National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-07-27
p I. A T + O r Il
OF THE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY

When, in the economy of Providence, thi
land was to be purgel of human slavery, ant
w.CA Tie strength of the government of thu
people 10y the people and for the people was tt
be demonstrated, the Republican party camt
mo power. Its deeds have passed into his
tory aud we louk back to them with pride
melted 10y their memories and higk aims fol
TIE GOOD OF our country and mankind, and
looking to the future with courage, hope and
purpose, We, the representatives of the party
the National Convention assembled, make the
following declaration of principles:
|. The United States of America is nation
not a league. By the combined working OF
the national and State governments, under
their RESPECTIVE constitutions, the rights oil
every citizen are secured at home and projected
abr ad.
.. The Republican party has preserved these
goVt rlnirEts 10 the hundredth anniversary oil
the nations birth, and they are now the EN-.
bodiments OF the great truths spoken at it's
crado-'Ihat all men are created equal; that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienabe rights, among which are life, lib
erly aud the pursuit of happiness that for the
attainment Ol these ends governments have
been Instituted among men, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the governed
Until these truths are cheerfully obeyed, or,
if need lie, vigorously enforced, the work OF
the Republican party is unfinished.
). The permanent pacification of the South
ern section of the Union, and the complete
protection OF its citizens in the free enjoyment
Of all their rights are duties to which the Re-
publican party stands sacredly pledged. The
power to provide for the enforcement of the
principles embodied in the recent constitu-
tiOnuI amendments is in the Congress of the
United States, and we declare it to be the
solemn obligation of the Legislative and Ex-
ecutise Departments of the Government to
pat into immediate and vigorous use all their
constitutional powers for removing anv Just
causes OF discomfort on the part of any class,
and for securing to every American citizen
complete liberty and exact equality in the eK-
srcse of all civil, political and private rights.
To this end we imperatively demand Con-
gress and Chief Executive whose courage
and fidelity to these duties shall not falter
until these results are placed beyond dispute
or recall.
4. In the first act of Congress signed by
President Grant, the National Government as
suued To remove, any doubts of its purpose to
discharge its just obligation to public creditors,
and solemnly pledged its faith to make provi-
sion, al the earliest practicable moment, for
the redemption of United States notes In coin.
Con mercial prosperity, public morals and the
national credit demand that this promise be
fulfilled by continuous and steady progress
to specie payment.
5. Under the Constitution the President and
heads Of departments are to make nomina-
fiuus iUr Office, the Senate is ID advise aud
consent 10 the appointments, and the House
OF Representatives is TO accuse and prosecute
faithess officers. The best interests of the
pubic st rvice demand that these distinctions
be respected, and that Senators and Represen-
tatncs, vino may be judges and accusers,
Should not dictate appointments to office. The
inNarjahlr rule for appointments should have
reference to the honesty, fidelity and capacity
of the apTointees, prcterring friends of the
parry III power for places where harmony and
VlCor oi administration require its policy to be
Represented, but permitting all others to be
filled 10y persons selected with sole reference
10 the efficiency of the public service and the
right OF all citizens to share in the honor of
rendering faithful service to their country
t. We rejoice in the quickened conscience of
the itUFie concerning political affairs, and will
hold all public officers 10 a rigid responsibility,
aEG engage that the prosecution and punish
meut o. all who betray official trusts shall be
sPCcGv. Thorough and unsparing.
:. The public school system of the several
States Is Tie hulwark of the American Repub-
lie, and, with a view TO its security and perma-
mcnCC, We recommend an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States fOrbidding
the application OF any public funds or prop
cry Tor The benefit of any schools or institu-
tons under sectarian schools.
5. Tie revenue necessary for the current ex-
ptIbl- u.ts anu the ODllgdJlOu Ol Jle DuDlc
debt must be largely derived from duties on
inportations, which, SO far as possible, should
lie aCjusted TO promote the interest of Ameri-
can Ji!CT ana advance the prosperity of the
whole country.
y. We rcaffrm our opposition to further
grants of the public lands to corporations and
mUnopoIics, and demand that the national do
main lie devoted to free homes for the people.
10 Il is he imperative duty of the Govern
ment 10 modify existing treaties with European
GOvrrumInts, 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 to protect
immigrants in the absence CT power in the
States for that purpose.
II. 1t is the immediate duty of Congress to
Investigate the effect of the immigration and
importation of Mongolians upon the moral
and material interests of the country.
~. The Republican party recognizes with ap-
prOval the substantial advances recently made
toward the establishment of equal rights for
women, by the many important amendments
effected 10y Republican Legislatures In the
laws which concern the personal and property
relations Of wives, mothers and widows, and
by the appointment of women to the superin-
tendence of education, charities and other hub
lie trusts. The honest demands of this class
of citizens for additional rights and privileges
and imulunities should be treated with respect
full consideration.
Is. The Constitution confers upon Congress
sovereign power over the Territories of the
United States for their government. In the
exercise OF this power, it is the right and the
du.y of Congress to prohibit and extirpate in
the Territories that relic of barbarism, polyg-
amy, and We demand such legislation as shall
secure this end and the supremacy of Ameri-
Can institutions in all the Territories
Il. The pledges which the nation has given
IN. .,.l.N IT,
The grateful people will always hold those
who periled their lives for the country's pres
ervatiUn in the kindest remembrance.
ID. We sincerely deprecate all sectional
fe, ling ard tendencies. We therefore note
with deep soicitude that the Democratic
party counts as its chief hope of success on
the electoral vote of united South, secured
through the efforts of those who were recently
arrayed against the nation; we invoke the
earnest attention of the country to the grave
truth that a success thus achieved would re-
open sectional strife and imperil the national
honor and human rights.
1G. We charge the Democratic party as
being the same in character and spirit as when
1t sympathized with treason; with making its
control of the House of Representatives the
triumph and the opportunity of the nations
recent foes; with reasserting and applauding
IN the National Capitol the sentiments of un-
repenied rebellion; with sending Union SOL
diers to the rear and promoting Confederate
soldiers TO the front; with deliberately pro-
posing to repudiate the plighted faith of the
Government; with being equally false and
imtecile upon the overshadowing financial
ques ion: with thwarting the ends of justice
by its partisan misnanagement and obstruc-
tisn of investigation: with proving itself,
through the period of its ascendancy in the
Lower House of Congress, utterly incompetent
to administer the Government. We warn the
country against trusting a party thus alike
unworthy, recreant and incapable.
IT, The National Administration merits
commendation for its honorable work in the
management of our domestic and foreign
affairs, and President Grant deserves the con-
timed and hearty gratitude of the American