The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-09-04
Platform of the Michigan Republicans.

sembled in convention on the twentieth
anniversary year of its organization,
appear before the people of the State,
after the uninterrupted exercise by that
party of all the responsibilities and
power during its entire existence, offer
ing no apologies, deprecating no criti-
cism, invoking no charity in the con-
struction of its acts, but challenging a
faithful scrutiny of its record, through
every vicissitude OF war and peace, and
the candid Judgment OF all just men.
In no spirit of vainglory, but in simple
Difference to historic truth, we assert
that since the Republican 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 Gov
eminent, to stand in the advance line of
human and national progress. During
the turbulent years before the war,
throughout the war, and i'll the unprece-
denied perplexities which succeeded, it
has forfeited none of it's pledges to hu-
manity, 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 !;
it has legislated wisely for the develop
ment of our abundant resources; it has
been liberal in the encouragement of
learning, and bountiful in providing
for the unfortunate it has persistently
cultivated a better civilization, and
there is no malignant hand that
can point to any of it's legislation
which may be used to make men
worse. At the same time, it has been
prudent and economical in expendi-
ture; has kept down taxation (;
has been, and is, steadily reduc-
ing 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 it as good reason for
acceding to the statement of our oppo-
nents, that the mission of the Republi-
can party is ended, when we are pointed
to a political organization more bene-
fetal in it's aims, or more devoted or
comprehensive in it's patriotism I; but as
long as it leads all other parties, as it
has done in the past and as it still does,
in the advancement OF good works, i'll
the investigation of grievances and in
the redress of wrongs, we can discover
no reason for surrendering the reins of
power into the hands of party whose
last public service was to drag the
country into civil war, to disgrace its
financial credit, and to leave the Gov
eminent on the very brink of dissolu
ton, and which made its last effort to
regain the confidence of the people I'M
der lead of its lifelong enemy, in the
most brazen, bare-faced 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 Republican par
ty, alike ia the nation and the State, we
confidently challenge comparison with
any other party which ever held power
III either. Pointing with just pride to
the great and steadily increasing reduc-
ton of the national debt. and the I'M
provement of the national credit, &C
companied by an equallyremarkable re-
duction of taxation and of expenditure
in administering the Government, with
all this our material interests and gen
erai prosperity have enormously in
creased, and our citizens are better
clothed, better fed, and better paid
for their labor than any other
people in the world. In this
State the State Republican manage
ment has secured the same blessings of
light taxation, economical administra-
ton, and rapidly-diminishing debt,
while our State institutions have been
literally built upuntil 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 interest
has been generously, yet economically,
cared for with such scrupulous honesty
in every department of the State Gov
eminent that even partisan calumny
dare not bring a specific accusation
against any. We fully appreciate the
extraordinary characterize the financial
difficulties through which the country
has recently passed, and regard it as
inevitable that able and patriotic repre-
sentatives should have differed like
their constituencies as to what were
proper remedies in circumstances
wherein they were without specific
precedence for guidance. We indorse
as wise and timely the measure finally
agreed upon by Congress between the
conflicting interests and opposing thee.
ries. While we recognize in the green
backs and national bank currency here
tofore existing in the United States,
saving as it does, the people, directly
and indirectly, many millions Of dollars
annually over the old State bank sys-
tenn in exchange and discounts, we de-
mand that in all financial legislation
Congress shall keep steadily in view
the resumption of specie payment, to
the end that ut the earliest day
practicable the promises to pay
of the Government may be equivalent
in coin in like amounts throughout the
commercial world. We believe that
banking, under a well-guarded national
system, should be free, the volume and
locality of issues being regarded by the
business law of demand, and we de-
nounce reputation in every form and
degree, holding the pledged faith of the
Republic sacred and inviolable in both
letter aud spirit. We would not forget
tba clo;,,,e 90 no oo1oraI ,,an,,1a of tba