The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-09-07
Liberal Republican Platform.

Address and Declaration of Principles |
Adopted by the Convention Of Liberal |
Republicans in Cincinnati, May 3rd,
1872.
THE ADDRESS.
The administration now in power has rend- |
cred itself guilty of wanJon disregard OF the
laws Of the land, and has usurped 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 those
who govern. 1t has thus struck q blow ut
the fundamental 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. He has kept VIGOROUSLY corrupt and
unworthy men i'll 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
and personal influence, and interfered with
tyrannical arrogance in the political affairs
OF States and municipalities. He has re-
warded with influential andsluerative 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 necesst-
the responsibilities of his high Office.
The pnrtisans of the administration, as
summing to be the Republican party and con-
trolling its organization, have attempted TO
Justify such wrongs and palliate such abuses,
to the end of maintaining party aseendaney.
They have stood il the way of necessary in
vestigations and Indispensable reforms, pre-
tending 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
| aud resentments of the late civil war to use
! them for their own advantage. They have
| resorted to arbitrary measures, in direct con-
| ffiet 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 for q 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, once justly entitled to
the confidence of the nation, by a base syeo-
! phaney to the dispenser of executive power
and patronage unworthy of Republican Tree
men. They sought to stifle the voice of just
criticism, to stiffe the moral sense of the PEG
/ pie, and to subjugate public opinion by
| tyrannical party discipline. They are striv-
| ing to maintain themselves in authority for
selfish ends by an INSCRIPTIONS use OF the
power which rightfully belongs 70 the people,
and should be employed only in the service
of the country.
Believing that an organization thus led and
controlled can no longer be OF service to the
best interests of the republic we have re-
solved to make an independent appeal to the
sober Judgment, conscience, and patriotism
of the American people
THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
Therefore, We, the Liberal Republicans OF
the United States, in National Convention
assembled at Cincinnati, proclaim the fol
lowing principles as essential to just Govern
nellt:
: l. We recognize the equality of all meI
before the law, and hold that it is the duty
of Government in its dealings with the PEG
pie to mete out equal aud exact Justice to all
of whatever nativity, race, color, or persua
sion, religious or political.
q We pledge ourselves to maintain the
Union Of these States, emancipation. and Ell
franehisement, and to oppose any reopeuins
Of the questions settled by the Thirteenth
Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments L
the Constitution.
g. We demand the immediate and abso
lutte removal of all disa bilities imposed on &C
count of the rebellion which was finally sub
dued seven years ago, believing that uni
yersal amnesty will result in complete paci
fication in all sections of the country.
4. Local self-government, with impartia
suffrage, viii guard the rights of all citizen
more securely than any centralized power
: The public welfare requires the supfemae,
of the civil over the military authority, am
freedom of person under the protection 0
the Habeas corpus. We demand for the ii
} diyiduai the largest liberty consistent wit
I public order, for the State self-governmeni
\ and for the nation d return to the methods c
peace and the constitutional limitations C
power.
become a mere instrument of partisan tyl
r amy and personal ambition, and an ohjeC
/ of selfish greed. 1t is Il scandal and reprOae
upon free institutions, and breeds a demora
ization dangerous to the perpetuity of repul
lean government. We therefore regard sue
thorough reforms of civil service as are
the most pressing necessities Of the houI
that honesty, capacity, and fidelity eonst
G tute the only valid claims to public emplo.
1nent; that the offices of the GoycrnmeI
4 cease to be n matter of arbitrary fayoritisl
: and patronage, and that public station b
come again a post of honor. TO this end
is inperatively required that no Presidel
shall be a candidate for reelection.
10 6. We demand system of Federal ta-
W alton which shall not unnecessarily int
70 fere with the industry of the people, an
ID which shall provide the means necessary
pay the expenses Of the Government, econ
Tnically administered; the pensions the j
terest on the public debt, and moderate T
|, duction annually OF the principal thereo
d and, recognizing that there are in our mid
r honest but irreconeilable differences of OPT
ID ions with regard to the respective systems
d protection and free trade, we remit the di
eussion of the subject to the people in the
.e Congressional districts, and to the decisic
n of Congress thereon, wholly free of Exec
tive interference or dictation.
= The public credit must be sacred
maintained, and we denounce reputation
every form and guise.
g. A steady return to specie payment
: demanded alike by the highest consider
!. lions of commercial morality and hone
government.
9. We remember with gratitude the hel
ism and sacrifices OF the soldiers and sailo
of the republic, and no act of ours shall ev
detrsct from their justiy,carned fame, or
III full reward Of their patriotism.
Ii, 10. We are opposed TO all further grants
re lands to railroads or other corporation
rt Ill Ill