The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-09-21
Liberal Republican Platform.
Address and Declaration of Principles
Adopted by the Convention of Liberal
Republicans in Cincinnati, May Ord,

|
1872.
: The administration now in power has rend-
cred itself guilty OF wanton 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 notfor those
who govern. 1t has thus struck blow at
the fundamental principles OF constitutional
government. and the liberties of the citizens
Tbs, 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 notOriously corrupt and
unworthy men in places Of power and re-
sponsibility, to the detriment of the public
interest. He has used the puble service OIL
the Government as machinery OF partisan
and personal influence, and interfered with
tyrahnical arrogance in the political affairs
OF States and municipalities. He has re-
wartled with influential and lucrative offices |
inen 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 necesslo
ties of the country, and culpably careless OF
the responsibilities Of his high office.
The partisans of the administration, as
suniing to be the Republican party and con-
trolling its organization, have attempted 10
pNNN'A
| to the end of maintaining party ascendancy.
| They have stood in the way OF necessary IN
| yessigations and Indispensable reforms, pre-
! tentifng that no serious fault could be found
] with the present administration OF pnblic
| 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 advantage. They have
resorted to arbitrary measures, in direct con-
! flict 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 a successful administration
| of their local affairs, and would tend to move
| n patriotic and hopeful national feeling.
| They have degraded themselves and the
maine of their party, once justly entitled to
! the confidence OF the nation, by Il base syco-
| philncy to the dispenser of executive power
| and patronage unworthy of Republican free
men They sought to stifie the voice Of jRst
criticism, to stifie the moral sense OF the peo-
4 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 to the people,
and should be employed only III the service
of the country.
Believing that an organization thus led and
Icontrolled 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 Reeple.
THE DEcLARATfoNoF PRkScIPLEs.
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
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 mete out equal and exact Justice to all,
| OF whatever nativity, race, color, or perSua-
sion, religious or political.
9. We pledge ourselves to maintain the
Union of these States, emancipation, and en-
REIMBURSEMENT, and to oppose any reepeung
of the questions settled by the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth. and Fifteenth amendments ia
the Constitution.
3. We demand the immediate and abso
Lutte removal OF all disabilities imposed on ac
count of the rebellion which was finally sub
| lued seven years ago, believing that uni
versal amnesty will result in complete paei
hcation in all sections of the country.
4. Local seh-goyernment, with impartia
suffrage will guard the rights of all citizens
nlore securely than any centralized power
/. The public welfare requires the saspaenlac,
| OF the civil over the military authority, ant
| freedom of person under the protection .
the hdbeas corpus. We demand for the in
. dividual the largest liberty consistent witt
, public order, for the State self-govefnment
U and for the nation q return to the methods 0
Y peace and the constitutional limitations o
power.
3 j. The civil service of the Government ha
becolae a mere instrument of partisan tyl
: amy and personal ambition, and an obiec
| of selfish greed 1t is scandal and reproac
upon free institutions, and breeds Il demora
ization dangerous to the perpetuity of Iepul
liean government. Wethcrefore regard sue
thorough reforms of civil service as are G
the most pressing necessities of the hour
that honesty, capacity, and fidelity const
q tute the only valid claims to public employ
ment; THAT the offices of the GoyernmeI
cease to be Il matter of arbitrary fayoritisl
q and patronage, and that public station bt
come again Il post of honor. To this end
is imperativeiy required that no Preside1
shall he candidate for reelection.
10 g. We demand a system of Federal tai
NJ alton which shall not unnecessarily inte
M fere with the industry of the people, an
"a which shall provide the means necessary
paw the expenses of the Government, econ
mically administered; the pensions, the i
terest on the public debt, and moderate +
d, duction annually of the principal Thereof
I'd and, recognizing that there are i'll our mid
r. honest but irreconcilable differences of Opt
I'd ions with regard to the respective systems
cd protection and free trade, we remit the Iii
cussion OF the subject to the people, in the
40 Congressional districts, and to the decisiC
~, of Congress thereon. wholly free OF Exec
- tive interference or dictati0n.
T. The public credit must be sacred
maintained, and we denounce reputation
every form and guise
s. A steady return. to specie payment
= demanded alike by the highest consider
n. tons of commercial morality and hone
government.
g. We remember with gratitude the heI
ism and sacrifices OF the soldiers and sailo
of the republic and noact of ours shall ev
detraet from their justly-ealned fame, or t
!, full reward of their patriotism.
~ IL TO- We are opposed to all further grants
"a lands TO railroads or other corporation
We The public domain should be held sacred
u" actual settlers.
H. We hold that it is the duty of the GO
W eminent, iii it's intercourse with foreign Il
te' lions, to cultivate the friendship of peace,
Oh treating with all on fair and equal terms,
~ garding it2alike dishonorsble either to
pc mand what is not right, or to submit to VII
~ is wrong.
.u T. For the promotion and success of the
- ~ vital principles and the support of the ca
az ditiates nominated by this Convention. '
ne invite and cordially welcome the cooper
u tion of all patriotic citizens, without rega
IN to previous affiliations.
al Post-office Notice.
:; DoNALDS0NvILLE, La,