Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-06-23


When, in the economy Of Providence,
this land was to be purgei of human slave
~, and when the strength OF the Govern
meut of the people by the people for
the people was to be demonstrated,
the Repub!ica party came into power. Its
deeds have passed into history, and We look
back to them with pride, lnclted by their
memories and high aims for the good OF our
country and mankind and. looking TO the
future with unisltering courage. hope and
purpose. We. the representatives Of the
party. in National Convention assembled,
make the following declaration of principles.
|. The United States Of America Is
nation. not league. By the combined
work ngs Of the National and State Govern
ments. under their respective constitutions.
the rights of every citizen are secured at
home and protected abroad. aud the COM
mon welfare promoted.
ii. The Republican party has preserved
those Governments TO the hundredth ami
versary of the Nation birth, and they are
now enbodiments OF the great truths spoken
at its cradle-that all men are created
equal; that they are endowed 5y their
Creator with certain inalienable rights.
among which are life. liberty, and the pur-
suit OF happiness; that for the attainment
.
tuted among men, deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed. Until
those truths are cheerfuliy obeyed, and. II
needed. vigorously enforced. the work OF
the Republican party Is unfinished.
Ill The permanent paclhcatiOn OF the
Southern section Of the Union. and the COM
plete protection of all its citizens in the free
enjoyment of all their rights. are duties to
which the Republican party i sacredly
pledged The power to provide for
the enforcement of the principles en-
| bodied in the recent constitutional amend
ments is vested bv those amendments IN the
! Congress OF the United States. and We de-
/ clare it TO be the solemn obligation OF the
| Legislative and executive departments OF the
Government to put into immediate and Wig
orOus exercise all their constitutional
powers for removing any Just causes Of dis
content on the part OF any class, and seeur-
| ing to every American citizen complete
liberty and exact equality in the exercise
Of all civil, political and public rights. To
this end we imperatlvely demand Congress
and Chief Executive whose courage and
/ fidelity to these duties shall not iaiter until
these results are placed beyond dispute or
recall.
| w. In the first act Of Congress signed by
/ President Grant. the National G0yernmeat
assumed to remove any doubts Ot Its pur-
| pose to discharge all just obligations to
public creditors. and solemnly pledged its
| faith to make provision at the earliest prsc-
J tcabe period for the redemption OF the
i United States notes IN coin. Commercial
prosperity. public merits, and National
credit demand that this promise be fulfilled
/ by continuous and steady progress -
| specie payment.
! Il ha nj
! and heads of Departments are TO make no
limitations for Office; the Senate Is to advise
and consent to appointments, and the House
| af Representatives Is to accuse and prose-
| cute iaithless ofhcers The best interests of
the public service demand that these dis
tinctons be respected: that Senators ard
Representatives who nav be judges and ac-
cusers should not dictate appointments TO
ofice The invariable rule for appoint
I ments should have reference to the honesty,
fidelity. and capacity OF appoIntees. giving
TO the party in power those places where
harmony and vigor Of administration re-
quire its policy to be represented. but per-
uniting all others TO be filled by persons
selected with sole reference to efficiency OF
the public service. and the right Of citizens
to share in the honor of rendering faithful
service to their country.
science Of the people concerning political
! affairs. We will hold all public officers to
rigid responsibility, and engage that the
prosecution and punishment of all who be-
tray Ofhcial trusts shall be speedy, thorough
and unsparlng.
VII. The public school system of the sew
| eral States is the bulwark OF the American
Republic, and with view to its security
and permaneuce We recommend an amend
ment to the Constitution OF the United
States forbidding the application OF auv
public funds or property to any
school or institution under sectarIan con-
troll.
VIII. The revenue necessary for current
expenditures and the obligations of the
public debt must be largely derived from
/ duties upon importations. which, 50 far as
possible. should be so adj usted as to promote
the interests Of American labor and advance
the prosperity of the whole country.
| TX. We realhrm our opposition to further
| grants OF the public lands TO corporations
and monopolies. and demand that the Ma
tional domain be devoted to free homes
| for the people.
" IL is the imperative duty of the gov
ernment SO so modify existing treaties with
European governments that the same pro-
lection shall be afforded to adopted Ameri-
can citizens that Is given 10 native-b0rn,
and all necessary laws be passed 10 protect
immigrants in the absence of power in the
State Tor that purpose.
| XI 1t is the immediate duty Of Congress
| to fully investigate the effect OF the immigra-
tion and importation of Mongoiisns on the
moral and material interests of the coun-
| try.
XII The Republican party recognize with
approval the substantial advance recently
made toward the establishment of equal
rights for women BY the many important
amendments effected by Republican Legis-
lstures in the laws which concern the per-
sonsl and property relations Of wives. moth
ers. aud widows, and By the appointments
and election Of women TO the saperinsen-
dence Of education, charities. and other
public trusts. Ths honest demands Of this
clsss Of citizens for additional rights and