Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-09-04
Michigan Republican State Platform.


We, the delegated representatives of the Re-
publican party in Michigan, assembled In con
vention on the twentieth anniversary year OF its
organization, appear before the people OF the
exercise by that party of all the responsibilities
and powers during its entire existence, offering
no apologies, deprecating no criticism, invoking
no charity in the construction of its acts, but
challenging faithful scrutiny Of its record,
through every yelssitude OF war ana peace and
| spirit of yainglory but in simple Difference TO
historic truth, we assert that since the Republi
can party raised its banner at jackson in 1854 it
has never failed, under trials more severe than
have beset the history of any other party since
the organization Of the Government, to stand in
the advance line of human and national progress
During the turbulent years before the war;
throughout the war, and in the unprecedented per-
plexities which succeeded It has forfeited none
of its pledges to humanity, to its sister States,
nor to the interests of our own citizens 1t has
promised the protection OF good laws, and
faithful administration of them 1t has legislated
wisely for the development of our abundant
sources; il has been liberal in the .encour-
agement of learning. and bountiful in pro-
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 men worse. At the same time, 1t
has been prudent and economical in expenditure;
has kept down taxation; has been, and is, stead
lily 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 good
reason for acceding to the statement of our oppO
nents, that the mission of the Republican party is
ended, when we are pointed to a political organ
ization more beneficial in its aims more de-
voted or comprehensive in its patriotism; but as
long as 1t leads all other parties 1t has done in
the past and as II 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 surrendering the reins Of power into
to drag the country into civil to disgrace its
financial credit, and to leave the Government on
the very brink Of dissolution, and which made its
last n confidence npOnlp
under lead of its lifelong enemy, in the most
brazen bare-faced and shameless coalition
known in the history of parties, formed solely and
avowedly on the basis of spoils alone.
Upon the financial record of the Republican
party, alike in the nation and the State, we con
fidently challenge comparison with any other
party which ever held power in either. Pointing
with just pride to the great and steadily-increas
ing reduction of the national debt, and the i'm
provement OF the national credit, accompanied
by an equally remarkable reduction of taxation
and of expenditure in administering the Govern
ment, with all this our material interests and
general prosperity have enormously increased,
and citizens better clothed, better fed and
better paid for their labor than any other people
ip the world.
In this State the State Republican management
has secured the same blessings of light taxation
economical administration, and rapidly; diminish
ing debt. while our State institutions have been
literally built up until they have become the pride
of the people. Education. public morals, and the
various branches of industry have been fostered,
crime has been repressed suffering alleviated,
and the unfortunate provided for Large and
important improvements have been projected and
are in process of completion, and every State in
terest has been generously, yet economically,
cared for with such scrupulous honesty in every
department of the State Government that even
paEtispp f9lnm9Y dare 9oi REipG q speGifc -eceusa
evitabie that able and patriotic representatives
should have differed like their constltpehcles as
to what were proper remedies in clrcumstances
wherein they were without speclhc precedence
| for guidance We indorse as wise and timely the
measure finally agreed upon by Congress pc
tween conflicting interests and opposing lhe9rses'
/ H., VtZn1 N
| tional Bank notes n circulating medium lar SUI
perior to any paper currency heretofore existlhg
| In the United States, saving as it does the peo,
pie, directly and indirectly many millions OF
| dollars annually over the old State bank system
| in exchange and discounts, we demand that IN
| all financial legislation Congress shali keep
| steadily in view the resumption OF specie pay
| ment to the end that at the earliest day pracu
cable the promises TO pay OF .ne ;, ennts
| throughout the commercial world, we DelleNe
that banking, under well.guarded national sysSc
| tenn should be free. the volume and locanty OF
issues being regulated by the business law oil de-
mand, and we denounce reputation IN every
form or degree, holding the pledged talth OF tns
Republic sacred and inNlolaDle IN potn let'ei anu
we would not forget the claim of the .colored
people of the South to the nation i
control, with freedom conferred upon ihem Di
the Government as war measure, ana IN ald " "
the Union cause: given the elective franchise az
| a means not alone of protection to themselves
but of protection to the nation, 1t Is now the mgr
duty of the Government, from WhiCh IL Saillo
shrink without mourning and deserving the exc
Grafton of mankind for all time to protect ineh i,
in the rights and privileges of their enforced Gu
5 2pnshin Their Ignorance is not their fault FL
, rors f of theory and mistakes in conduct are bu
the legitimate fruits of their former ensave
condition. The Government assumed the =, d !.
sponsibility for the evils resulting from tines
when it clothed them with the full right, an an
privileges of citizens We appeal 10 dhe SS kauO,
of the nation is dear to it. protect these peopl
in their human and political rights, and IN the g
Il persons property and homes, and to provide IL
: and secure them in the enjoyment OF all educ'
= tional advantages and privileges