Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-29
Republican Platform.

Platform of the Republican Party as adopted
at Cincinnati June 10th, 1876.
When in the economy OF Providence this land
was to be purged Of human slavery, and Whcr
the strength of the Government of the people,
by the people, for the people was TO be demon
strated the Republican party came into power
It's deeds have passed into history, and We look
hack TO them with pride melted by their memo
ries, and high aims for the good Of our country
and mankind and, looking to the future with
unfaltering courage. hope and purpose, we, the
representatives Of the party IN National Con-
3enUi0n assembled make the following declara-
ton of princpleS:
/. The United States Of America is nation
not a league. By the combined WORKINGS Of the
National and State CoTermmenfs Under thcir
respective Constitutions, the rights Of every
citizen are secured at home and protected
abroad, and th& common welfare promoted.
The Republican party has preserved those
Governments to their hundredth anniversary
of the nations birth, and they are now cmboli
ments Of the great truths spoken at its cradle,
"endOwed by their Creator with certain inaiicn-
able rights, among which are life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness; that for the attain
ment Of these ends, Governments have been in
stituted among men. deriving their just powers
from the consent Of the governed" Until these
truths cheerfuIly ObeyCd, or, if need be, Wig
orously enforced the work OF the Republican
party is unfinished.
3. The permanent paciicatfon of the South
Gfn section OF the Union and the complete pro-
tectIOn Of its citizens in the f-0c enjoyment Of
all their rights, are duties to which u. Renub-
lican party stands pledged. The power to pro-
vide for the enforcement Of the principles en-
bodied in the recent Constitutional Amendments
is vested by those amendments in the Congress
ofthe United States; and we declare it TO be the
solemn obligation of the Legislative and Exec
utive Departments of the Government to put
into immediate and vigorous exercise all their
constitutional powers for removing any just
causes OF discomfort for securing to every Amer
lean cit zen complete liberty and exact equality
in the exercise Of all civil, political and public
rights. To this end we imperatiycly demand :,
u u
and fidelity to these duties shall not alter IN
these results are placed beyond dispute or re
call.
4. In the first act of Congress signed by Presi-
dent Grant the National Government assumed
to remove any doubts of It's duties to discharge
all just obligations to public creditors and
soemnly pledged its faith to make provision ut
the earliest practicable period for the redemp-
ton of United States notes in coin. CONNER
cial prosperity, public morals, and the national
credit demand that this promise be fulfilled by a
continuous and steady progress to specie pay
ments,
5. Under the Constitution the President and
heads of departments are to make nomi, ctions
for office, the Senate is to advise and to consent
20 appointments, and the House Of Representa-
tlVeS Is to accuse and prosecute tat hlesS officers
4he best interest OF the public service demand
that these distinctions be respected: that Sena-
tors aRd REPRESENTATIVES., who may be judges
and accuserss should not dictate appointments
to Office The infarlable rule for appointments
should have reference to the honesty fidelity
and capacity of the appeintee, giving to the
yigtr of administration requires its policy to
be represented, but permitting all others to be
filled by persons selected with sole reference
to the efficiency of the public service, and the
right of I'LL citizens to share in the honor Of rem
deriug faithful service to their country.
6. We rejoice IN the quickened conscience of
the people concerning political affairs and
will hold AL officers to a rigid responsibility,
and engage that the prosecution and punish
mGnt Of all who betray Official trust shall be
speedy. thorough and unsparing.
Z. The public school system of the several
States is the buwark of the American Republic
and with view to its security and permanence
We recOmend an amendment to the ConStitu ion
of the United State forbidding the application
of any public funds or property for the benefit
of any schools or institutions under sectarian
control
3. The revenue necessary tor current expen-
ditures and the obligations of the public debt
must be largely derived from duties on import
,atiOnS, which, so far possible, should be ad-
justed to promote the interest of American labor
and, advance the prosperity Of the whole coun-
try.
9. w reaairm our opposition to further grants
OF the pubic lands to corporations and mon0p-
OlieS, and demand that the national domain be
devoted to FREQ homes for the people
10, Ii is the imperitive duty of the Govorn-
ment so to modify existing treaties with Euro
pean Covenants that the same protection shall
be afforded to the adopted American citizen
that IS given to the native born, and that all
necessary laws should be passed 20 protect i'm
migrants III the absence OF power in the States
Tor that purpose,
II. 1t is the Immediate duty of CONGRESS to
fully investigate the effect OF the migration
and importation Of MongOlians upon the moral
and material interest OF the country.
~ The Republican party recognizes wi an
proyal the ubstantal advance recently made to
ward the establishment of equa. rights for
women by the many important amendments
effected by Republican, Legislature in the laws
which concern the personal and property rela
tons OF wives, mothers, and widows, and by the
appointment and election of women to the $.
per mtendcnce OF education charities and other
public trusts, The honest demands of this class
OF citizens for additional rights and priyilices
ana lmmunltles should be treated with respect
tul consideration.
Is. The constitution confers upon Congress
sovereign power over the Territories of the nit.
ed States tor their government. and in the eX-
erclse OF this power it is the right and the duty
OF Congress to prohibit md eXtirpatoin the Tcw-
ltorles that relic OF barbariSm, pOlygamy. ana
we demand such legislation as shall secure this
end, ana the supremacy of American insti-
buttons in all the Territories
II. The pledges which the nation has given tn
our soldiers and sailors must be fulfilled: the
greatetul people vii always hold those who per
lied their lives for the country's preservation in
the klndest remembrance.
To- W sincerity deprecate all sectional feel
ing and tendencies; we therefore note witt dcep
solcitude that the Democratic party counts as
ltS chlet nope OF success upon the electoral vote
o. the united South, secured through the efforts
OF those who were recently arraycd against the
nation and we invoke the earnest attention
OF the country to grave truth that a success
thuS achleFed would reopen sectional strife and
lmperl the national honor and human rights.
4AS't - lLtS btdlOCfdJlC party as DelQT
the same in character and spirit IS when it SYM
p9t4IZGd with treason; with making its control
OF the House of Representatives the trininnh
andth opportunity of the nations recent foes
Win asserting and applaQ ling in the National
EaplIol the sentiments of unreWc0t9Dt r>heII-
ion; with sending Union SELLERS to the rear aud
pr4 prem 81 Contederate soldiers to the front:
with desperately proposing TO repuiiate the
plighted faith Of the Government. Win 49, ing
equally false and imbecie; with oYershadowin5,
the ends OF justice by the partisan mrSmanage-
ment ana obstruction Of Investigation viii
proving itself, through the period Of its ,san
daney IN the Lower House Of Congress, utterly
incompetent 10 administer the Goyernmenf
We warn the country against trusting a Marty
thus alike unworthy, recreant and incanable
II. The National Administration merits com,
mendatlon tor Its honorable work in the man
agement of domestic and foreign affairs omd
President Grant deserves the hearty erttitnja
of the Ameaican people for his patriotism and
his immense service in war and in peace.