Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-05-10
The Cincinnati Platform.

Notwithstanding the CINCINNATI LAD
eral Republicans" find SO much faul
with the. national union republican or
ganization, they found it convenient Il
borrow, outside of their glittering gen
eralities," almost entirely from the rec
ord of the republican party, the timber
for their platform, as follows;
We, the Liberal Republicans of tn,
United States, in National Convention
assembled at Cincinnati, proclaim the
following principles as essential to JUS
government
First: We recognize the equality o.
all men before the law, and hold that il
is the duty of Government in its deal
iugs with the people to mete out equal
and exact justice to all OF whatever ma
tivity, race, color, or persuasion, relig
ious or political.
Second We pledge ourselves to main
! tain the union of the States, emancipa
ton and enfranchisement, and to oppose
any reopening of the questions settled
by the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fiji
teenth Amendments to the Constitution
Third: We demand the immediate
and absolute removal of all disabilities
imposed on account of the Rebellion
which was finally subdued seven years
ago, believing that universal amnesty
will result in complete qualifications in
all sections of the country.
Fourth Local selfgovernment, 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 babe.
as corpus. We demand for the individ
ual the largest liberty consistent with
public order; for the State, selfgovern,
ment, and for the nation return to the
methods of peace and the constitutional
limitations of power.
Fifth: The Civil Service of the gov
eminent has become a mere instrument
Of partisan tyranny and personal ambi
ton and an object of selfish greed. 1t
scandal and reproach upon free insti
tutions and breeds decentralization dan.
gerous to the perpetuity of republican
government We therefore regard such
thorough reforms of the Civil Service as
one of the most pressing necessities of
the hour; that honesty, capacity and
fidelity constitute the only valid claim
to public employment that the offices
of the Government cease to be matter
of arbitrary favoritism and patronage,
and that public station become again a
post of honor. To this end it is imper
atively required that no President shall
be candidate for reelection.
Sigth: We demand system of Fede
raj taxation which shall not unnecessa
rily interfere with the industry of the
people, and which shall provide the
means necessary to pay the expenses O
the government economically admins
tered, the pensions, the interest on tn,
public debt, anda moderate reduction an
nually of the principal thereof; and, rec
ognizing thatth arein ourmidst homes
but irreconcilable differences of opinion
with regard to the respective systems o
Protection and Free Trade, we remit th
discussion of the subject to the people il
their Congress Districts, and to the de
cision of Congress thereon, wholly fire,
of Executive interference or dictation.
Seventh The public credit must be sa
credly maintained, and we denounce re
pudiation in every form and guise.
Eighth: A speedy return to speci,
payment is demanded alike by the high
est considerations of commercial moral
ity and honest government.
Nanth: We remember with gratitude
the heroism and sacrifices of the soldier
and sailors of the Republic, and no &C
OF ours shall ever detract from thei
justly earned fame or the full reward O.
their patriotism.
Tenth: We are opposed to all furthe
grants of lands to railroads or other cor
porations. The public domain should
be held sacred to actual settlers.
Eleventh.: We hold that it is the dut,
of the Government, in its intercours'
with foreign nations, to cultivate the
friendship of peace, by treating with al
on fair and equal terms, regarding il
alike dishonorable either to demand wha
is not right, or to submit to what il
wrong.
TgeIth, For the promotion and sue
cess of these vital principles and the sup
port of the candidates nominated by
this Convention, we invite and cordially
welcome the cooperation of all patriot
ic citizens, without regard to previous
affiliations.