Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-10-09
Republican Platform.

keDuDatCdh
The Republicans of Iowa, in Mass
Convention assembled, make this dec
laration Of principles: We hold the
Republican party to be a political or
ganization OF those American 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 National, should be made
and administered SO rs to secure to all
citizens wherever born, or whatever
their color, creed, condition, or occu-
patton, the same rights before the law;
who believe in free schools, free opin-
ion, and universal education; who
believe that American society and
the American people should all be
raised to the highest possible plane of
liberty, honesty, purity, intelligence
and morality, and that all laws should
be made, and the government con-
stantly administered with this aim in
view, and that no party has right to
the support of the people which is not
inspired with this purpose. Believing
that the Republican party is still con-
trolled by these principles, and that it
is now as it has been from its begin
ming, an organization Of the best and
purest political sentiment of the coun-
try, we as Republicans renew the eX-
preston of our devotion to it and our
belief that we can secure through it the
political reform, and the just and nee
essary measures OF legislation. and Of
relief from monopoiies and other abu-
ses of power which the country so
much needs. Therefore
ResoiUed, lst, That proud az we are
of most Of the past record Of the Re-
publican party we yet insist that it
shall not rely upon its past achieve
ments it must be a party of the pre-
sent and Of progress and as it has
preserved the Union, freed the slave,
and protected him from the oppression
Of the slaye-master, it will now be
derelict to its spirit and its duty if it
does not protect all onr people from all
forms of oppression, whether of mo-
nopolies, centralized capital, or what
soever kind the oppression may be.
Resoiued, I'd, That we insist upon
the right and duty of the State to con-
. troll everyfranchise of whatever kind
it grants and while we do not wish
that any injustice shall be done 10 the
individual or corporation who invests
capital or industry in enterprises Of
this kind, we yet demand that no
franchise siiall be granted which il
prejudicial to the public interests, or
in which the rights and interests Of
the State and the people are not care
fully and fully guarded.
ResOtyed, Sd. That the producing,
commercial and industrial interests Of
the country should have the best and
cheapest modes of sportatiOn posi-
Die; and while actual capital invested
in such means of transit, whether by
railroad or otherwise, should be per-
nitted the right of reasonable remun-
Grafton, All abuse in their management,
excessive rates, oppressive discrimina-
ton against localities, persons or inter-
ests, should be corrected by law, and
We demand Congressional and Legis-
lative enactments that VIII control
aud regulate the railroads of the coun-
try, and give to the people fair rates OF
transportation, and protect them
against existing abuses.
Res0kued, 4th, That we heartily ap-
plaud the active measures Of the late
Congress, in ferretting out and expos
ing corruption. We lave seen with
profound regret, in the developments
made thereby, evidence Of political
and official corruption and the abuse
OF responsible positions BY men of all
political parties to further personal
ends and we demand pure official con-
duct, and the punishment of unfaith-
full public men who having betrayed
the confidence freely extended to
them, shall not be shielded from the
disgrace OF their acts by any partizan-
ship of ours, and we denounce all Gre
dit Mobilier transactions and all OFF,
cial misconduct Of whatever form.
Resotced, 5th, That we believe that
whenever a person holding any posi-
ton of trust given him by the people
is guilty of ff-.ud or ENLIGHTENMENT, he
should be convicted and punished I'M
der the criminal laws Of our land In
addition 10 the recovery from him or
his boIdsnlen OF the amount SO embez-
lied
Resotsaed, 9Th. That the act OF the
majority of the members Of the last
Congress, ia passing what IL known as
the lack -ray steal, by which they vo-
ted into their pockets thousands Of
dollars which did not belong 10 them,
as wei! as the act of those who voted I
against the same and set received the |
money. is most fsgFsntlv Improper |
md infttnous, and ftoG.d cr6ure .ae
% sI = ID #.Ha II