New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-27
BY ELE GRAPH
POLITICAL.
Michigan Republican State C0nyentio

H, H. Holt: Secretary of State, E. G. Hol.
den: State Treasurer. w. B. McCreerv;
Auditor General. Ralph Ely: Commissioner
of State Land Office, L. a. Clapp (renomi
nated,; Superintendent OF Public Instruc-
ton, d. d. Briggs (renOminated).
The preamble and resolutions adopted by
the convention as a platform were as fol-
lows:
We, the delegated representatives of the
Republican party in Michigan, assembled
in convention on the the twentieth anniver-
sary of the year of its organization, appear
before the people Of the State and the
Union, after the uninterrupted exercise by
that party of all the responsibilities and
power during its entire existence, offering
10 apologies, deprecating no criticism, in
vokiag no charity in the construction of its
acts, but challenging faithful scru-
tiny of its record through the vicissitudes
of war and peace, and the candid Judgment
of all lust men. In no spirit OF vain glory
but in simple Difference to the history of
truth, we assert that since the Republican
party raised its banner at Jackson in 1854,
it has never failed, under trials more Sc
we're than have beset the history of any
other party since the organization Of
the government, to stand in the ad-
vance line OF human actions and
progress during the turbulent years
before the war, throughout the war,
and in the unprecedented perplexites which
succeeded it. has forfeited none Ofits pledges
to humanity. to its sister States, nor to the
interest of our own citizens. 1t has prom
ised the protection of good laws, and
faithful administration of them; it has legis-
lated wisely for the development of our
abundant resources; it has been liberal in the
encouragement of learning and bountiful
in providing for the unfortunate. 1t has per-
sistently cultivated "a better civilization,
and there is no malignant hand that can
point to any of its legislation which may be
used TO make man worse. At the same
time il has been prudent and economical in
expenditures, has kept down taxation, has
been and Is steadily reducing the public
Indebtedness, and the financial credit
of the State under its management is
of the highest standard in all the
commercial cities of the world We shall
regard il as q good reason for acceedlng to
the statement OF our opponents that the
mission of the Republican party is ended
when we are pointed to a political organ
ization more benetcent in aims or more de-
voted or comprehensive in its patriotism; but
as long as it leads all other parties as it
has done in the past, as 1t still does,
in the advancement OF good works, in
the investigation OF grievances and in
the redress of wrongs, we can discover no
reason for surrenderlng the reins Of power
into the hands of party whose last public
service was to drag the country into civil
war, 20 disgrace Its financial credit and to
leave the government on the very brink of
dissolution and which made its last effort
to regain the confidence of the people under
the lead of its lifelong enemy IN the most
brazen, bare-taced and shameless coalition
ever known in the history of parties formed
solely and avowedly on the basis OF spoils
alone.
Upon the financial record of the Repub-
lican party alike in the nation and the
State we confidently challenge comparison
with any other party which ever held power
in either, pointing with just pride to the
great and steadily increasing reduction of
the national debt, and the imp1 1ovement OF
the national credit, accompanied By an
equally remarkable reduction of taxation
and Of expenditure on administering the
government. With all this our material
interests and general prosperity have enor-
mously increased. and our citizens are
better clothed. better fed and better paid
for their labor than any other people in the
world
In this State Republican management
has secured the same blessings of light tax
alton, economical administration and rap
idly diminishing debt, while our State insti-
tutions have been literally built up until
they have become the pride Of the people:
education, public merals and the various
branches of industry have been fostered,
| crime Las been repressed. suffering allevi-
| ated and the unfortunate provided for; large
and important improvements have been
projected and are in process OF completion,
| and every State interest has been generally
| and economically cared for with such
scrupulous honesty in every department of
! the State government, that even partisan
| calulnny dare not bring SPECIFIC accusa-
ton against any one. We fully appre-
| ciate the extraordinary character of the
| financial difficulty through which the
| country has recently passed, and re-
gard it as inevitable that able and
| patriotic representatives should have dit
| tered, like their constituencies. as to what
were proper remedies in circumstances
wherein they were without specific prece-
| dent for guidance. We indorse as wise and
timely the measures finally agreed upon by
Congress between conflicting interests and
opposing theories. While we recognize IN
| the greenbacks and national bank notes a
circulating medium far superior to any
paper currency heretofore existing IN the
United States, saving as 1t does the
people directly and indirectly. many mil
lions of dollars annually over the old State
bank system in exchange and discounts,
we demand that in all financial legislation
Congress shall keep steadily in view the
resumption Of specie payment, to the end
that at the earliest day practicable the
promises to pay of the government
may be equivalent in coin in like
amount throughout the commercial world.
We believe that banking under a
we'll founded national system should be
free, the volume and locality of issues being
regulated by the business law OF demand,
and we denounce repudiatiOn in every form
or degree, holding the pledged faith OF the
hi al sr,h InftQr
and spirit. We would not forget the claims OF
the colored people Of the South to the ma
tiOn's fostering care and protection. Wrest-
ed from their masters control, with freedom
conferred on them by the government as a
war measure and in aid of the Union cause,
giving the elective franchise as the means
not alone of protection to themselves, Dut
OF protection to the nation, 1t IS now the
high duty of the government, from which 1t
can not shrink without incurrlng and de-
serving the execration of mankind OF al!
time, to protect the rights and privileges of
their enforced citizenship. Their lgnor'
ance is not their fault. Errors OF theory,
mistakes in conduct. are but the
legitimate fruits of their former enslaved
condition. The government assumed the
responsibility for evils resulting from this
when it clothed them with the full rights
and privileges of citizens. we appeal TO
tne natlOnal government, as the goou uaiue
and fair fame of the nation is dear to it, to
protect these people in their civil and po-
ltlcal rights and in their persons, property
and homes, and to provide and secure them
in the enjoyment Of all educational advan-
tages and privileges.
The following resolution was offered as
minority report, but was not accepted:
Resolccd, That we believe that the return
to gold basis should be speedily made:
we approve and adopt the principles OF