Nebraska advertiser., 1876-07-06
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.


WHEN, in the economy of Pro@iGence this ianC
was TO be purged of human slavery, and when tht
strength of the government of the people, by tht
people for the people, was to be demonstrated, the
Republican party came into power. It's deeds have
passed into history, and we look Oack to them with
pride. Injected by their memories and high aims
for the good of our country and mankind, and look
ing to the future with unfatering courage hope and
purpose; we, the represen ,tives of the party. in
national convention assembled, make the follow
ing declaration OF principles:
l. The United States of America is a nation not q
league. By the combined workings of the National
and state Governments, under their respective con-
StitutOnS the rights of every citizen are secured at
home and protected abroad, and the common wei.
fare promoted.
2. The Republican party has preserved those
governments TO the hundredth anniversary Of the
nations birth. and they are now the embodiments
of the great truths spoken at its cradle: That all
men are created equal: that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable rights
among which life, liberty, and the pursuit. OF
happiness; that for the attainment of these end;
governments have been instituted among men, de
irving their Just powers from the consent of the
governed until those truths are cheerfully ObeyeC
or If needed to be- vigorously enforced, The work
of the Republican party is unfinished.
3. The permanent pacihcatiOn of the Southern
section of the Union, and the complete protec
ton of its citizens in the free enjoyment of al
their rights duties to which the Republi
can party stands sacredly pledged. The power &c
provide for the enforcement CT the pi Lclples EN-
bodied in the recent constitutional amendments 1,
vested by those amendments in the Congress o.
emn eh 81 e eq T eh ~ 70 ee h
partments of the government to put into immedi
powers for removing any just cause of discOnten
on the part of any class and securing to every
American citizen complete liberty and exact equal
ity in the exercise of all civil political and public
rights. To this end we imperatively demand 9
Congress and chief executive whose courage and
hdelty TO these duties shall not falter until tn
results are placed beyond dispute or recall.
A. In the first act OF Congress signed by President
move doubts of its duty to discharge ali inst
obligations TO public creditors, and solemnIy pie i
ed its faith to make provision at the earliest pract
cable period the redemption of United States notq7
in coin. Commercial prosperity, public morals and
national credit demand that this promise be fnlfil
ed by continuous and steady progress to specie
payments.
S. Under the Constitution the President and heads
of departments are to make domination for office
the Senate is to adviseand consent to appointments
and the House of Representatives is to accuse and
prosecute faithless officers. The best inter rs
of the public service demand that these distinctions
be respected that Senators and RepresentativPS
who may be judges aud accusers should not dictate
appointments 10 Office. The invariable rules for
appointments should have reference to honesty, fl
deity and capacity to the appO nee giving to the
party in power those places where hf ,mOny and
vgor of administration requires its pol y to bepre-
reference to the efficiency of the public service and
the right of all citizens in the honor of rem
dering faithful service TO tn r country.
6. We rejoice in the Guckened conscience Of the
people concerning political affairs and will hold all
puplic officers to rigid responsibility. and engage
that the prosecution and punishment of all who
betray official trusts shall be speedy thorough and
Z. The public school system of the several States
Is the bulwaTk of the American Republic, and with
a vi9wto its ssecurityand dpermanehcew werecOmmend
an amendment to the Constitution of the United
States fOrbidding the application of any public und
property for the benefit of any schools instltu-
tiOnS under sectarian control.
s. The revenue necessary for current expenditures
and the obligations of the public debt must be large
ly derived from duties on impOrtatiOns which, so
interests of American labor and advance the pros
perity for the whole country.
9. We reatfiTm our opposition to further grants OF
the public lands to corporations and mOnOpOlies,
and demand that the national domain be devoted
TO- 1t is the imperative duty of the government so
10 modify existing treaties with European govern
ments that the protection shall be afforded to
the adopted American citizen that is given to the
and that all necessary laws should be
passed to protect immigrants in the absence of pow
er in the States for that purpose.
H. 1t IS the Immediate duty of Congress to fully
investigate the effect of the immigration and i'm
pOrtatiOn of MongOIans upon the moral and ma
terial interests of the country.
l.. The Republican party recognizes with approx
al the substantial advance recently made toward
the establishment of equal rights for women by the
many important amendments effected by Repub-
lican legislation in the laws which concern the per-
sOnaI aud property relations of wives. mothers,
and widows, and by the appointment and election
of women TO the superintendence of education,
charters, and other public trusts. The honest de-
mands of this class of citizens for additional rights
and privileges and immunities should be treated
with respectful consideration.
13. The Constitution cOnfers upon Congress SOver-
eign power over heTerrtQries ofthe United states
for their government, and IN the exercise of this
power it is the right and the duty of Congress to
prohibit and extirpae in the Territories that relic
OF barbariSm, pOlygamy, and we demand such leg
islatOn shall secure this end and the supremacy
of American institutions i'm all the Territories.
II. The pledges which the nation has given to our
soldiers and sailors must be fulfilled The grateful
people will always hold those who periled their
lives for the cOuntrys preservation in tie kndest
Is. We sincerely deprecate all sectional feeling
and tendencies. We therefore note with deep So
licitude that the democratic party counts its
chief hope of success upon the ELECTORAL vote Ofthe
united South secured through the efforts of those
who were recently arrGyed, against the nation, and
invoke the earnest attention of the country to the
grave truth that success thus achieved would re-
open sectional strife and imperil national honor
and human rights.
I. 16. We charge the Democratic party as being the
same In character and spirit as when 1t SypathZed
with treason; with making its control of the House
Of Representatives the triumph and the OppOrtuni-
~ of the nations FOES: with reaSSerting and ap-
Inrepented rebellion; with sending Union soldiers
to the rear and promoting Confederate soldiers to
the front; With deliberately proposing to repudiate
the plighted faith of the government; with being
equally false and imbecle upon the OveTshadoWing z
ends of Justice by its partisan mismanagement and
ObStrutiOn of investigation; with proving itself,
through the period of its ascendeECy in the lower
house of Congress, utterly Incompetent 20 admins
Ter the government. We warn the country against
trusting party thus alike unworthy, recreant, and
incapable
II. The national administration merits commen-
iatiOn for its honorable work in the management
Of domestic and foreign affairs and President Grant
deserves the continued and hearty gratitude of the
american people for his patriotism and his i'm
nense services in war and peace.