Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-06-01
TEXT OF THE CINCINNATI PLATFORM.

power has rendered itself guilty of a wan
ton disregard Of the laws Of the land, and
Of powers not granted l.y the Constitution.
Ii has acted as it laws had binding force
only for those who are governed aud not
for those who govern. 1t has thus struck
a blow at the foundational principles of
constitutional government and the liberties
of the citizens. The President of the
United States has openly used the powers
and opportunities Of his high Office for the
promotion of personal ends.
lie has kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and un-
worthy men in places of power and respon-
sibility to the detrimcnt Of the public in
tercst.
lie has used the public service of the
Government as n machinery Of partisan
and political influence, and intcriered with
technical arrogance in the political affairs
of the States and municipalities.
lie has rewarded with influential and
lucrative Offices men who had acquired his
favor by valuable presents, thus stimulat-
ing the decentralization of our political life
by his conspicuous example.
| He has shown himself deplorably unc--
quail to the tasks imposed upon him by the
necessities of the country, and culpably
careless of the responsibilities of his high
Office
| The partsans of the Administration, as
suming to be the Republican party, and
controlling its organization, have attempted
to justify such wrongs, and palliatc such
abuses. To the end of maintaining parti.
san ascendency, they have stood in the way
| -
able reform, 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 resentments of the late
civil war, to use them for their own ad-
vantage. They have resorted to arbitrary
measures in direct conflict with the organic
law, instead Of appealing to the better in
stincts, talent and patriotism OF the South
ern people by restoring to them these
rights, the enjoyment Of which is indis-
pensable for successful administration of
their local affairs, and would tend TO move
a patriotic and hopeful national feeling.
They have degraded themselves and the
name of their party as justly entitled to
the confidence Of the nation by a base syc-
ophancy to the dispenser of power and pat
ronage, unworthy of republican frecmen.
They have sought to silence the voice Of
Just criticism, to stife the moral sense of
the people, and to subjugate public opinion
by tyrannical party discipline. They arc
stivinS to maintain themselves in authority
for selfish ends, by unscrupuioe use of
the power which rghttully belongs to the
people, and should be employed only in
the service of the country. Believing
that an organization thus led and controlled
cannot longer be of service to the best in
terests of the Republic, we have resolved
to make an Independent appeal to the sober
judgment, conscience and patriotism of the
American people therefore,
Rcsolred, That we, the Liberal Rcpub-
lcans of the United States, in National
Convention assembled at Cincinnati pre-
claim the following principles as,esscnlai
to just governments:
l. We recognize the equality OF men
before the law, and hold that it is the duty
of the Government, in its dealing with tho
people, to mcte out equal and exact us
tice to all, Of whatever nativity. race color
or persuasion, religions or political.
2. We pledge ourselves to maintain the
law, the union of these States, cmancpa-
ton and acknowledgements aud to oppose
any reopening of the question settled by
the Thirteenth Fourteenth aud Fifteenth
Amendments of the Constitution.
8. We demand the immediate and abso-
; lutte removal of disabilities imposed on ac-
count of the rebellion, which was finally
subdued seven years ago, believing that
universal amnesty will result in complete
pacication in all sections of the country.
4. Local self-governmcnt, with impair
tial suffrage, will guard the rights of all
citizens more securely than any centralized
power. The public welfare requires tho
supremacy of the cizil over the military
authority, and freedom of person under
the protection Of the hdbeas corpus We
demand for the individual the largest lib
erty consistent with public order, for tho
State self. government, and for the nation
to return to the methods of peace aud the
: constitutional limitations of power.
S. The Civil Service Of the Government
has become a mere instrument OF partisan
tyranny and personal ambition, and an OBJ
iect of selfish greed. 1t is a scandal and
reproach upon free institutions, and
breeds decentralization dangerous to the
perpctuity of republican government.
6. We therefore regard thorough re-,
form of the Civil Service as one of the
most pressing necessities of the hour; that
honesty, capacity and fidelity constitute
the only valid claims to public employ
ment; that the officers Of the Government
cease to be matter of arbitrary iavorit-
ism and patronage, and that public station
shall become again the post OF honor. 10
this end it is imperatively required that no
President shall be candidate for re-elec-
ton.
7. We demand system of Federal tax
alton which shall not unnecessarily inter-