The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-06-29
Liberal Republican Platform.
Address and Declaration Of Principles
Adopted by the Convention of Liberal
Republicans in Cincinnati, May Ord
1872.

1 N-~>~>~-S
| 1872.
The administration now in power has rend-
cred itself guilty of wanton disregard of the
laws OF the land, and has usnrped powers
not granted by the Constitution 1t has
acted as If the laws had binding force only
for those who are governed, and not for these
who govern. 1t has thus struck a 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 aud opportunities of
his high office for the promotion of personal
ends. He has kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and
| unworthy men in places of power and re-
sponsibility, to the detriment of the public
interest. He has used the public service of
the government as a machinery of partisan
ana personal influence, and interfered with
| tyrannlcai arrogance in the political affairs
OF States and municipalities. He has re-
warded with influential and lucrative offices
men who had acquired his favor by valuable
presents, thus stimulating decentralization of
our political life by his conspicuous example,
He has shown himself deplorably unequal to
the tasks imposed upon him by the necessi-
ties OF the country, and eulpably careless of
the responsibilities of his high Office
The partisans of the administration, as
| Stunning to be the Republican party and con
| trotiing It's organization, have attempted to
Justify such wrongs and palliate such abuses,
to the end OF maintaining party ascendancy
They have stood III the way of necessary in
vestigations and indispensa BILE reforms, pre-
tending that no serious fault could be found
with the present administration of public
| affairs, thus seeking to blind the ewes of tho
people. They have kept alive the passions
and resentments of the late civil war to use
them for their own advantage They have
| resorted to arbitrary measures, in direct con
met with the organic law, instead of appeal
| ing to the better instincts and latent patriot
| ISM OF the Southern people by restoring to
them those rights the enjoyment of which is
| Indispensable Tor successful administration
OF their local affairs, and would tend to move
u patriotic and hopeful national feeling.
They have degraded themselves and the
| name OF their party, once justly entitled to
the confidence of the nation, by a base syco-
phancy to the dispenser of executive power
and patronage unworthy of Republican free
men. They sought to stifie the voice of i,rst
CRITICISM, to stitie the moral sense of the peo-
/ pie, and to suhjugate public opinion by
tyrannieai party discipline. They are striv-
ing to maintain themselves in authority for
selfish ends by an INSCRIPTIONS use of the
power which rightfully belongs to the people,
and should be employed only III the service
| OF the country. 70
| Believing that an organization thus led and
| controlled can no longer be of service to the
best interests of the republie, We have re-
| solved to make an independent appeal to tho
| sober Judgment, conscience, and patriotism
| of the Alncrieaii people.
THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
Therefore. we, the Liberal Republicans of
| the United States, IN National Convention
assembled ut Cincinnati. proclaim the fol-
lowing principles as essential to just Govern
ment:
|. We recognize the equality of all men,
| before the law, and hold that it is the duty
of Government in its dealings with the peo-
| pie to nete ont equal and exact Justice to all,
| of whatever nativity, race, color or lersta-
sion, religious or political &t
y We pledge ourselves to maintain the
Union OF these States, emancipation, and en-
reimbursement, and to oppose any rcopeuing
of the questions settled by the Thirteenth
| Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments to
| the Constitution. q
g. We demand the immediate and abso-
| lutte removal of all disabilitiesimpOsed ON ao-
| count of the rebellion which was finally sub
| dued seven Years ago, believing that uni
| yefsal amnesty will result in complete paci
! tieation in all sections of the country tsae
A. Local selfgovernment, with impalfial
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 habe0s corpus. We demand for the in
| dividual the largest liberty consistent with
! public order, for the State selfgovernment,
| and for the nation q return to the methods of
! peace and the constitutional limitations of
| power.
| 5. The civil service of the Government has
| becomes a mere instrument Of partisan tyr-
amy and personal ambition, and an object
| of selfish greed. 1t is scandal and reproach
| upon free institutions, and breeds a democrat
| ization dangerous to the pcrpetuity of repub-
/ lican government Wetherefore regard such
| thorough reforms of civil service as are of
1 the most pressing necessities. of the honr
/ that honesty, capacity, and fidelity consti-
! tute the only valid claims to public employ
ment; that the offices of the Government
cease to be a matter of arbitrary fayoritisni
/ and patronage, and that public station be-
come again post of honor. To this end il
| is imperf,tively required that no President
| shall be a candidate for reelection Ga
! q. We demand a system of Federal tax
i alton which shall not unnecessarily inter
4 fere with the industry of the people, and
/ which shall provide the means necessary to
i pay the expenses of the Government, econo-
/ mically administered; the pensions, the in
/ terest ON the public debt, and u moderate re-
ductiOn annually of the principal thereof;
| and, recognizing that there are In our midst
honest but irreconcilable differences of opin-
/ ions with regard TO the respective systems of
protection and free trade, we remit the dis
cussion OF the subject to the people, in their
Congressional districts. and to the decision
of Congress thereon, wholly free of Exeeil-
/ tive interference or dictation.
! 7. The public credit must be saeredly
maintained, and we denounce Reputation In
every form and guise. 6
I 8. A steady return to specie payment is
demanded alike by the highest considera-
tions of commercial morality and honest
government. sa ssss,tss a fsrf4E .4a=
1--WE remember with gratitude the hero
ism and sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors
Inf tila lie am uo of I,oII