The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-06-22
REPUBLICAN, PRINCIPLES.
Full Text Of the Platform Of the Ma
tional Republican Convention
of 1876,

the Republican party came into power.
Its deeds have PASSED into hlstt y, and
on looking back to them with tbs pride
melted by their memories, and its aims
for the good of our country and man
kind, ard looking to the future with nn-
faltering courage, hope and purpose we,
the representatives of the party in Ma
tional Convention assembled, make the
following decoration of principles:
1. The United States of America is a
nation, not a league. By the combined
workings of the National and State Gov
ernments under. their respective constitu-
tions, the rights of every citizen are So
cured at home and protected abroad, and
the common welfare promoted.
2. The Republican party has preserv-
ed those goyernments'to their hundredth
anniversary of the nations birth, and
they are now embodiments of the great
truths spoken at it's cradle, that call
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 attainment of these ends
governments have been instituted among
men, deriving their just power from the
consent of the governed" Until these
truths are cheerfully obeyed, or, if need
be, vigorously enforced, the work OF
the Republican party is unfinished.
3. The permanent pacifcation 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 the prln-
ciples embodied in the recent constitu-
tiCnal amendments are vested by those
amendments in the Congress of the
United States, and we declare lit to be
the solemn obligation OF the Legislative
and executive de partments of the gov
eminent to put into Immediate and Wig
orous exercise all their constitutional
powers for removing any just causes OF
discomfort on the part of any class, and
for securing to every American citizen
complete liberty and exact equality III
the exercise of all civil, political and
public rights. To this end we lmpera-
lively demand a Congress and chief
executive whose courage and fidelity to
these duties shall not falter until these
results are placed beyond dispute OF re-
call.
4. In the first act Of Congress signed
by President Grant, the National Gov
eminent assumed to remove any doubts
of It's disposition to discharge all inst
obligations to public creditors, and sol
emily pledged its faith to make provis-
ion at the earliest practicable period for
the redemption of United States notes
in coin. Commercial prosperity, public
morals and national credit demand that
this promise be fulfilled by continu-
Gus and steady progress to specie pay
ments.
5. Under the constitution the Presi-
dent and heads of departments are to
make nominations for office, the Senate
is to advise its consent to the appoint
ments, and the House of Representatives
is to accuse and prosecute faithless offi-
GERS. The best interests of the public
service demand that these distinctions
be respected; that Senators and Rep
resentatives who may be judges and ac-
cusers should not dictate appointments
to Office. The invariable rule for ap
pointments should have reference to the
honesty, fidelity and capacity of the APP
pointees, giving to the party in power
those places where harmony and vigor
of administration requires its policy to
be represented, but permitting all 9th
ers to be filed by persons selected with
sole reference to the eff cheney of the
public service and the right of all citi-
zens to share in the honor of rendering
faithful service to their country.
6. We rejoice in the quickened con-
science of the people concerning polit- cal
affairs, and will hold all, public offic ers
to rigid responsibility, and engage that
the prosecution and punishment of all
who betray official trusts shall be
speedy, thorough and nnsparing.
7. The public school system of the
several states is the bulwark of the
American republic, and with view to
its security and permanence, we recon-
mend an amendment to the constitution
of the United Stotes forbidding the APP
plication of any funds or property for
the benefit of any schools Or institutions
under sectarian control.
s. The revenue necessary for current
expenditures and the obligations of the
public debt, must be largely derived
from duties on importations, which, 50
far as possible, should be adjusted to
promote the interests of labor and ad-
vance the prosperity of the whole coun-
try.
9. We reafirm our opposition to fur
Their grants of the public lands to cor
porations and monopOlles, and demand
that the national domain be devoved to
free homes for the people.
10. It's an imperative duty of the gov
eminent SO to modify existing treaties
with European governments that the
same protection shall be afforded to the
adopted American citizen that is given
to the native born, and that all necessary
laws shall be passed to protect immi-
grants, in the absence of power In the
States, for that purpose.
IL. It is the immediate duty of Con-
gress to fully investigate the immigra
ton of Mongolians upon the moral and
material interest of the country.
u. The Republican party recognizes
with approval the substantial advance re-
Gently made toward the establishment of
equal rights for women by the many i'm
p0rtant amendments effected by Repu-
blican legislatures, in the laws which
concern the personal and property rela-
tons of wives, mothers and widows and
by the appointment and election of wo-
men to the superintendent of educa-
ton, charities and other public trusts.
The honest demands of this class of cit
liens for additional rights and privile-
ges and immunities should be treated
with respectful consideration.
ID. The constitution confers upon
Congress sovereign power over the Ter
ritories of the United States for their
government, and in the exercise of this
power it is the right and duty of Con-
gress to prohibit and extirpate in the ter
ritories that relic of barbarism, poly
gamy, and we demand such legislation
as shall secure this end, and the supre-
macy of American institutions in all the
territories.
IA. The pledges which the nation b as
given to our soldiers and sailors must be