Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1872-05-08
TIE LIBERAL PLATFORM.

We. the Liberal Republicans ofth
| Cnitcd states in national convention
assembled at Cincinnati. proclaim
the following principles as essential
to just "overmmemt.:
l. We recognize the equality of all
men before the law, and hold that il
! i the duty OF the government i'll i'll
| dealings " ilh the people To ni-ir oui
rquaI and rXac, justice To all OF what
ever nationality. race. color "r per
>ua>ion. rcl%iuu, or political.
?. We pledge ourselves t. maintain
the uni',n of these states, eiilalcipa,
tIon and reimbursement, and to OPP
pose any rcoprniug of the iu"s-
lion, settled bv the 18Th. HI, al!'i
10Th amendments of the constitution.
,. We demand immediate and ab>n-
iutc removal; oi all disabilities inn
posed on account of the rebellion
hich Wa. finally suitiucd seven
years ago. briIcying that universe!
amnesty w.ii result III the complete
racItic.itIou> III all sections of the
country.
,. Local scli-govcrument with in!-
partial suffrage, will guard the rights
of all citizens more securely than amy
centralized power. The people AHA
he public welfare require the >u-
prclnacy OF the clvil over The mIliIa-
~ authority. and freedom "i person
under the protection oI the hahra>
corpus. We demand for the inulriu-
uai the largest liberty cum>I>tcm,
with public order, Tor the state SELF
government, and Iur tie nation Il re-
turn TO the methods cf peace and the
constitutional limitations OF power.
3. The civil service of the govern
ncnt has become Il mere instrument
oi partisan tyranny and personal ;nn-
biliun, and an object OF selfish greed.
1t Is Il scandal and repruac! upon
Tree institutions. and breeds uemur-
alizaliun dangerous to the pcrpctuity
of republican government.
6. We therefore regard Il thorough
reform of the civil service as one OF
the most pressing necessities OF th,.
hour; that honesty, capacity and Ii
deity constitute the only valid claims
10 public employ ncnt: that the uili-
ces of government cease to be Il mat
a.. - .."t.itr.. s.~.sisi-....- ,....-
ron"sc, and that pnblic station be-
come again the post uI nunur. 10
this end 1t is impcrativcly required
for reelection.
7. We demand Il system of federal
taxation which shall not umiIeccs>ari-
ly intefcre with the industry of tie
people. which shall provide the means
necessary to pay the EXPENSES of the
government economically admins
tered. the pensions, the interests on
the public debt, and IL moderate an
nual reduction of the principal there
of: and, recognizing that there are in
our midst honest but irrcroncilablc
differences of opinion with regard to
the respective systems of protection
aud free trade. we remit the discus
sion of the subjects to the pr"pl" III
decision ui congress thereon. wholly
free of executive interference or die
tation.
8. The public credit must be Sa-
crcdly maintained. and we demouncc
reputation i'll every form and "ui>c.
8. y speedy return to specie pay
mcut> i> dcnaudrd alike by the high
est -idcrationS of con!u"rc. al
morality and honest government.
10. We remember with gratitude
the hcroi>m and sacrifices OF the
1 soldiers and sailors of the republic.
and no az, of ours shall ever drtrart
from their justly c"rnrd fame, or tie
full reward of their patriotism.
/ II. We are opposed to all further
grants of lands to railroads or other
corporations. The public domain
should be held sacred to actual set
! tiers.
! II. We hold that 1t is the duty of the
government in ITS intercourse with
/ foreign nations to cultivate friend
ships of peace by treating with All on
fair and equal terms, rcgar'iin" il
alike dishonorable either to demand
what is not right or submit to what
Is wrong.
l3. For the promotion and success:
of these vital principles, and the sup
port of the candidates nominated b!
t is convention, we invite aud cor
daily welcome the co-opera,io" o.
all patriotic citizens. without regart
to previous political afliliation.
HORACE WHITE. Chairman.