Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-08-15
Iowa Republican Platform.

b The Republicans OF Iowa in convention assem-
bled make this declaration of principles:
They hold the Republican party to be pol!t-
ical organization of those American citizens who
are opposed to slavery In all its FORMS who be-
lieve that all men are entitled to the same po-
litical and civil rights; who believe that all laws
State and National, should be made and admin
istered SO to secure to all citizens, wherever
born, or whatever their color, creed or occupa
ton, the same rights before the law; who believe
in free schools, free opinion and universal cdu.
cation; who believe that American society and
American people should be all raised to the high
est possible plane of liberty, honesty purity, IN,
teligence and morality, and that all laws should
be made and the government constantly admin
istered with this end in view, and that no party
is worthy of the support OF the people which Is
not inspired by this purpose. Believing that the
Republican party is still controlled by these prin-
ciples and that it is now as 1t has been from the
beginning, an organization of the best and purest
political sentiment of tho country, we AS Repub-
iicans of Iowa renew the expression of our de-
votion to it, and the belief that we can secure
through it the political reform and the just and
necessary measures of legislation and relief from
monopolies and other abuses of power, which the
country SO much needs. Therefore,
Resolved, /. That proud as we are OF most OF
the past record Of the Republican party, we yet
insist that it shall not rely upon its past achieve.
ments; it must be party OF the present ana OF
progress; and as it has preserved the Union,
freed the slaves and protected them rom the op.
preston of the slave master 1t will be! derelect
to its spirit and its duty If it does not protect all
our people from all forms OF oppression, whether
OF monopolies centralized capital, or whatever
kind the oppression may be
2 That we insist upon the rish and duty OF
the State to control every franchise of whatever
kind it grants, and while We do not wish that
any injustice shall be done to the Individual or
CORPORATION who invest capital or industry in
enterprises of this kind, yet we demand that no
franchise shall be granted which Is preJudiclal to
the public interests, or in which the rights ana
interests of the State and people are not careiu3
guarded.
g. That the producing, commercial and indus
trial interests of the country should have the best
sntyn In
and while actual capital invested in such
means of transit, whether by railroads or other
WISE should be permitted the right OF reasonable
remuneration, abuse in their management, eX-
cessive rates, oppressive discrimination against
localities persons interests, should be correct
ed nv law We demand Congressional and leg
islatiye enactments that will control and regulate
the railroads of the country, give, to the people
fair rates of transportation, and protect them
from existing abuses.
A. That we heartily applaud the activity Of the
late Congress in ferreting ont and exposing cor
rupton. We have seen with profound regret in
the developments made thereby, evidences of
responsible positions by men of all political par,
ties to further personal ends. and we demand
pure official conduct, ane the punishment of I'M
faithful public men, who have betrayed the conf
dence freely extended to them, shall not be
shielded from the disgrace of their acts, by any
partizanship of ours, and we denounce all Credit
Moblier transactions and all official misconduct
4 OF whatever form.
5. That we believe that whenever person
holding any position of trust given him by
the people, is guilty of fraud, or ENLIGHTENMENT,
he should be convicted and punished under the
criminal laws of our land, in addition to the re-
cnyery of him or his bondsmen the amount so
cnbezZled.
{; That the act of the majority of the members
of the last Congress in voting what is known as
the back pay steal, by which they voted into their
pockets thousands of dollars which did not be-
long to them, was most aagrantly improper and
infamous, and should secure the political con-
delnnation of all who were party to it, and We
demand that the provisions of the late act OF Con.
gress by which the salaries were increased, shall
be promptly and Internationally repealed.
T. That we are DESTROYS of political reform,
and for honesty, economy and purity in all official
administrations that to secure this is the duty Of
every citizen that to this end every good man
should feel bound to participate in politics and
to make an end of bad men forcing their election
by securing party nomination; we declare it to
he the duty of every Republican to oppose the
election of a bad man and an incompetent official,
whether he be candidate upon our own any
other ticket.
s. That we sympathize with every movement
to secure for agriculture and labor their due in
hucnce interests and rights, and the Republican
party will be their ally in every just effort to Sc
cure that end