methods of
peace and the constitutional limitations of
power.
s. The civil service of the Government has
become a mere instrument of partisan tyr
amy and personal ambition, and an object
OF selfish greed. 1t is scandal and reproach
upon free institutions, and breeds democrat
ization dangerous to the perpetuity Of repub-
lican government. We therefore regard such
thorough reforms of civil service as are Of
the most pressing necessities of the hour;
that honesty. capacity, and fidelity consti-
tute the only valid claims to public employ
ment; that the offices of the Government
cease to be a matter of arbitrary fayoritisnl
and patronage, and that public station be-
come again post of honor. To this end iJ
is imperatively required that no President
shall be candidate for reelection.
8. We demand system of Federal tax
alton which shall not unnecessarily inter-
fere with the industry of the people, and
which shall provide the means necessary to
pay the expenses of the Government eeono-
mieally administered; the pensions, the in
terest on the public debt, and q moderate re-
duction annually of the principal thereof;
and, recognizing that there are in our midst
honest but irreconcilable differences of opin-
ions with regard to the respective systems of
protection and free trade, we remit the dis
cussion of the subject to the people, in their
Congressional districts, and to the decision
of Congress thereon, wholly free of Exccu-
tive interference or dictation
z. The public credit must be sacretlly
maintained, and We denounec reputation in
every form and guise.
8. A steady return to specie payment is
demanded alike by the highest considera-
tons OF commercial morality and honest