The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-10-04
National Republican Platform.

1N1OAVAdA 10puUlICoSu TldblUfIu.
When in the economy of Providence
this land was to be purged of slavery,
and when the strength Of the Govern
ment of the people, by the people, and
for the people, was to be demonstrated
the Republican party came into
power. Its deeds have passed into
history, and we look back to them
with pride. Incited by their memo
ries and high aims, for the good of the
country and mankind, and looking to
the future with unfaltering courage,
hope and purpose, we, the representa-
tives of the party, in National Conver-
tion assembled, make the following
declaration of principles.
First-The United States of Ameri-
ca is nation, not league. BY the
combined workings of the Nation and
State Governments, under their re-
spective constitutions, the rights of
every citizen are secured at home and
protected abroad, and the common
welfare promoted.
Second-The Republican party has
preserved those governments to the
hundredth anniversary of the nation s
birth, and they are nov the 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 inalienable rights,
among which are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness; that for the at
tainment of these ends governments
have been instituted among men, de-
irving their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed. Until those
truths are cheerfully obeyed, or, if
needed to be, vigorously enforced, the
work of the Republican party is un-
finished.
Third-The permanent paci6cation
of the Southern section of the Uuion
and the complete protection of its cit
izens in the free enjoyment of all their
rights, are duties to which the Repub-
lican party stands sacredly pledged.
The power to provide for the enforce
ment of the principles embodied in
hthe recent Constitutional amendments
is vested by those amendments in the
Congress of the United States, and we
declare it to be solemn obligation of
the legislative and executive depart
ments of the Government to put into
immediate and vigorous exercise all
their constitutional powers for reno.
wing any just causes of discomfort on
the part of any class, and for seeur-
ing to every American citizen COM
plete liberty and exacte quality in the
exercise Of all civil, political, and
public rights. To this end we imper-
atively demand a Congress and a
Chief Executive whose courage and
fidelity to these duties shall not falter
until these results are placed beyond
dispute or recall.
Fourth-By the first act of Congress
signed by President Grant, the Ma
tional Government assumed to re-
move any doubt of its purpose to dis
charge all just obligations to public
creditors, and solemnly pledged its
faith TO make provision at the earliest
practicable period for the redemption
of the United States notes in coin.
Commercial prosperity, public NOR
ais, and national credit demand that
this promise be fulfilled by a continu-
Gus and steady progress to specie pay
ment.
Fith-Under the Constitution the
President and heads of departments
are to make nominations for office /;
the Senate is to advise and consent to
appointments, and the House of Rep
resentatives is to accuse and prosecute
faithless ofiicers. The best interests
of the public service demand that
these distinctions be respected, that
Senators and Representatives who may
be judgers and aecIsers should not
dictate appointments to officers. The
invariable rule for appointments
should have reference to the honesty,
fidelity, and capacity of the appoint
ees, giving to the party in power those
places where harmony and vigor of
administration require 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 rights Of all
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