The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-19
PLATFORM OF THE REPUBLICAN Ma
TIONAL CONVENTION.

y
TIONAL CONVENTION.
When. IN the economy OF Providence,
this land was to be purged OF human
slavery, and when the strength OF gov
ernment OF the people, by the people,
and for the people, was to be demon
strated, the Republican party came INTO
power. Its deeds have passed into MS
tory, and we look back to them with
pride. Incited by their memories 70
high aims for the good OF our country
and mankind, and looking to the future
with unfaltering courage, hope and pur-
pose, we, the representatives o1 tne
party in National Convention assembled,
make the following declarations OF prln-
ciples:
Nation, not league. BY the combined
workings OF the National and state
Governments, under their. respective
constitutions, the rights OF every clti-
zen are secured, at home and abroad,
and the common welfare promoted.
2. The Republican party has preserved
these governments to the hundredth an.
niyersary Of the nations birth, and
they are now embodiments OF the great
truths spoken at itsScradle-" all
men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights, among when are
life, liberty and the pursuit OF happi-
ness that for the attainment or these
ends governments have been instituted
among men, deriving their just powers
from the consent Of the governed" Un-
til these truths are cheerfully obeyed,
or, il need be, vigorously enforced, the
work of the Republican party Is un-
finished
3. The permanent paciiication OF the
Southern section OF the Union ana the
complete protection Of all it's citlzens
i'm the free enjoyment OF all their rlgntS
and duties, to which the Republican
party stands sacredly pledged. The
power to provide for the enforcement OF
! the principles embodied in the recent
! constitutional amendments, is vested by
those amendments In the Congress OF
, the United States, and we declare 1t to
be the solemn obligation Of the legisla-
tive and executive departments OF the
, Government to put into immediate ana
!, 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 citlzen
complete liberty and exact equality in
a the exercise Of all civil, political and
public rights. To this end we impera-
r lively demand Congress and Chle1
: Executive whose courage and fidelity to
h these duties shall not falter until these
i results are placed beyond dispute and
! recall.
a 4. In the first act Of Congress signed
e by President Grant, the National Coy
d eminent assumed to remove any doubts
{ of its purpose to discharge all just obi
> cations to the public creditors, anc
: "solemnly pledged its faith to make pro
l. vision at the earliest practicable perloC
e for the redemption Of the United States
y notes in coin." Commercial prosperity
Q public morals and national credit de
r inand that this promise be fulfilled by
i Q continuous and steady progress tt
specie payment. n,
S. Under the Constitution the Presi
i dent and heads OF departments are tt
make nominations for office; the Senate
is to advise and consent to appointments
v and the House Of Representatives is te
d accuse and prosecute faithless officers
q The best interest OF the public service
n demands that these distinctions be re-
J. spected; that Senators and Representa-
8 tfves who may be judges and accusers
n should not dictate. appointments. te
t. Office. The invariable rule in appoint
e ments should have reference to the hon
q esty, fidelity and capacity Of the ap
II those places where harmony and vigol
y of administration require its policy tC
d be represented, but permitting al
It others to be filled by persons selected
n with sole reference to the efficiency tt
o the public service, and the right Of al
b citizens to share in the honor Of render
ing faithful service to the country.
It s. We rejoice in the quickened con
+ science Of the people concerning politi
{. cal Affairs, and will hold all public OH
8 GERS to 8 rigid responsibility, and on
,s gage that the prosecution and punish
g mont Of all who betray Official trust
J. shall be swift, thorough and unsparing
). Z. The public school system Of tn
q several States is the bulwark OF tn
e1 American Republic, and with view t.
S its security and permanence, we recon
v mend an amendment to the COnstitu
l. tion Of the United States forbidding tn
d application Of any public funds or prop
erty for the benefit Of any school or in
q stitution under sectarian control.
l. 8. The revenue necessary for the cur
]. rent expenditures and the obligations Q
e the public debt must be largely derived
|; from the duties upon importations
g which, so far as possible, should be ad
) 'justed to promote the interests OF Amer