The semi-weekly Republican. (St. Francisville, La.) 1872-1872, 1872-10-22
Liberal Republican Platform.
ADDRESS AND DECLARATION OF pR1NCI-
Piles ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION OF
LIBERAL REPUBLICANS IN CINCINNATI
MAY Bird 1872.
THE ADDRESS.

disregard of the law of the land, and
has nsurped powers not granted by
the Constitution. 1t has acted as if
the laws had binding force only for
those who are governed, and for
those who govern. It has thus struck
q blow at the fundamental principles
Of constitutional government, and
the liberties OF the citizens.
The President OF the United States
has openly used the powers and e.
portunities Of lis high office for the
promotion OF personal eads. He
has KEEP, VIGOROUSLY corrupt aud I'M
worthy men il places OF power and
responsibility, to the detrimant of
the public interest. He has used the
public service Of the Government as
u machinery OF partisan and person.
ri influence, and ilteIfered with ty-
rannical arrogance III tue political
affairs of States and municipalities.
He has rewarded, with influential and
lucrative Offices men who had ac-
qnired his favor by valuable presents,
th"s stimulating generalization Of
our political hfe by his conspicuous
example. E,e has shown himself
deplorsbly unequal to the tasks inn
posed upon him by tie necessities Of
the country, and ca!pab.y careless Of
the responsibilities OF his high Of
fee. ...-.
The partisans OF the a,'ni:1ist1;,-
ton, assuming to he the Republican
party and controlling it's o'gauiz::.-
ton, have attempted TO Justify such
wrongs and pa!!i;'te such abuses, TO
the end OF maintaining party asce,l-
dancy. They have stood iii ,Ae way
Of necessary Investigations and III
dispensable reforms, pretending that
no serious fault could be found with
the present administration of public
affairs, thus seeking to blind the
eyes Of the people. They have kept
alive the passions and lesent,nents
Of the late civil war to use them for
their own advantage. They have
resorted to arbitrary measures, in
direct conflict with the organize law,
instead of appealing to the better
instincts and latent patriotism of the
Southern people by restoring to
them those rights the enjoyment Of
which is indispensable for a success
full administration of their local az
fairs, and would tend to move q pa
triotic and hopeful national feeling.
They have degraded themselves and
the name Of their party, once justly
entitled to the confidence Of the ma
ton, by base sycophancy to the
dispenser OF executive power and
patronage unworthy Of Republican
freemen. They sought to stitie the
voice of just criticism, to stifle the
moral sense of the people, and to
subjugate public opinion by tyran-
nical party discipline. They are
striving to maintain themselves in
authority for selfish ends by an I'M
scrupulous use of the power which
rightfully belongs to the people, aud
should be employed only in the ser
Aice of the country.
Believing that an organization
thus led and controlled can no long
er be of service to the best interests
of the republic, we have resolved to
make an independent appeal to the
sober Judgment, conscience, and pa
triotism of the American people.
THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
Therefore, we, the Liberal Repub-
licans of the United States, in Ma
tional Convention assembled at Gin
cinnati, proclaim the following prin-
ciples as essential to just Govern
ment
l. We recognize the equality of |
all men before the law, and hold
that it is the duty of Government il
its dealings with the people to lnete
out eqaul and exact instice to all, of
whatever nativity, race, color, or
persuation, religious Or political.
2. We pledge ourselves to MAIN
tain the Union of these States,
emancipation, and enfranchisemel4t,
and to oppose any reopening of the
questions settled by the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth amend
ments to the Constitution.
8. We demand the immediate
and absolute removal of all disabili-
lies imposed ON account. of the re-
bellion which was finally subdued
seven years ago, believing that uni
versal amnesty will result in COM
plete paci6cation in all sections Of
the country.
4. Local self-goyernment, with
impartial suffrage. will guard the
rights Of all citizens more securely
than any centralized power. The
public welfare requires the suprem-
scy of the civil over the military au-
r