National Republican., 1876-07-06
p L A T z O r M
OF THE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY

| When, in the economy of Providence, this
| land was to be purgel of human slavery, and
when the strength of the government 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 his
tory, and we look back to them with pride.
Incited by their memories and high aims for
the good of our country and mankind, and
looking to the future with courage, hope and
purpose, we, the representatives of the party,
lie National Convention assembled, make the
following declaration of principles:
l. The United States of America is nation,
not a league. By the combined working of
the national and State governments, under
their respective constitutions, the rights of
every citizen are secured at home and protected
abroad.
2. The Republican party has preserved these
governments to the hundredth anniversary of
the nations birth, and they are now the en-
bodiments of the gleat truths spoken at its
Cradlc-'that all men are created equal; that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain
inaIienable rights, among which are life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness; that for the
attainment of these ends governments have
been instituted among men, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the governed"
Until these truths are cheerfully obeyed, or,
IL need be, vigorously enforced, the work of
the Republican party is unfinished.
8. The permanent pacification of the South
GGn Ol Iuc OulOu, anu IIlc COUlDGJc
protection Of its citizens in the free enjoyment
of all their rights are duties to which the Re-
publican party stands sacredly pledged. The
power to provide for the enforcement of the
principles embodied in the recent constitu-
tional amendments is in the Congress of the
United States, and we declare it to be the
solemn obligation of the Legislative AMI Ex-
ecutive Departments of the Government to
put into immediate and vigorous use all their
constitutional powers for removing any just
causes of discomfort on the part of any class,
and fer securing to every American citizen
complete liberty and exact equality in the ex-
ercise of all civil, political and private rights.
To this end we imperatively demand a Con-
gress and Chief Executive whose courage
and fidelity TO these duties shall not falter
until these results are placed beyond dispute
or recall.
I. In the first act of Congress signed by
President Grant, the National Government as
suued to remove any doubts of its purpose to
discharge its just obligation to public creditors,
and solemnly pledged its faith to make provi-
sion, at the earliest practicable moment, for
the redemption of United States notes In COIN
Commercial prosperity, public morals and the
national credit demand that this promise be
fulfilled by continuous and steady progress
to specie payment.
5. Under the Constitution the President and
heads Of departments are to make nomina-
tions for office, the Senate is to advise and
consent to the appointments, and the House
of Representatives is to accuse and prosecute
faithless officers. The best interests of the
public service demand that these distinctions
be respected, and that Senators and RepreSen-
tatives, vino may be judges and accusers,
should not dictate appointments to Office. The
invariable rule for appointments should have
reference to the honesty, fidelity AMI capacity
of the appoiutees, preferring friends of the
rtv In nlappS whpra bar A
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
right of all citizens 10 share in the honor of
rendering faithful service to their country.
G. We rejoice in the quickened conscience of
the people concerning political affairs, and will
hold all public officers TO a rigid responsibility,
and engage that the prosecution and punish
ment of all who betray official trusts shall be
speedy, thorough and unsparing.
Z. The public school system of the several
States is the bulwark of the American Repub-
lie, and, with a view to its security and perma-
mencc, We recommend an amendment to the
Constitution Of the United States forbidding
the application of any public funds or prop
erty for the benefit of any schools or inStitu-
tions under sectarian schools.
s. The revenue necessary for the current ex-
penditures and the obligation of the public
debt must be largely derived from duties on
import ations, which, so far as possible, should
| be adjusted to promote the interest of Ameri-
| can labor and advance the prosperity Of the
| whole country.
9. We reaffirm our opposition to further
grants of the public lands to corporations and
| monopolies, and demand that the national do
main he devoted to free homes for the people.
10. 1t is the imperative duty of the Govern
ment to modify existing treaties with European
&c hat -latI
be afforded to the adopted American citizen
that is given to the native born, and that all
necessary laws should be passed to protect
immigrants in the absence CT power in the
States for that purpose.
| II. 1t is the immediate duty of Congress to
investigate the effect of the immigration and
/ import alton of Mongolians upon the moral
| and material interests of the country.
I2. The Republican party recognize with ap-
| prevail the substantial advance recently made
| toward the establishment of equal rights for
| women, by the many important amendments
effected by Republican Legislatures in the
| laws which concern the personal and property
| relations of wives, mothers and widows, and
by the appointment of women to the superin.
tendence of education, charities and other hub
| lie trusts. The honest demands of this class
| of citizens for additional rights and privileges
| and immunities should be treated with respect
| full consideration.
| Is. The Constitution confers upon Congress
| sovereign power over the Territories of the
United States for their government. In the
| exercise of this power, it is the right and the
duty of Congress to prohibit and extirpate in
| the Territories that relic of barbarIsm, polyg.
| amy, and we demand such legislation as shall
secure this end and the supremacy of Ameri.
can institutions in all the Territories.
Il. The pledges which the nation has given
to our soldiers and sailors must be fulfilled
| I,,l 81, holl
who perilcd their lives for the country's pres
ervation in the kindest remembrance.
Is. We sincerely deprecate all sectional
feeling and tendencies. We therefore no.t
with deep solicitude that the Democratic
party counts as its chief hope of success or
the electoral vote of united South, secured
through the efforts of those who were recently
arrayed against the nation; we invoke the
earnest attention of the country to the grave
truth that a success thus achieved would re
open sectional strife and imperiI the nationa
| honor and human rights.
| l6. We charge the Democratic party as
Icing tie same in character and spirit as whet
it sympathized with treason; with making it.
control of the House of Representatives the
triumph and the opportunity of the nation:
recent foes: with reasserting and applaudin:
| in the National Capitol the sentiments of un
repentcd rebellion; with sending Union sol
diers to the rear and promoting Confederate
soldiers tosthe front: with deliberately pro
posirg TO repudiate the plighted faith of tht
Government; with being equally false anG
imtecile upon the overshadowing fnancia
question; with thwarting the ends of justic'
by its partisan msnsnagement and obstruc
tien of investigation: with proving itself
through the period of its ascendancy in tn,
Lower House of Congress, utterly Incompetent
to administer the Government. We warn thC
country against trusting a party thus alik
unworthy, recresnt and incapable.
| II. The National Administration merritt
ccmmeniatiOn for its honorable work in th'
management of our domestic and foreigl
affairs, and President Grant deserves the con
tiDued and hearty gratitude of the American
people for his patriotism and immense service
i'll war and in peace.