Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-08-21
republican Platform.

-54s.a (
The Republican of Iowa in conventions
assembled, make this declaration of pinci
pies. They hold the Republican party 10
be political organization OF those Aneri-
can citizens who are opposed to slavery in
all its forms; who believe that all men are
entitled to the same political and civil rights
who believe that all laws, State and Na,io.
nal, should be made and administered so as
to secure to all citizens, whatever their col.
or, creed or occupation, the same rights be-
fore the law; who believe in free schools,
free opinion and universal education; who
believe that American society and the Amer
ican people should all be raised to the nigh
est possible plane of liberty, honesty, puri-
ty, intelligence and morality, and that all
laws should be made aud the government
constantly administered with this aim ii
view, and that no party has right to the
support of the people which is not inspired
with this purpose. Believing that the Re-
publican party is still controlled by these
principles, and that it is now as it has been
from the beginning, an organization of the
best and purest political sentiment of the
country, we as Republicans of Iowa, renew
the expression of our devotion to it, and our
belief that we can secure through it the po-
htcal reform and the just and necessary
measures OF legislation and relief from
monopolies and other abuses Of power.
which the country SO much needs. There
fore.
Resotced, list That proud as we are of the
past record OF the Republican party, we Yet
insist that in shall not rely upon its past
achievements; it must be party Of the pre-
sent and Of progress; and and as it has pre-
served the Union, freed the slave and pro-
tected him from the oppression of the slave
master, it will now be derilect 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 what
soever kind the oppression may be.
RESOLVED, I'd That we insist upon the right
and duty of the state to control every fran.
chise of whatever kind it grants; and while
we do not wish that any injustice shall be
done to the individual or corporation, who
invests capital or industry in enterprises of
this kind, we yet demand that no franchise
shall be granted, which is prejudical to the
public interests, of the State and the people
are not carefully aud fully guarded.
Resolved, Sd. That the producing, com
mercial and industrial interests of the coun-
try should have the best and cheapest modes
Of transportation possible; and while actual
capital invested in such means of transit,
whether by railroad or otherwise, should be
permitted the right of reasonable renumera-
tion, and abuse in their management, exec
sive rates, oppressive Determinations against
localities, persons or interests, should be-
corrected by law. and We demand congress
sional and legislative enactments that will
control and regulate the railroads OF the,
country, give the people fair rates Of trans
portation, and protect them against exist
ing abuses.
Resolred, 4th. That we heartily applaud
the active measures of the late Congress IL
ferreting ont and exposing corruption.
We have seen with profound regret in tho
Developments made thereby, evidence q,
political and official corruption, aud the
abuse Of responsible position by men Of all
political parties to further personal ends,
and we demand pure official conduct and
the punishments OF unfaithlul public men,
who, having betrayed the confidence freei,
extended to them, shall not be shielded from
the disgrace Of their acts, by any partzan-
ship OF ours, and we denounce all Credit
Mobilier transactions and official miscon
duct of whatever form.
ReSolUed, 9th. That we believe that when
ever person, holding any position Of trust
given him by the people, is guilty OF fraud
or embezzelment, he should be convicted
and punished under the criminal laws Of
our land in addition to the recovery from
| him or his boundsnien OF the amount SO
embezzled.
Resolved, Oh. That the act of the majority
Of the last Congress in voting what is known
as the back pay steal, by which they voted
into their pockets thousands of lollars
which does not belong to them, as well as
and yet received the money, was most
| dagrantly improper and infamous, and
should secure the political condemnation Oh
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 unconditionally re-
pealed.
Reso1ced, 7th. That we sympathize with
every movement to secure for agriculture
and labor their due influence, interest and
| rights, and the Republican party will be
their ally in every just effort to attain that
end.
! Resolred, Sth. That we are desirious OF po-
| litical reform, and for honesty economy and
purity in all official administration; 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 put
an end to bad men forcing their election by
securing party nomination, we declare it
the duty OF every Republican to oppose the
election OF bad and incompetent candi-
date, whether he be a candidate upon our
own or any other ticket
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.