The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-08-31
Liberal Republican Platform.
Address and Declaration of Principles
+. Adopted by the Convention of Liberal
Republicans in Cincinnati, May Ord,
1879.
THE ADDRESS,

1872.
THE ADDRESS.
The administration now in power has rend-
cred itself guilty of want0n 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 notoriolisly 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 a machinery of partisan
and personal influence, and interfered with
| tyrannical arrogance i'll 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 necess-
ties Of the country, and eulpably 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 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
designations and Indispensable 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-
| t1ict 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 Il 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 a base syco-
| phancy to the dispenser of executive power
and patronage unworthy of Republican free
| men, They sought to stifle the voice Of Just
criticism, to stifie the moral sense of the peO-
pie, and to subjugate public opinion by
/ tyrannieal party discipline. They are striv-
ing to maintain themselves in authority for
selfish ends by an INSCRIPTIONS use Of the
power which rightfitlly 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, in National Convention
| assembled at Cincinnati proclaim the fol-
lowing principles as essential to just Govern
ment:
|. We recognize the equality of all men
before the law, and hold that it is the duty
IL
pie to mete ont 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-
franchisement, and to oppose any reopeuing
of the questions settled by the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments to
the Constitution.
3. We demand the immediate and abso-
lutte removal of all disabilities imposed OH ac-
count of the rebellion which was finally sub
tued seven years ago, believing that uni
versal amnesty will result in complete paci-
fcatiOn in all sections of the country.
4. 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 habeas corpus. We demand for the in
public order, for the State sclfgovernment,
and for the nation a return to the methods of
peace and the constitutional limitations of
power
5. 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 Il scandal and reproach
| upon free institutions. and breeds a democrat
ization dangerous to the perpetuity of repub-
hcan 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 matter of arbitrary favoritism
and patronage, and that public station be-
come again Il post of honor. To this end it
| is imperatively required that no President
shall be a candidate for reelection.
g. 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-
mieally administered; the pensions, the in
terest on the public debt, and 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
cllssion 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.
Z. The public credit must be sacrelly
maintained, and we denounce reputation in
every form and guise.
s. A steady return to specie payment is
demanded alike by the highest considera-
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, OF 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.
II. We hold that it is the duty of the Gov
eminent, in its intercourse with foreign ma
tions, to cultivate the friendship of peace, by
treating with al on fair and equal terms, re-
garding it alike dishonorablc either to de-
mand what is not right, or to submit to what
is wrong.
y. For the promotion and success of these