New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-26
PLATFORM OF THE NATIONAL RE-
PUBLICAN PARTY.

A.As>As~~
and when the strength Of the government
Of the people, by the people, for the people.
was to be demonstrated, the Republican
party came into power. Its deeds nave
passed into history. and We look back TO
them with pride. Incited by their memories
and with high aims for the good OF our coun'
try and mankind, and looking TO tne iuture
with unfa!tering courage, hope al ano pur,
DOse we, the representatives. OF inc parry
in national convention assembled, make the
following declaration of principles:
F,rstlThe United States Of America is Q
nation. not q league. BY the combined
workings of the national and State govern
ments, under their respective constitutions,
the rights of every citizen are secured at
home and protected abroad, and the COM
mon welfare promoted.
Second-The Republican party has pre-
served these governments to the hundredth
anniversary Of the nations birth, and they
are now embodiments OF the great truths
spoken at its cradle, ''that all men are Gre
ated equal that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienable rights,
among which are life, liberty and the pur.
suit of happiness; that for the attainment
of these ends governments have heea insti-
tuted among men, deriving their Just
powers from the consent OF the governed:
Until these truths are cheerfully Obeyed,
and, if need be, vigorously enforced, the
work of the Republican party is unfinished.
Third-The permanent pacification OF the
Southern section of the Union, and the com
plete protection of all it's citizens in the free
enjoyment of all their rights are duties to
which tho Republican party is sacredly
pledged. The power to provide for the en-
forcement of the principle, embodied in the
recent constitutional amendments is vested
by those amendments in the Congress OF the
United States, and we declare it to be the
solemn obligation of the legislative and ex-
ecutive departments of the government to
put into immediate and vigorous exercise
all their constitutional powers for removing
any Just causes of discomfort on the part
of any class, and securing TO every Amer
lean citizen complete liberty and exact
equality in the exercise of all civil, political
and public rights: To this end We imperar
lively demand q Congress and chief execu-
tive whose courage and fidelity to these du-
ties shall not faIter until these results are
placed beyond dispute or recall.
FOurth-In the first act of Congress-
signed by President Grant, the national
government assumed to remove any doubt
Of it's purpose to discharge all Just obliga.
tions to the public creditors, and solemnly
pledged its faith to make provision at the
earliest practicable period for the redemp-
ton of the United States notes in coin. Com
mercial prosperity, public morals and the
national credit demand that this promise be
fulfilled by q continuous and steady pro-
gress to specie payment.
Fifth-Under the constitution, the Preei-
dent and heads of departments are to make
nominations for Office, the Senate is to ad-
wise and consent to appointments. and the
House of Representatives is to accuse and
prosecute faithless officers. The best inter-
ests of the public service demands that these
distinctions be respected, that Senators and
Representatives, who may be judges and
accusers, should not dictate appointments
to Office. The invariable rule for appoint
ments should have reference to the hon.
esty. fidelity and capacity Of appointees,
giving to the party in power those places
where harmony and vigOr of sdministra-
ton require it's policy to be represented,
but permitting all others to be filed 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 rem
dering faithful service to their country.
Sixth-We rejoice in the quickened con.
science of the people concerning political at
fairs. We will hold all public officers to rigid
responsibility, and engage that the prosecu-
ton and punishment of all who betray
official trusts shall be speedy, thorough and
unsparing.
Seventh-The public school system of the
can republic, and with view to its security
and permanence, we recommend an amend.
ment to the constitution of the United States,
forbiddiDg the application of any public
funds or property for the benefit of any
school or institution under sectarian control.
Eighth-The revenue necessary for cur
rent expenditures, and the obligations OF
the public debt must be largely derived
from duties upon importation, which, 80
60 ho tad IA IN mr.
mote the interests of American labor, and ad-
vance the prosperity of the whole country.
Ninth-We resffirm our opposition to
further grants of the public lands to cor
pOratiOns and monopolies, and demand that
the national domain be devoted to tree
homes for the people.
Tenth-It is the imperative duty OF the
government so to modify existing treaties
with European governments that the same
protection shall be afforded to the adopted
American citizens that is given to the native
born, and all necessary laws be passed to
protect emigrants, in the absence OF power
in the States tor that purpose.
Eleventh-It is the immediate duty of
Congress to fully investigate the effect of
the immigration and importation OF Mon
goljans upon the moral and material inter
ests of the country.
Twelfth-The Republican party recog.
nizes with appr0va, the substantial ad-
vance recently made toward the establish
ment 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 and election of women to the
observation-disclosures 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 Terri
tories of the United States for their govern
ment. And in the exercise of this power,
it is the right and the duty of Congress to
prohibit and extirpste in the Territories
that relic of barbarian, polygamy; and we
demand such legislation as will secure this
end, and the supremacy of American insti-
tutions in all the Territories.
Fourteenth-The pledges which the ma
ton has given to our soldiers and sailors
must be fulfilled. The grateful people will
for their country's preservation in the
kindest remembrance.
Fifteenth - We sincerely deprecate all
sectional feeling and tendencies. We there
fore note with deep solicitude that the
Democratic party counts, "a Its chief hope
of success, upon the electoral vote of q
united South, secured through the efforts
of those who were recently arrayed against
the nation, and we invoke the earnest at
tention of the country to the grave truth
that q success thus achieved would re-
open sectional strife and imperil national
hener and human rights.
Sixteenth-We charge the Democratic
party as being the same in character and
spirit as when it sympathized with treason;
with making its control OF tho House OF
Represe natives the triumph and the op-
portunity of the nations recent foes; with
feasserting and spplauding in the national