Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-10-19
Republican Platform.

s9h&6ltSgAI U
When. in the economy of Proyidence this
and was To be purged of human slavery. and
,',l %nen IN tne strength OF government Of the peo-
PIE oy the people and for the people was 70 be
uenohstfated, the Republican party came in
10 power. Its deeds have passed into history
anu we look back 10 them with pride. Incited
oy tneif memories TO high aims for the good
Oi our country and mankind, and looking TO
the futnre with unfaltering courage hope and
purpose, We, the representatives OF the party
IN National Convention assembled, make the
ioliowlng declaration OF principles:
First-The United States of America is a
Naton, not league, by the combined work
lngs OF tne National and State governments
under their respective Institutions. The rights
OF every citizen are secured at home and pro>
tected abroad, and the common welfare pro-
Second-The Republican party has preserved
the governments TO the hundreI b anniversary
Q! the Nations birth, and they are now EN- bo-
uitnsnts OF the great truths spoken at its
cradle, that all men are created equal: thai.
they are endowed by their creator with GER
tain inaneDeble rights. among which are life
attainment of these ends governments have
Deen instituted among men deriving their
Just powers irom the consent of the governed
OntI tnese truths are cheerfully obey ed, or,
u need be. vigously enforced, the work of the
Republican party is unfinished
Iniro-Ine permanent pacidcation of the
southern section OF the Union, and the COM
pIete protection of all its citizens in the free
enjoyment Of all their rights and duties, to
WHlcu IHe republican party stands Sacredly
pledged. The power 10 provide for the enforce
ment OF the principle embodied in the recent
Consltutional amendments Is vested by those
amendments in the Congress of the I nited
states, and we declare il 10 be the solemn OBJ
hgaton OF the legislative and executive de-
partments OF the government to put into imme-
ulaie ana vigorous exercise all their constitl>
tlonal powers for removing any Just causes OF
olscontent on the part OF any class, and for Sc
curing 10 every American citizen complete
IiDeriy ana exact equality in the exercise of all
clvll, political and public rights. To this end,
we lmperatively demand q Congress and a
GhleI Executive, whose courage and fidelity to
these duties shall not falter until these results
are placed beyond dispute or recall.
&ourth-In the first act Of Congress signed
oy fs>sldent Grant. the National government
assumed tc remove any doubts vi Its purpose
70 discharge all just OblIg al ions 10 the public
creditors. and -'soIemnly pledged its iaIth TO
make provisions at earliest Practicable period
for the redemption OF the United States notes
IN CON- Commercial prosperity. public NOR
ais, and national credit demand that the
promise be fulfilled by a continuous and steady
progress 70 specie payment
rHIn-Under The Constitution, the President
ana heads OF departments are 10 make nOmiu-
4tlons lor off1ce, the Senate is to advise and
copsentto 10 appointments. and the House of
representatives is 10 accuse and prosecute
Ialtniess Officers. The best interest OF the
puoiic service demands that these distinctions
oe respected that senators and Representa-
ives VINO may be judges and accuseTs, should
not dictate appointments to Office. The inva-
tlaDie rule IN appointments should have re-
ference 10 the honesty, fidelity aud capacity
OF the appointees. giving to the party in power
those places where harmony and vigor Of ad-
mlnlstratlon require Its policy TO be represent
ed, but permitting all others to be hlled by
persons selected with sole reference to the
eTeiency 70 the public service, and the right
OF All cltlZens to share in the honor of render
ing faithful service to the country.
SlXth-We rejoice in the Quickened con-
science of the people concerning political af-
fairs and will hold all public officers To "a rigid
responsibility. and engage that the prosecution
and punishment of all VINO betray official
trusts shall be swift, thorough and unsparing.
Seventh-The public school system of the
several 81 ates in the bulwark of the American
Republic, and with view 10 it's security aud
permanence, we recommend an amendment
TO the Constitution OF the United States for
bidding the application of any public funds or
property for the benefit of any school or in>
sLtutlons under sectarian &C ntrol.
Eighth-The revenue necessary for clrrent
expenditures and the obligations Tor the public
debt, must be largely derived from duties upon
importatlons which so far posi- Die, should be
adjusted TO promote the interests of American
labor and advance the prosperit.7 OF the whole
country.
Nintn-We reafirm our opposition to fur
ther grants OF the public lands to corporations
and monopol.es, and demand that the Nation
al domain be devoted to the free uses of the
people.
Tenth-It is the imperative duty OF the gov>
ernment SO TO modify existing treaties with
European governments that the same protec-
tiou shall be afforded TO the adopted American
citizens that Is given to the native born, and
that all necessity laws should be passed to
the States for that purpose
Eleventh-It is the Immediate duty of Con-
gress 70 fully Investigate the effect of the i'm
migration and importation OF Mongoltans
upon the moral and material interests of the
country.
Twelfth-1he Republican party recognizes
with approval the substantial advances re-
Gently made toward the establishment of
equal rights for woman by the many Important
amendments effected by Republican Legisla-
lures, in the laws which concern the person Al
and property relations of wives. mothers and
widows, and by the appointment and e. ection
OF women to the superintendance of education
charities, and other public trusts. The honest
demands OF this class OF citizens for additional
rights, privileges. and immunities should be
treated with respectful consideration.
Thirteenth-The Constitution confers upon
Congress sovereign power over the Territories
OF the United States for their govern ment, and
In the exercise OF this power it is the right
and duty of Congress to prohibi and extirpate
in the Territories that relic of barbarism, poly
gamy; and We demand such legislation as
shall secure this end and the supremacy of
American institutions in all the Territories.
Fourteenth-The pledges which the Nation
has given TO her soldiers and sailors must be
iuinlied, and grateful people will always
hold those VINO imperilled their lives for the
preservation in the k1ndest remem-
brance
Fiiteenth-We sincerely deprecate all Sec
tional feeling and tendencies. We, therefore,
note with deep sollcitude that the Democra-
tic party counts, as its chief hope of success,
upon the electoral vote of a united South, se>
cured through the efforts of those who were
recently arrayed against the Nation, and we
invoke the earnest attention of the country to
th' grave truth that success thus achieved
would reopen sectional strife and imperil Ma
tional honor and human rights.
Sixteen-We charge the Democratic party
with being the same In character and spirit as
when it sympathized with treason; with
making its control of the House of Represep-
tives the triumph and opportunity of The Ma
tion's recent foes; with reasserting and ap-
in the National Capitol the senti-
ments OF unrepentant rebellion; with sending
Union Soldiers to the rear, and promoting
soldiers to the front; with deliber-
ately proposing to re pudiate the plighted faith
of the government; with being equally false
and i'm beclle upon the eovershadOwing financial
questions; with thwarting the ends of justice
by its partisan mismanagement and obstruc-
ton of investigation; with proving itself,
through the period of its ascendency in the
Lower House in Congress, utterly Incompetent
to administer the government, and we warn
the country against trusting party thus alike
unworthy, recreant and incapable
Seventeenth-The National Admin lstration
merits commendation for its honorable work
in the management of domestic and foreign
affairs, and President Grant deserves the cons
tinued hearty gratitude of the American peo-
pie for his patriotism, and his eminent services