The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-06-25
National Liberal Republican Plat
form Adopted at Cincinnati, May
Sd, 1879.
A Platform Opposed to Bayo-
nets, Robbery and Corrup-
ton.

nets, Robbery and Corrup-
ton.
The following is the Liberal Republi
can Platform and it is SO framed that
every honest, patriotic citizen, Demo.
cratic or Republican can endorse, and
work for the triumph of its principles
in November next:
We, the Liberal Republicans of the
United States, in National Convention
assembled at Cincinnati, proclaim the
following principles as essential to just
government.
| l. We recognize the equality of al
before the law, and hold that it is the
duty of Government in its dealings with
the people,to mete out equal I'd exact
justice to all Of whatever nativity, race
color or persuasion, religious or polite
81.
2. We pledge ourselves to maintain
the Union of the States, emancipation
and enfranchisement, and oppose any
reopcning of the questions settled by
the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments to the Constitution.
3. We demand immediate and abso
lutte removal of all disabilities imposed
on account of the rebellion, which was
finally subdued seven years ago, be-
lieving that universal amnesty will re.
suit in complete paciGcation in all sec
tons of the country.
4. Local self-government, with i'm
partial suffrage, will guard the rights ot
all citizens more securely than. any cen.
tralized power The public svelfare re.
quires the supremacy Of the civH ore,
the military authority, and the freedom
Of person under the protection OF the ha
beas corpus We demand for the indi-
vidual the largest liberty consistent with
the public order, for the state self gov
ernment and for the Nation to return
to the methods of peace and the consti
tutional limitations of power
3. The civil service of Government
has become mere instrument of par.
tisan tyranny and personal ambition
and an object of selfish greed 1t is &
scandal and reproach upon free .institu
tions, and breeds decentralization dan
gerous to the prosperity of Republican
Government.
6. We therefore regard a thorough
reform of the civil service as one of thu
most pressing necessities of the hour
that honesty, capacity ard fidelity con
stitute the only valid claims to public
employment; that the offices of thu
Government cease to be q matter Of ar
hitrary favoritism and patronage, and
that public stations become again pos
Of honor. To this end it is imperative
ly required that no President shall be s
candidate for reelection.
Z, we demand system of Federal tax.
alton which will not unnecessarily inter
fere with the industry of the people, an
shall provide sufficient means to pay
the expenses of the Government, econ
omically administered, pensions, and
the interest on the public debt, and 6
moderate annual reduction of the prin-
cipal thereof; but recognizing the exist
ence in our midst of honest bat irrecon
ciliable differences of opinion upon the
merits of the respective systems of pro
lection 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 from Executive interference or die
tation.
s. The public credit must be sacredly
maintained, and we denounce repudia
ton in every form and guise. 80.
g. A speedy return to specie payment
is demanded alike by the highest con
sidcrations Of commercial morality and
honest government.
10. We remember with gratitude the
heroism AMI sacrif fees of the soldiers
and sailors of the Republic, and no act
of ours shall ever detract from theil
justly earned fame or the full rewards
of their patriotism.
IL. We are opposed to all further
grants to railroads or other corpora
tons. The public domain should be
held sacred to actual settlers.
12 We hold that it is the duty of the
Government in its intercourse with for
eign nations to cultivate the friendship
of peace by treating with all on fair and
equal terms, regarding it alike dishon,
III ! 49, ~
right or to submit to what is wrong.
13. For the promotion and success
of these vital principles, and the sup
port of the candidates nominated by this
Co nvention, we invite and cordially wei
co me the cot peration of all patriotic
citizens, without regard to previous po
litical affiliations.