The Placer herald., 1872-07-20
THE CINCINNATI AND BALTIMORE
PLATFORM.

CINCINNATI and re-adopted at the baltimore
| Convention.
| WHEREAS, The Administration now in power
| has rendered itself guilty Of wanton disregard
of the laws Of the land. and of powers not
| granted by the Constitution. 1t has acted as II
laws had binding force only for those who are
governed and not for those who govern. 1t has
thus struck blow at 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 notorously corrupt and unworthy
men in places of power and responsibility to the
detriment of the public interest.
| He has used the public service of the Govern
ment as o machinery OF partisan and political
influence and interfered with technical AFRO
gance in the political affairs of States and NUM-
cipalites.
He has rewarded with influential and lucrative
offices men who had acquired HIS favor by
valuable presents, thus stimulating the demorM-
ization of our political life by his conspicuous
example.
He has shown himself deplorably unequal to
the tasks imposed upon him by the necessities
of the country, and culpably careless OF the
responsibilities of his high Office.
The partisans of the Administration assuming
to be the Republican party, and controlling ITS
organization, have attempted to Justify such
wrongs, and palliate such abuses. 10 the end
of maintaining partisan ascendency, they have
| stood in the way of necessary nvestlSatlons anu
indispensable 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 advantage. They have re-
sorted to arbitrary measures, IN direct cohuct
with the organic law, instead of appealing to the
better instincts, talent and patriotism OF the
i hx them those
rights the enjoyment of which is indispensable
for the successful administration OF then local
affairs and would tend to move patriotic ana
hopeful national feeling. They have degraded
| themselves and the name of their party as justly
entitled to the confidence of the nation by base
sycophancy to the dispenser of power and pat
ronage, unworthy of Republican freemen: They
have sought to silence the voice OF just criticism,
to stfe tho moral sense Of the people, and TO
subjrgate public opinion by tyranncM party
discipline They are striving to MAINTAIN thelh-
selves in authority for selfish ends, by unscrupu-
Ions use of the power which rightfully belongs
to the people and should only be employed III
the service of the country Believing thaI an
organization thus led and controlled cannot
longer be Of service to the best interests OF the
Republic, we have resolved TO MAKE an "oea i,ue
pendent appeal to the sober Judgment, consci nee
and patriotism of the American people; there
fore, SO
Rssolrvd That we, the Liberal Republicans
of the United States, in National Convention as
sembed at Cincinnati proclaim the foifowih9
principles M ess ntia to just government:
l. We recognize the equality Of all men before
the law, and hold that ii Is the duty of the Gov
ernment IN It's dealings with the people, to mete
out equal and exact justice to all, OF whatever
nativity race, color or persuasion, religious OF
political.
2. We pledge ourselves to maintain the law
the union of these States. ancpation and en-
franc nchisement, and to oppose any reopeninS OF
the question, settled by the Thirteenth, -Four
tecnth aud Fifteenth Amendments of the Con-
stitution.
removal of all disabilities imposed on account of
the rebellion which WAS finally subdued seven
years ago believing that universal amnesty Will
result in complete pacihcation In all sections OF
the country. go
L. Local self lf-government, with impartial sui
frape. will guard the rights Of all citizens more
securely tlan any centralized power. The pub,
lie welfare requires the supremacy OF the civil
over the military authority and freedom OF per-
son under the protection Of the hddeoS corpus
We demand for the individual the largest liberty
consistent with public order, Tor the state sell
government and for the nation to return 70 the
methods Of neace and the constitutional limitation
< The Civil Service Of the Government has
become mere instrument OF partisan tyranny
and persorol ambit on, and AN object OF selfish
|
institutions, and breeds Generalization danger
ons to heperpetuity of a republican government
G. We therefore regard thorough reform OF
the Civil Service as one of the most pressing
necessities of the hour; that honesty, capacity
and fidelity constitute the only valid claims 10
public employment; that the olice!s Vi uto uo
ernment cease to be matter OF arbitrary favorit,
ism and patronage, and that public station Shall
become again the post of honor. 10 tins end II
is imperatively required that no President snail
be a candidate for reelection
T. We demand system OF federai taXati0h
| which shall not unnecessarily interfere with the
industry of the people, and which shall provide
the means necessary to pay the expenses OF the
| Government economically admin stered, the pen
sions. the interest on the public debt, and mod
crate annual reduction in the principal thereof
aed recognizing that there are i'll our midst hon
est but irreconcilable differences of opinion with
regard to the respective systems OF protection ana
| free trade we remit the discussion of the subject
to the people in their Congressional districts and
the discussion of Congress thereon wholly free
of executive interference or dictation.
s. The public credit must be sacredly main
tained and we dnounce reputation In every
form and guise.
8. A speedy return to specie payment IS de-
| manded alike by highest considerations OF COM
mercal morality and honest government:
10. We remember with gratitude the heroism
and sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors OF the
Republic, and no act of ours shall ever detract
from their justly earned fame or the full rewards
of their patriotism. The public domain should
be held sacred to actual settlers.
IL. We are opposed to all fa.thsr grants of
public lands to railroad or other corporations.
II. We hold that it is the duty of the Gov
ernment, in its intercourse with foreign nations,
to cultivate the friendships of peace by treating
with all on fair and equal terms; regarding 1t
alike dishonorable either to demand what is not
right or to submit to what is wrong.
10. For the promotion and success OF the sew
eral principles and support of the candidates
nominated by this Convention, We invite and
cordially welcome the cooperation of all patri.
otic citizens, without regard to previous political
affiliations.
| A cr,1stv old bachelor saws that love is q