Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-10-07
REPUBLICAN
NATIONAL PLATFORM
IS g.

anu we look back to them with pride. In
cited by their memories to high aims for the
ing TO the future with untatcring courage,
nope ana purpose, we, the representatives of
the party in tho National Convention assem-
bled, make the following declaration of
principles:
FIRST-Fhe United States of America as a
nation. not n league, by the combined work
ing. OF the National aud state Governments,
under their respective Constit tions, the rights
OF every citizen are secured at home and pro-
tected abroad, and the common welfare pro-
moted.
SEcoNn-The Republican party has pre-
served these Governments tothe hunGredth
anniversary of the Nations birth, and they
are now enlbudiments ofthe great truths, spok-
en- at its cradle that all men are created equal
that they are endowed by their Creator with
certalu mali nable rights, among which are
life, liberty and the pursuit Of happiness
thar tor the attainment of these ends, Govern
mentS have been instituted among men, de-
irving tn 'ir first powers from the consent of
the governed and these truths are cheerfuIIy
obeyed. or, it need be, vigorously entorced.-
The wOrlA of the Republican party is unfn-
ished.
TnlRD-The permanent pacifcation of the
southern section of the Union and the COM
plete protection of all its citizens in the free
enjoym6 mt of all their rights and duties is a
work to which the Republican party stands
sacredly pledged. The power to provide for
the enforcement Of the principles embodied in
thelr Constitutional amendments is vested by
those amendments in the Congress of the
United States, and we declare it to be the SOL
emn obligation Of the Legislative and Execu-
tive 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 for securing to every American cit
izen complete liberty and exact equality in
the exercise Of all civil, political and public
" inn rot t1raIN Il Il
Congress and Chief Executive whose cour-
age and fidelity to thoir duties shall not falter
until these results are placed beyond dispute
or recall
FoURrH-ln the FIRST Act of Congress signed
by President Grant, the National Government
assumed to remove any doubt as to its pur
pose to discharge all its just obligations to
publ creditors, and solemnly pledged its
talth to make PROVISION, at the earliest prac-
ticable period, for the resumption of United
States notes in coin. Commercial prosperity,
public morals and national credit demand
that the promise be fulfilled by Q continuous
and steady progress toward specie payment.
FIFTH Under the Constitution, the Presi-
don't and the heads of Departments are to
make nominations for office, the Senate is to
advise and consent TO appointments, and the
House OF Representatives is to accuse and
prosecute taithless officers. The best inter
ests Of the public service demand that these
distinctions be respected that senators and
representatives, who may be judges and ne
cuserS, should not dictate appointments to
office The invariable rule in appointments
should have reference to the honesty, fidelity
and capacity of the appointees, giving to the
party in power those places whore harmony
and vigor OF adminisra ion require its policy
TO be rcprcs .nied, bat prri itting all Others 10
be iled by persons selected with some refer
once to the efficiency Of the public service and
the right of all citizens to share in the honor
OF rendering pablic service to the country.
SIXrH-We rejoice in the quickened con
science of the people concerning political ai-
fairs, and will hold all public officers to rig
id responsibility, and engage that the prosecu-
tion oEal who betray official trust shall bo
swift, thorough and unsparing.
SEvENTH-rhe Public School System of the
several States is the bulwark OF the Amcri-
can Republic, and with view to its security
ment 0 the Constitution of the United States
forbiddng the appropriation of any public
funds or property for the benefit Of any school
institution uuder sectarian control.
EIGHTH revenue necessary for current
expenditure and the obligations of the public
debt must be largely derived from duties upon
importatioI&, which, so far as possible, should
be adj ustedFto promote the interests of Ameri-
can labor and advance the prosperity of the
whole country.
NINTH-We again affirm our opposition to
further grants OF public lards to corporations
and mOnouUles, and demand that the nation
nj domain be devoted TO free homes for the
people.
TENrH-It is tho imperative duty ofthe Gov
ernment to so modify existing treaties with
European Governments that the same protec
tion shall be afforded to the adopted American
citizens that is given to the native born, and
all necessary laws should be passed to protect
immigrants, in the absence of power in the
States, for that purpose
ELEvENrH-lt is the immediate duty of Con-
a "a tnt tn Ia III.
migration and importation of Mongoians up-
on the moral and material interests OF the
country.
TwELFTH-rhe Republican party recogn ze
with approval the substantial advances re-
GENTLY made toward the establishment of equal
rights or women, by the many Important
amendments effected by Republican Legisa-
lures in the land, which concern the personal
and property relations of wives, mothers and
widows, by the appointment and election Of
women to the superintendent OF education, |
charities and other public trusts. The honest |
demands of this class OF citizens for addition |
al rights, privileges and immuntios shoud bo
treated withJudicious confederation
THIRTaENrH-rhe Constitution confcrs upon
Congress sovereign power over the Territories |
of the United States, for their government |
and in .he exercise of this power it is the |.
right and duty of Congress 10 prohibit and ex |
tirpate in the Territories that relic of barbar-
ism, pO ygamy and we demand such legisla- |
ton "a shall secure this end and the suprema-
cy OF American institutions IN all the Terrific |
res.
FouRTEENTH The pledges which the Nation |
has given to her soldiers and sailors must be |
fulfilled, and grateful people will always
hold those who imperled their lives for the |
country's preservation in the kindest remem-
brance.
FifTEeNTH-We sincerely deprecate all sec
Lional feeling and tendencies. We therefore |
uegD sOIIrItuIs - DamOpratip a
party counts, as its chief hope of success upon |
The ELECTORAL vote of the United States, to be |
secured by the efforts of those who were re-
GENTLY arrayed against the \ ation and invoke !
.he earnest att sntion of the country to the
grave truth that a success thus achieved would |
reopen sectional strife and imperi the nation
al honor and human rights
SXrEENTH-We charge the Democratic par
y with being the same in character and spirit
as when it sympathihed with treason; with
ltivcs the triumph and opportunity of the
Nation's recent foes with reasserting and APP
plauding in the National Capital the senti
ments OF unrepentant rebellion with sending
Union soldiers TO the rear. and promoting Con
federate soldiers to the front with deliber-
ately proposing to repudiate the plighted faith
of the Government; with being equally false
and imbecile upon the oyershadowing fnan-
cial question with avoiding the ends Ofjus-
tice by its partisan acknowledgement and OBJ
struction of Investigation with proving it.
self, through the period of its ascendancy in
the Lower House of tongress, utterly incom-
petent to administer the Government and
we warn the country against trusting party
thus alike unworthy, recrcant and incapable.
SEVENTEENTH National Administra-
ton merits, for its honorable work in the man
agemcnt of domestic and foreign affairs, and
President Grant deserves, tho continued hear
ty gratitude of the American people for his
patriotism and his eminent services in war
and peace.