The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-06-12

decrced equal the citizenship OF all
and established universal suffrage
In exhibition Of unparalleled magma.
nimity it criminally punished no man
for political offenses, and warmly wei
coined all who proved their loyalty
by obeying the laws and dealing just.
ly with their neighbors. 1t has stead
! lily decreased with firm hand the
resultant diseords ofwar, and initiated
wise policy towards the Indians.
The Pacific Railroad and similar vast
enterprises have been generally aided
and successfully conducted, the public
lands freely given to actual settlers
immigration protected and encouraged
and a full acknowledgements of natur
allied citizens rights, secured from
European powers A uniform nation
al currency has been provided, repu
diation frOwped down, the national
credit sustained under the most ex.
traOrdiany burdens, and new bonds
negotiated at lower rates. The reve.
nues have been carefully collected and
honestly applied: despite the annual
large reductions of the rates of taxa.
tion, the public debt has been reduced
during Gen. Grants presidency at the
rate of one hundred million dollars a
year. A great financial crisis has
been avoided, and peace and plenty
prevail throughout the land mena-
cing foreign difficulties have been
peacefully and honOrably compro-
missed, and the honor and power OF
the nation kept in high respect
throughout the world This glorious
record of the past is the party's best
pledge for the future. We believe
the people will not entrust the gov
ernment to any party or combination
of men composed chiefly of those who
have resisted every step of this bcne-
fetal progress.
Second. Complete liberty and ex-
act equality in the enjoyment of all
civil, political and public rights should
be established and effectually main
tanned throughout the Union by eff
cient and appropriate State and Fed
craI Legislation. Neither the law nor
its administration should admit of any
discrimination in respect to citizens
by reason race, creed, color or previ-
Gus condition of servitude.
Third. The recent amendments to
the National Constitution should be
cordially sustained, because they are
right; not merely tolerated because
they are law, and should be carried
out according to their spirit by appro-
pirate legislation, the enforcement OF
which can be safely trusted only to
the party that secured these amend
ments.
Fourth. The National Govern
ment should seek to MAINTAIN an hon.
honorable peace with all nations, pro-
tecting its citizens everywhere, and
sympathising with all people who
strive for greater liberty.
Fifth. Any system of civil service
under which the subordinate positions
of the government are considered re-
wards for mere party zeal is fatally
demOralizing, and we therefore favor
a reform in the system, by laws which
ehall abolish the evils of patronage,
and make honesty, efficiency and f.
deity essential qualifications for pub
lie position, without practically crea-
ting a life tenure of Office
Sirh. We are opposed to further
grants of public lands to corporations
end monopolies, and demand the ma
tional domain be set apart for free
homes for the people.
SeUenth The annual revenue, af-
ter paying current expenditures pen
sions and the interest on the public
debt, should furnish q moderate bal
ance for the reduction of the principal
and the revenue, except so much as
may be derived from a tax upon to-
bacco and liquors, be raised by duties
upon importatiOns, the duties of which
should be so adjusted as to aid in Sc
curing remunerative wages to labor
and promote the industries, prosperity
and growth of the whole country.
Eighth. We hold in undying hon
or the soldiers and sailors whose valor
saved the Union; their pensions are
sacred debt of the nation, and the
widows and orphans of those who
died for their country are entitled to
the care of a generous and grateful
people. We favor such additional
Legislation as will extend the govern
ment to all our soldiers and sailors
who were honorbly discharged, and
who in the line of duty became disa-
bled, without regard to length of SER
vice or cause of such discharge
Ninth. The doctrine of Great
Britain and other European powers
concerning allegiance-once sub
ject always a subject-having at last
through the efforts of the Republican
party been abandoned and the Amer
lean idea of an individuals right to
transfer his allegiance having been
accepted by European nations, it is
the duty of our government to guard
with jealous care the rights of ad-
opted citizens against the assumption
ofunauthOrized claims by former gov
ernments, and we urge continual and
careful encouragement and protection
to voluntary immigration.
Tenth. The franking privilege
ought to be abolished, and the way
prepared for a speedy reduction in the
rates of postage
Eleventh. Among the questions
which press for attention is that which
concerns the relations of capital and
labor, and the Republican party rec
ognize the duty of so changing legis-
lation as afford full protection and
the amplest field for capital, and for
labor, the creator of capital, the larg-
est opportunities and just share of
the mutual profits of these two great
servants of civilization
Tuelfh. We hold that Congress
and the President have only fulfilled
an imperative duty in their measures
for the suppression of violent and
reasonable organizations in certain
lately rebellious regions, and for the
protection of the ballott-bOx, and
therefore they are entitled to the
thanks of the nation,
Thirteenth. We denounee repudia-
ton of the public debt in any form
or disguise as a national crime, wit