The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-10-05

Liberal Repuh lican Platform.
| Address and Deolsrstiion Il Primo pies
Adopted 81 the 0ssyention Of Liberal
Rspublicana ii 0inoinnati, Nay 3rd,
1879.
The administration now ID power has rend-
cred itself guilty of wanton disregard Of the
laws 0f the land, and has usnrped powers
not granted By the Constitution. It has
acted Is ii the laws had binding force only
for those who are governed, and mot for those
the fundamental principle9b constitutional
government, and the liberties Of tho citizens.
The President of the Emitted States has
openly used the powers and opportunities of
Ills high Office for the promotion Of personal
ends. He has kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and
unworthy nien in places of power and re-
sponsilllity, te the detriment of the public
the Government as amaehinery Of partisan
and personal influence, md interfered with
tyrannicaf arrogance in the political affairs
Of States and municipalities He has re-
warJled with influential and lucrative Offices
men who had acquired his. favor by valuable
presents, thus stimulating demoralization of
our political life BY his conspicuous example.
He has shown himself deplorably unequal to
the tasks imposed upon him by tho necessi-
ties Of the country, and culpably careless of
the responsibilities of his high oflice
h The pQrtisans 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
vestigations and indispensable reforms, pre-
tending that no serious fault could be found
with the present administration Of public
affairs, thus seeking to bli,sd 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
resOrtad to arbitrary measures, in direct con-
fict 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 q 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 syco-
phnncy to the dispenser of executive power
and patronage unworthy of Republican FREQ
men. They sought to stiile the voice Of just
criticism, to stifle the moral sense of the peo-
pie, and to suhjugate public opinion by
tyrannical party discipline They are striv-
ing to maintain themselves in authority for
selfish ends by an interruptions use OF tie
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 can no longer be of service to the
best interests of the republic, we have re-
solved to make an independent appeal to the
SssS1f
OF the American people.
THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
Therefore. We, the Liberal Republicans of
the United States, in National Convention
assembled ut Cincinnati, proclaim the fol
ment:
i. We recognize the equality Of all men
before the law, and hold that it is the duty
of Government in its dealings with the pet,-
pie to mete out equal and exact Justice to ull,
of whatever nativity, race, color, or persua-
sion, religious or political.
2. 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.
5. We demand the immediate and abso-
lutte removal OF all disabilitiesimposcd on ac-
count of the rebellion which was finally SUBJ
dued seven years ago, believing that uni
yersal amnesty will result in complete paci-
fcAtiOn in all sections of the country.
4. Local selfgovernment, with impartial
suffrage, will gnara 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 Aabens corpus. We demand fer the in
dividual the largest liberty consistent with
public order, for the State sclEgoyelnment,
and for the nation q return to the methods of
peace and the constitutional limitations of
mower.
S. The civil service Of the Government has
become q mere instrument Of partisan tyr
amy and personal ambition, and an object
OF selfish greed. 1t is a scandal and reproach
upon free institutions, and breeds democrat
i1ation dangerous to the perpetuity Of repub-
lcan government. WethcrefOre 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 Governments
cease to be a matter of arbitrary fnvOritism
and patronage, and that public station be-
come again post of honQr. To this end it
is imperativelx required that no President
shall be candidate for reelection.
.. We demand q 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-
mically administered; the pensions, the in
terest on the public debt, and a 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
eussion Of the subject to the people, in their
Congressional districts, and to the decision
Of Congress thereon, wholly free of Execu-
tive interference or dictation.
Z: The public credit must be saeredly
maintained, and we denounce reputation in
every form and guise.
8. A steady return to specie payment is
demanded alike by the highest considera-
lions 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