The semi-weekly Republican. (St. Francisville, La.) 1872-1872, 1872-10-15
Liberal Republican, Plat form
pLps ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION OF
LIBERAL REPUBLICANS IN CINCINNATI
MAY 3RD 1872.
THE ADDRESS.

THE ADDRESS.
The administration now IN power
has rendered. itself guilty Of wanton
disregard Of the law Of the land, and
has usurped powers not granted by
the Constitution. 1t h;ss acted Us if
the laws had binding force only for
those who IRE governed, aud for
those who govern. It has thus struck
a blow at the fundamental principles
of constitutional government, aud
the liberties of the citizens.
The President Of the United States
has openly used the powers and op"
portunities Of his high Office for the
promotion of personal ends. He
his kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and IN
worthy men in places Of power and
responsibility. to the detriment OF
the public interest. He has used the
public service of the Government as
q machinery Of partisan and person
al influence, and interfered with ty-
rannical arrogance in the political
affairs Of States and municipalities.
He has rewarded with influential and
lucrative Offices men who had ac-
CURED 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 i'm
posed upon him by the necessities OF
the country, and culpably careless OF
the responsibilities Of his high OF
fee.
The partisans Of the administra-
ton, assuming to be The Republican
party aud controlling its orsaniza-
ton, have attempted to Justify such
wrongs and palliate such abuses, to
the end of maintaining party ascen-
dancy. They have stood in the way
Of necessary Investigations and in
dispeusable reforms, pretending that
no serious fault could be found with
the present administration Of public
affairs, thus seeking to blind the
ewes Of the 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 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 af-
fairs. and would tend to move 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 a base sycophancy to the
dispenser Of executive power and
patronage unworthy Of Republican
freemen. They sought to stitle the
voice of Just criticism, to stlt1e the
moral sense Of the people, and to
.subiueate public opinion by tyran-
meal party discipline. They are
striving to maintain themselves in
authority for selfish ends by an nn-
scrupulous use Of the power which
riehtfully belongs to the people, and
should be employed only in the SER
vice 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 hove 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-
l;cans 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 o.
all men before the law, and hold
that it is the duty Of Government in
its dealings with the people to metz
out eqaul and exact instice to all, o.
whatever nativity, race, color, OF
persuation, religious or political.
2. We pledge ourselves to main
tain the Union Of these States
emancipation, and enfranchlsemeat
and to oppose any reopening OF the
questions settled by the Thirteenth
Fourteenth and Fifteenth amend
1nents to the Constitution.
3. We demand the immediate
and absolute removal Of all disabili-
ties 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-government;; with