Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-08-05

nen III Tue ecUn0my OF ff0viu9ut0 iSnu
was to be purgcd OF human slavery, and when the
strength Of the government of the people. for the
people was to be demonstrated, the Republican
10 history, and We :cok back to them With bride
Incited by their memories and high aims for the
good OF our country and mankind. and looking to
purpose, we the representatives Of the Republi-
can party in the 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 Ma
tional and state government under their respect
i've constitutions the rights Of every citizen are
secured at home and protected abroad, and the
common welfare promoted.
9. The Republican party has preserved those
governments to their hundredth anniversary of
the nations birth, and they are now embOdiments
of the great truths spoken at its cradle, that all
men are created equal; that they are endowed by
among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness: that for the attainment of these ends
governments have been instituted among men. de-
irving their just powers from the consent of the
governed until these truths are cheerfully
0beyed, or. if needed. to be vigorously enforced,
the work of the Republican party is unfinished.
3. The permanent pacfcatiOn of the southern
section of the Union. and the complete protection
of its citizens in the free enjoyment of all their
rights are duties to which the Republican party
stands sacredly pledged. The power to provide
for the enforcement of TIE principle embodied in
the recent constitutional amendments is vested
ted States: and all declare 1t to be the solemn OBJ
legation of legislative and executive departments
u the government TO put INTO 1mneuidLo ana Wig
orous exercise all its constitutional powers For
moving any just causes of discomfort on the part
Of any class and for securing to every American
citizen complete liberty and exact equality in the
exercise of his civil political and public rights.
To this end we imperatiyely demand Congress
to those duties shall not falter until these results
are placed beyond dispute or recall. in the first
act of Congress signed by President Grant, the
National government sought to remove any doubts
of its dutyt to discharge all just obligations to pub
lie creditors and s1lemnly pledged its faith to
make provision at the earliest possible period for
the redemption of Y. s. notes in coin. CONNER
cial prosperity. public morals and national credit
demand that this promise be fulfilled by a con-
tinuous and steady progress toward specie pay
ments.
Under the Constitution the President and heads
of departments are to make nominations for Of
flee, the Senate is to advise and to 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: that Senators and
Representatives who may be judges and accusers
should not dictate appointments to offices. The
invariable rule for appointments should have ref
ference to the honesty fidelity and capacity of the
appontees. giving to the party in power those
places where the harmony and vigOr of the ad-
ministratOn 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 In the honor Of rendering faithful service to
their country.
8. We rejoice at the quickened conscience of the
people concerning political affairs, and we will
hold all public officers to rigid responsibility
and engage that the prosecution and punishment
of all who betray official trusts shall be speedy,
thorough and unsparing.
:. The public school system of the several States
Is the buwark of the American Republic; and
recommend an amendment to the Constitution of
the United states, forbidding the application of
any public funds, Orproperty, for the benefit of
any schools, or institutions, under sectarian con-
trOi.
$. The revenue necessary for meeting current
expenditures and the obligation of the public
debt must he largely derived from duties on inn
portations. which, so far as possible should he
adjusted So as to promote the interests of Ameri
Can labor and advance the prosperity OF the whole
country.
0. We reaIirm our opposition to further grants
| of the public lands to corporations and monopo-
lies, and demand tn the national domain be de-
voted to free homes for the people.
TO- 1t is the imperative duty of the government
so to modify existing treaties with European gov
ernments that the same protection shall be af-
forded to the adopted American citizen that Is
given to the native born; that all necessary laws
should be passed to protect immigrants in the alb
sence of power in the state for that purpose
ly investigate the effect of the immigration and
importation of Mongolians upon the moral and
material interests Of the country.
T. The Republican party recognizes with APP
proyal the substantial advance made towards the
establishment of equal rights for women by many
important amendments effected by Republican
| legislatures, in the laws which concern the per-
sonal and property relations of wives, mothers
and widows; by the appointment and election of
charities and other trusts. The honest demands
of this class of citizens for additional rights and
priv eyes and immunitcS should he treated with
respectful consideration.
IL. The Constitution cOnferS upon Congress SOW
ercign power over the Territories of the United
States for their government and in the exercise
of the power II is the right and duty OF Congress
To prohibit and extirpate in the Territories that
relic OF barbarism. poiygamy; and we demand
such legislation as shall secure this end and the
supremacy OF American institutions In all their
TER tories.
H. The pledges which the nation has given to
our soldiers aud sailors must he fulfilled The
grateful people will always hold those who periIeti
their lives for their countrys preservation In the
kindest remembrance.
and tendencies. We, therefore, note with deep
solicitude that the Democratic party its
chief hope of success upon the ELECTORAL vote of
united South, secured through the efforts Of
those who were recently arrayed against the ma
tion, and We invoke the earnest attention of the
country to the grave truth that u success thus
achieved would reopen sectional strife and I'M
peril the national honor and human rights.
IT, We charge the Democratic party as being the
same in character and spirit as when 1t sympa-
thized with treason: with making its control of
the House OF Representatives the triumph and
the opportunity of the nations recent foes; with
reasscrtin2 and applaud!ng In the national capitol
the sentiments of AN unrepented rebellion: with
sending Unisn soldiers to the wall and promot-
ing confederate soldiers to the front; with DELHI
erately proposing to repudiate the pighted faith
of the government, with being equally false and
imbecile; with overshadowing the ends of justice
Of investigation and with proving itself through
the period Of its ascendency in the lower house
of Congress utterly incompetent to administer the
government. We warn the country against trust
ing party thus alike unworthy, recreant and i'll
capable
II. The national administration merits COM
mcndaton for its honorable work in the manage
ment of domestic and foreign affairs, and Presi-
dent Grant deserves the continued and hearty
gratitude Of the American people for his patriot
ism and his immense service In war and In peace.