The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-06-22
Liberal Republican Platform.
Address and Declaration Of Principles
Adopted by the Convention Of Liberal
republicans in Cincinnati, May 3rd,
THE ADDRESS

q NY Sraited by the Constitution. 1T ha
. acted as II the laws had binding force onI,
10h .nose VINO are governed, and not for thos
VINO govern. 1t has thus struck a bloy. a
the fundamental principles OF constitution
government; and the liberties of the citizeps
i me PRESIDENT of the United States ba.
openly used the powers and opportunities a.
hIs hi9n once Tor the promotion of person j
enas' ne mas Kept notorioilsly corriInt and
men IN places of power and re-
sponsibility, to the detriment of tba nnbi;l
! interest. He has used the public service nj
slie government. as n machinery of partisan
ana personal influence, and inferfered WIFI
t}i az arrogance in the political affairs
u otates ana municipalities He has re-
Witideq with influential and lucrative offices
,.,eii MIlo I,ia acquired his favor by valuable
PreSenIs, thus stimulating decentralization at
our political life by his conspicuous exa,nnla
ne mas shown himself deplorably unequpI tn
the tasks imposed upon him by the nacass;
ties Oh the country, and culpably careless Of.
sh NJ responsibilities of his high Office.
me pafslsans OF the administration. as
t,.nII;nS =; 70 pe lhe Republican party and con
!rolnhg IFS organization, have attenn,ted ia
lustIIy sueh wrongs and palliate such abuses
~, ~ me emu OF maintaining party aseendancy
lhef nave stood i'll the way of neeessor,- IN
Vestigatlons and Indispensable reforms nra-
LENDING that no serious fault could no fnrnJ
MIN tne present administration of publi.
: t'tzsHiAiss III Dllifu the eyes Of fha
people. They have kept alive the nass;on,
ana fesentments of the late civil war to ,,so
theih Tor their own advantage They hay.
resorted to arbitrary measures in direct ,on
met with the organic law, instead of annenl-
ihS 10 the better instincts and latent marriott
i ~ ol the southern people by restoring to
them those rights the endowment of which ~
Indispensable for q successful a,minist,.,t;a,,
Oh lhelr local affairs aud would tend TO n,ovo
u. patriotic and hopeful national faal;n,
Ihey have degraded themselves and III,
niiliie % their party, once justly entitled to
.ne eoiiiidellce OF the nation, by Il base sYco
p,'1nc9 70 me dispenser of executive power
ana patronage unworthy of Republican, free
men. They sought to stifie the voice, of Inst
cliticlshl' 70 stl1ie the moral sense of the peo
PIE, anu to subjugate public opinion Nv
sFiannicai party discipline. They are striy-
ing 10 maintain themselves in AUTHORITY for
sel1lsh ends by an INSCRIPTIONS use Of tbe
poNel Wlien flghtinlly belongs to the people,
iina y should be employed only in the seryics
OF the country g ivy
soeiieFnlg mat an organization Thus led and
controlled can no longer be of service TO the
nest interests of the republic, we have re-
'o.yea 10 make an independent appeal to tho
so el JauSmehf, conscience, and patriotism
u the Amereanipeople
THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
Therefore. we, the Liberal Republicans of
NC oHltei ntaIes, IN National Convention
lssthipied at Cincinnati. proclaim the fol,
nent:
1. we recognize the equality of all men
'ef0re the law, and hold that it il tile dirty
I government i'll its dealings with the oen
ne 10 mete outequal and exact Justice TO ali
! Whi.tefef nativity, race, color, or persua-
ion, religious or political r.
2. We pledge ourselves TO maintain, 4ho
mon OF these States, emancipation. and on
ranchlsement, and to oppose any reonenin,
I the questions settled by the Thirteenth
ourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments to
he Constitution @ w
3. We demand the immediate. and abso-
lite removal of all disabilities irnnosed an a.
Dunf OF the rebellion which was finally sub-
lle9 seven wears ago, believing that uni
eFsai amnesty will result in complete Duei
cation IN all sections of the country.
T. Local selt-goyernment, with IMPARTIAL
mirage, will guard the rights of all citizens
!, securely than any centralized power.
he public welfare requires the sunre,nacv
the civil over the military authority. and
eedOm OF person under the protection of
&c habeds corpus. We demand fo,. thc IN
yldual the largest liberty consistent with
l1ilc order for the State selfgovernment
III Ior tne nation return to the methods of
ace ana the constitutional limitations Of
,Wer. t5st4 - t95tf@
D. The civil service of the Government l,os
come mere instrument Of partisan tyr
my anu pelsolai ambition, and an object
selfish greed. 1t is a scandal and repraaeb
'on nee institutions, and breeds adeinornl
'tiol dangerous to the perpetuity OF lepub-
an government. Wethercfore reuor,l swell
CROUCH reforms of civil service as are ~
most pressing necessities of the bour.
nc honesty, capacity, and fidelity co,,sti,
te the only valid claims to public ,ao,,io~.
mt mat the offices of the Governments
ase TO be a matter of arbitrary fayoritism
q patronage, and that public station be-
me AGAIN a post of honor. 70 this end II
required that no President
III ne q candidate for reelection.
D We demand &; system of Federal tay
OH winch snail not UNNECESSARILY inter
e WITH the industry of the people. and
len shall provide the means necessary 10
the expenses OF the Government, econo
tally administered: the pensions. the In
est on the public debt. and "a moderate rtl
efion annually of the principal thereof.
I, recognizing that there are in our m;dst
lest but ilTecmcilable differences of o,,;n
: WIN regard to the respective systems of
tectoii anu free trade, we remit the dis
sion q me SUBJECT to the people, in their
igressloiial districts, and to the decision,
congress thereon, wholly free of Eyncns
interference or dictstiou 4zH9
the public credit must he saepedI,-
and we denounce Reputation Ia
~ form ana gIIlse
A steady return to specie payment i
handed alike by tlie highest tonsideta-
Is OF commercial morality and honest
ernment.
W. remember with gratitude the hero
and sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors
he republic, and no act of ours shall ever
'aet from their justly earned fame or the
reward OF their patriotism.
! We are opposed to all further grants of
Is 10. railroads or other corp1rltions
public domain should be held sacred ia
lal settlers "
. We hold that it is the duty of the Gov.
nent, Ill Its intercourse Will FOREIGN ma
$, to cultivate the friendship of peaeA tx
ting with all on fair and equal terms. re-
ling it alike dishonorabIe either to do.
d what is not right, or to submit TO what.
rong.
For the promotion and success of tbesn
principles and the support of the can.
tes nominated by this Convention wa
e and cordially welcome the co-opcra-
OF ail'patriotie citizens, without regard
eyious affiliations
POSf-nf7icc Na4;1a