Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-10-31
What we are COndending for. The
CINCINNATI and Baltimore Platform.

Perhaps the tissues or principles
which are at stake in the pending Pres,
idontill canvass, can be no better stat
ed than by giving the Platform adopt,
ed at Cincinnati in May last, and re
adopted at Baltimore July 10, which
we rc-publish below for that purpose
No one who will read this noble and
patriotic platform OF principles, need
be ignorant If the measures involved
in this campaign, now so nearly closed.
They are as tollowes;
|. We recognized the equality of
men before the law, and hold that it
i, the duty of the Government, in Its
dcalingS with the people, to mete out
cqull and exact justice to all, Of what
ever uatyi y, race color or persuasion,
religious or political.
2. We pIedga ourselves to maintlin
the law, the union Of these States,
emancipation and enfranchisemont, and
to oppose any reopening Of the qucs-
tons settled by the Thirteenth, Four
tecnth, and Fifteenth Amendments of
the Constitution,
3. We Demand the Immediate and
absolute removal of all diSabilitie; i'm
posed on account Of the rebellion,
which was finally subiued seven years
AFRO, believing that universal amnesty
will result in complete paciiication in
all sections Of the country,
t. Local self government, with inn
partial suffrage. will guard the rights
Of alI citizens more securely than any
centralized power The public welfare
requires the supremacy Of the civil
over the military authority and free
dom Of person under the protection OF
the h0bcas corpus. We demand for
the individual the largest liberty con
siNcnt with public ORDER tor the State
self goy~muent. and for the nation Il
return to the methods OF peace and
the constitutional limitations of pow
er.
5. The Civil Service of the GOV
eminent has become a mere instrument
Of partisan tyranny and personal am
bitioa and an object of selfish greed.
ltisa sclDdal and a reproach upon
free institutions and breeds demoral
i2ltion dangerous to the pcrpetuity of
Il Republican Government.
G. We therefore regard a thorough
reform Of the Civil Service as one of
the most pressing necessities of the
hour; that honesty, capacity, and tidel-
ity constitute the only valid claims to
public employment; that the officer of
Government cease to be matter OF
arbitrary tavoritiSm and patronage, and
tha' pabIi: station shah become again
the post of honor 70 this end it is
imperativcly required that no Presi-
dent shall be candidate ior re-elec
ton.
l. We demanda system OF Federal
taNltlon Wmcl shall not unnecessarily
interfere with the industry Of the peo-
pie, AMI which shall provide the means
necessary to pay the expenses Oh 'he
Government CconomicaIy Administered
--!he PENSIONS the interest Oh P"Dl'c
DEBT a"d Il moderate an''uai reouc'loh
OF the Prhcip'e 'hereol; ana recogn'z-
lng there are III Our m'dst honest out
lIrtc'nc.Iao e difference oil opinion VITA
Legad to the respective systems OF
iro'crUoH an" rtee lrdue, we reliil'
the discussion OF the SUBJECT 10 the
people III Their congressional Dis'rlc'S'
and the discussion OF 'on9reSS mere
OH VINO y Iree from executive ln'"r1er-
ence or olcta'loa'
:. Inc puoIlc credit must oe sacred
" malnjtlheu anu we dehounce rePu-
'la'l - III every Ioriii ann SulSt'
9, y speedy return to specie pay
meni - demanded alike by the highest
considerations OF comeic'al morailty
and honest Government
10 we remember with gratitude
the hrr2lim and Sacr'ice' OF the SoId,
lerS and sailors OF the kepuollc, ana
.'pil J"It'I y vai"e,' :n,''o VI ''' '''' IL
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