The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-06-15
Liberal Republican Platform.
Address and Declaration of Principles
Adopted by the Convention Of Liberal
Republicans in Cincinnati, May Bird,
1872.

|
cred itself guilty of wanton 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 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 nigh 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
l the Government as a machinery of partisan
and personal influence, and interfered with
tyrannieal 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
! He 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 aud con-
trolling its organization, have attempted TO
justify such wrongs and palliate such abuses.
| to the end OF maintaining party ascendancy.
/ They have stood in the way of necessary in
/ NCottSalioAS anu iAtllSpcHSdDlc feIOfDlS. 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
u patriotic and hopeful national feeling.
They have degraded themselves and the
maine of their party, once justly entitled to
the confidence of the nation, by a base sye0-
phaney to the dispenser of executive power
and patronage unworthy of Republican free
men. They sought to stife the voice of Just
criticism, to stifie the moral sense of the peo-
pie, and to subiugate 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 riglitfully 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,
TIE 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 theslaw, and hold. that it is the duty
of Government in its dealings with the peo-
pie to nete out equal aud exact Justice to all.
of whatever nativity, race, color, or persna-
sion, religious or political.
9. We pledge ourselves to maintain the
Union of these States, emancipation, and ell
reimbursement, and to oppose any reopcning
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 ac-
count of the rebellion which was finally sub
dued seven years ago, believing that uni
yersal amnesty will result in complete paci-
fication i'll all sections of the country.
A. Local self-goyernment, 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 hftbecS corpus. We demand for the in
divitlual the largest liberty consistent with
public order, for the State selEgoverIment
and for the nation Il return to tile 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 an object
| OF selfish greed. 1t is scandal and reprOach
upon free institutions, and breeds a democrat
| ization dangerous to the perpetuity of repab
| liean government. Wetherefore regard such
| thorough reforms of civil service as are of
Of
| that honesty, capacity, and fidelity consti-
| tute the only valid claims to public employ
| ment; that the offices of the Government
cease to be matter of arbitrary filvoritisal
and patronage, and that public station be-
come again u post of honor. To this end it
is imperatively required that no President
shall be a candidate for reelection.
q. 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, econo-
Inically administered the pensions, the in
terest on the public debt, and a moderate re-
duetion 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 EXeclI-
tive interference or dictation.
T. The public credit must be sacretily
maintained, and we denounce Reputation in
every form and guise.
s. A steady return to specie payment is
demanded alike by the highest eonsidera-
tons of commercial morality and honest
government
9. We remember with gratitude the hero
ism and sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors
of the republic, and no act of ours shall ever
detract from their justly-earned fame, or the
full reward of their patriotism.
10. We are opposed to all further grants of
lands to railroads or other corporations.
The public domain should be held sacred to
actual settlers.
H. We hold that it is the duty of the Gov
ernment in its intercourse with foreign ma
TONS to cultivate the friendship of peace, by
| treating with all ON fair and equal terms, re-
| garding it alike dishonorable either to de
lnand what is not right, or to submit to what
| is wrong.
/ II. For the promotion and success of these
vital principles and the support of the can
didates nominated by this Convention, We
invite and cordially welcome the co-opera
ton of all patriotic citizens without regard
| TO previous affiliations.