Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-05-16
Liberal Republican Platform.

THE following is the platform adopted
by the recent National Liberal Republi-
can Convention at Cincinnati, and which
Convention nominated for President of
the United States, Horace Greeley, of
New York, and for Vice-President, B.
Gratz Brown, of Missouri:
The Administration now in power has rendered
itself guilty of a wanton disregard Of the laws of
the land, and Of powers not granted by the Consti
tuition. 1t has acted as II laws had binding force
only for those who are governed and not for those
who govern. 1t has thus struck blow at the fun
damental 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 notoriously corrupt
and unworthy men in places of power and respon-
sbility to the detriment of the public interest He
has used the public service of the Government as
machinery Of partisan and political influence, and
interfered with technical arrogance in the political
affairs of the States and municipalities. He has re-
warded with influential and lucrative offices men
who had acquired his favor by valuable presents,
thus stimulating the Generalization Of our poiti-
cal life by his conspicuous example de mas
posed upon him by the necessities of the country,
and culpably careless of the responsibilities oi
his high office. The partisans of the Administra-
ton, assuming to be the Republican party, and
controlling Its organization, have at.
such abuses. To the end of maintaining partisan
ascendency, they have stood in the way of neces
sary Investigations and indispensable reform, 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 advan
tages. They have resorted ID arbitrary measures
in direct conflict with the organic law instead oi
appealing to the better instincts, talent and pa
triotism of the Southern people by restoring i e
them those rights, the enjoyment of which ls indis
pensable for a 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 as justly
entitled to the confidence Of the nation by base
sycophancy to the dispenser Of Executive power
and patronage, unworthy of Republican freemen
They have sought to silence the voice Of just crit
ism, to stife the moral sense Of the people, and to
subiugate public opinion by tyrannical party dis.
cipline. They are striving to maintain themselves
in authority for selfish ends, by INSCRIPTIONS use o
the power which rightfully belongs to the people
and should be employed only in the service OF the
country Believing that an organization thus led
and controlled cannot longer be Of service TO the
best interests of the Republic, we have resolved to
make an independent appeal to the sober judg
ment, conscience and patriotism OF the American
people; therefore,
Resored, That we, the Liberal Republicans OF
the United statesi in National Convention assem-
bled at Cincinnati, proclaim the following princi
pies as essential to just government .
l. We recognize the equality OF men before the
ment, in its dealings with the people, to mete out
equal and exact justice to all OF whatever nativity
race, color or persuasion, religious or political
2. We pledge ourselves to maintain the law, the
union of these States, emancipation and enfran
chisement, and to oppose any reopening of the
questions settled by the Thirteenth, Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments Of the Constitution.
8. We demand the immediate and absolute
removal of all disabilities imposed on account oi
the rebellion, which was finally subdued seven
years ago, believing that universal amneety will
result in complete paciacation In all sections ol
4. Local self-goyernfnent, with impartial suf
frage, will guard the rights of all citizens mors
securely than any centralized power. The public
welfare requires the supremacy Of the civil over
military authority, and freedom of person under
the protection of the hd6edS corpus. We demand
for the individual the largest liberty consistent
with public order, for the State self-goyern
ment, and for the nation to return to the method;
OF peace and the constitutional limitations Ci
power.
5. The Civil Service Of the Government has be
come mere Instrument Of PARTISAN tyranny anS
1t is a scandal and a reproach upon free institu
tions, and breeds a Generalization dangerous to
the perpetuity of Republican Government
6. We therefore regard thorough reform Of the
Civil Service as one Of the most pressing necessi
ties of the hour; that honesty, capacity and fdel
ity constitute the only valid claims to public en-
pioyment that the offices Of Government cease to
be matter of arbitrary favoritism and patronage
and that public station shall become again the
post of honor To this end IL is imperatively re-
quired that no President shall be a candidate fol
reelection.
Z. We demand system of Federal taxation
which shall not necessarily interfere with the
industry Of the people. and which shall provide
the means necessary to pay the expenses Of the
Government, economically adm1n1stered-the pen
sions, the interest the public debt, and moder
ate annual reduction Of the principal thereof; and
recognizing that there are in our midst honest but
irreconcilable differences of opinion with regard
to the respective systems of Protection and Free
Trade we remit the discussion of the subject to
the people in their Congressional Districts, and
the decision of Congress thereon, wholly free OF
executive interference or dictation.
g. The public credit must be sacredly maintained
and we denounce reputation in every form and
guise.
9. A speedy return to specie payment is demand
ed alike by the highest considerations Of com
mercial morality and honest Government.
TO- We remember with gratitude the heroisn
and sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors of the Re
public, and act of ours shall ever detract from
their justly-earned fame or the full rewards oi
their patriotism.
II. We are opposed to all further grants Of land:
to railroads or other corporations The public
domain should be held sacred to actual settlers
IL. We hold that il is the duty of the Govern
ment, in its intercourse with foreign nations, tC
cultivate the friendships of peace by treating with
all fair and equal terms regarding it alike dis
honorable either to demand what is mot right, ol
to submit to what is wrong
13. For the promotion and success of the several
principles and support of the candidates nominated
by this Convention, we invite and cordially
welcome the cooperation of all patriotic citizens
without regard to previous political affiliations.