Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-07-27
Republican, Platform.

Plat rm of the Republican Party as adopted
at Gin matt, June 10th, 1876.
VIII in the economy ofProyidence this land
was be pUrged Of human slavery, and when
thest nSth of the Government Of the people,
by tn people, for the people was to be demon
stfateu, the Republican party came into power.
IT'S deeds have passed into history, and we look
hack to them with pride melted by their memo
RES and high aims for the good of our country
and mankind (; and, looking to the future with
anfaltering courage, hope and purpose, We the
representatives of the party IN National Con
venLion assembled make the following declara-
zion of principles:
/. The United States of America is nation,
not league. BY the combined workings OF the
National and State Governments under their
respective Constitutions, the rights Of every
citizen are secured at home and protected
abroad and the common welfare promoted.
2 The Republican party has preserved those
Governments to their hundredth anniversary
of the nations birth, and they are now embodi-
ments OF the great truths spoken at Its cradle,
that "all men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain inalien
able rights, among which are life, liberty, and
the pursuit Of happiness; that for the attain
nent of these ends, Governments have been in
atituted among men, deriving their just powers
truths are cheerfully obeyed, or, If need be, Wig
orouey enforced, the work OF the Republican
party is unfinished.
!. The permanent pacifcatfon Of the South
ern section of the Union, and the complete pro
lection of its citizens in the frOe enjoyment of
all their rights, are duties to which the Repub-
lican party stands pledged. The power to pro
vide for the enforcement Of the principles en-
bodied in the recent Constitutional Amendments
as vested by those amendments III the Congress
efthe United States; and we declare it to be the
solemn obligation of the Legislative and Exec
utive Departments of the Government to put
into immediate and vigorous exercise all their
: constitutional powers for removing any just
causes of discomfort for securing to every Amer
lean citizen complete liberty and exact equality
in the exercise of all civil, political and public
rights To this end we impcratiyey demand
# VhfASa
and fidelity to these duties shall not falter until
these results are placed beyond dispute or re
cali.
A. In the first act of Congress signed by Presi-
dent Grant the National Government assumed
to remove any doubts of It's duties to discharge
all Just obligations to public creditors. and
solemnIy pledged its faith to make provision at
the earliest practicable period for the rcdemp-
tiOn of United States notes in coin. CONNER
cial prosperity, public morals, and the national
credit demand that this promise be fulfilled by
continuous and steady progress TO specie pay
ments,
s. Under the Constitution the President and
heads of departments are TO make nomi" ctiOns
for office, the Senate is to advise and TO consent
to appointments and the House Of Representa-
tivesi is to and prosecute taithleSS officers,
The best interest OF the public service demand
that these distinctions be respected that Sena-
tors and Represen tltlves, who may be judges
and accuSers, should not dictate appointments
TO office. The inVaria bic rule for appointments
should have reference to the honesty, fidelity
and capacity Of the apprentice. giving to the
vigLr Of administration requires its policy to
be represented, but permitting all others to be
filled by persons selected with sole reference
to the efficiency OF the public service, and the
right of all citizens to share III the honor OF rem
Gering faithful service to their country,
6. We rejoice in the Quickcned conscience Of
the people concerning political affairs, and
will hold all officers to a rigid responsibility,
and engage that the prosecution and punish
mcnt Of all who betray Official trust shall be
speedy thorough and unSparing.
!, The public school system of the several
States is the bulwark Of the American Republic
and with a view to its security and permancnce.
we recomend an amendment to the Constitution
0f the United States forbidding the application
CT any public funds or property for the benefit
of any schools or institutions under sectarian
control.
8. The revenue necessary ion, current expen-
ditures and the obligations Of the public debt
must be largely derived from duties on import
ations, which, so far as possible, should be adj
justed to promote the interest Of American labor
and, advance the prosperity OF the whole coun-
try.
@ We reaffirm our opposition to further grants
of the public lands to corporations and monop-
oiies, and demand that the national domain be
devoted to FREQ homes for the people,
10, 1t is the imper i've duty of the Govern
ment so to modify existing treaties with Euro
pean Covenants that the same protection shall
be afforded to the adopted American citizen
that is given to the native born, and that all
necessary laws should be passed to protect i'm
migrants in the absence of power in the States
for that purpose
fully investigate the effect Of the imm grafton
and importation of MOngolians upon the moral
and material interest of the country.
II. The Republican party recognizes with APP
prevail the substantial advance recently made to
ward the establishment of equa! rights fer
women by the many important amendments
effected by Republican Legislature in the laws
which concern the personal and property rela
tionS of wives mothers and widows, and by the
appoin Iment and election of women to the
per intendence of education charities, and other
public trusts, The honest demands Of this class
OF citizens for additional rights and privileges
and IFamunltles should be treated with respect
ful consideration.
sovereign. power over the Territories of the Unit
cd States for their government, and IN the eX-
ercise of this power 1t Is the right and the duty
of Congress to prohibit rnd eXtirpatOin the Teri
itories that relic Of barbarlSn, pOlygamy, and
we dema nd such legislation as shall secure this
end and the supremacy OF American InStI
buttons in all the TERRITORIES.
H. The pledges Hhlca the nation has given TO
our soldiers and sailors aust be tuIhlied; the
grateful people will always hold those who per
lied their lives for the cOuntry's preservation ii
the kindeSt remembrance.
Is. We sincerity deprecate all sectional feel
ing and tendencies; We therefore note with deep
solicitude that the Democratic party counts IS
its chief hope of success upon tAe electoral vote
of the united South, secured through the efforts
of those who were recently arrayed against the
nation and we invoke the earnest attention
OF the country to grave truth that 2 success
thus achieved would reopen sectional strife and
imperil the national honor and huma2 rights,
10. We charge the Democratic party as bel9g
the same in character and spirit when it sym
pathiIed with treason: with making its control
of she House of Representatives, the triumph
and the opportunity of the nations recent foes
With asserting and applauding in the National
Capitol the sentiments of unreWentant rcbell-
ion with sending Union soldiers to the rear and
promoting Confederate soldiers TO the front;
with deliberately proposing to repudiate the
plight ed faith Of the Government; with being
equally false and imbeeiLe; with overshadowing
the ends of Justice by tbs partisan mismanage-
ment and obstruction Of Investigation; with
proving itself. through the period OF its ascen-
Incompetent to administer the Government.
We warn the country against. trusting party
II The National Administration merits COM
mendation for its honorable work IN the man
agement of domestic and foreign ahalLs: and
P esident Grant deserves TIE hsartS sit .,
{ the Ameaican people for his PATRIOTISM ard
immense service in war ID = pea6ss