Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-07-29
REPUBLICAN
NATIONAL PLATFORM
/ S g.

10 power. ilS teeuS nave PASSED into history,
and we look back to them with pride. In
cited by their memories to high aims for the
good of our country and mankind, and look
ing to the future with unfaltering courage,
nope and purpose, we, the representatives of
the party in the National Convention assem-
bled, make the following declaration of
principles
FIRST-The United States of America as Il
nation, not league, by the combined work.
ing of the National and State Governments,
under their respective Constitutions, the rights
OF every citizen are secured at home and pro-
tected abroad, and the common welfare pro-
moted.
SECoNp-The Republican party has pre-
served these Governments to the hundredth
anniversary of the Nations birth, and they
are now embodiments ofthe great truths, spok-
en- at Its cradle, that all men are created equal
that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights, among which are
life, liberty and the pursuit Of happiness :;
that for the attainment of these ends, Govern
ments have been instituted among men, de-
irving their first powers from the consent of
the governed ; and these truths are cheerfully
obeyed. or, if need be, vigorously enforced
The wor> of the Republican party is unlin-
ished.
THIRD-The permanent pacifcation of the
southern section of the Union and the com
plete protection of all its citizens in the free
enjOymt mt of all their rights and duties is n
work to which the Republican party stands
sacredly pledged. The power to provide for
the enforcement of the principles embodied in
their 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
nen complete liberty and exact equality in
,,ll Il 1 -
rights. To this end we imperatively demand
Il Congress and Il Chief Executive whose cour
age and fidelity to their duties shall not falter
until these results are placed beyond dispute
or recall
FoURTH-In the first Act of Congress signed
by President Grant the National Government
assumed to remove any doabt as TO its pur-
pose to discharge all its just obligations to
public creditors, and solemnly pledged its
faith 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 tultilled byg continuous
and steady progress toward specie payment
FIFTH Under the Constitution, the Presi-
dent 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 faithesS officers. The best inter
ests Of tho public service demand that these
distinctions be respected that Senators and
Representatives, who may be judges and ac-
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 vlgor of administration require its policy
to be represented, but peru.ittng all others to
be filled by persons selected with some refer
ence to the efficiency of the public service and
the right of all citizens to share in the honor
of rendering public service to the country.
SIXTH-We rejoice in the quckened con-
science of the people concerning political at
fairs, and will hold all public officers to rig
id responsibility, and engage that the prOsecu-
tiOn Of all who betray official trust shall be
swift, thorough and unsparing.
SEvENTH-The Public School System of the
several States is the 0ulwark of the Ameri-
can Republic, and with view to its security
and permanence, we recommend an amend
ment o the Constitution of the United States
fOrbidding the appropriation of any public
funds or property for the benoit of any school
institution uuder sectarian control.
EIGHTH-Tho revenue necessary for current
expenditure and the obligations of the public
debt must be largely derived from duties upon
importatiOns, which, so far as pos ibe, should
be adjusted to promote the interests of Ameri-
can labor and advance the prosperity OF the
whole country.
NINrH-We again affirm our opposition to
further grants of public lands to corporations
and monopOlies, and demand that the nation
al domain be devoted to free homes for the
people.
rENTH-lt is the imperative duty of the Gov
ernment to so modify existing treaties with
European Governments that the same protcc-
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 tho
States, for that purpose
ELEvENTH-It is the immediate duty of Con-
gress to fully investigate the effect of the inn
migration and importation of MOngUians up
on the moral and material interests of the
country.
TwELFTH-The Republican party recogn re
with approval the substantial advances re-
Gently made toward the establishment of equal
rights ior women, by the many important
amendments effected by Republican Legisla
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 superintenderce OF education,
charities and other public trusts. The honest
demands of this class of citizens for addition
al rights, privileges and immunities should be
treated with judicious consideration.
THIRTEENrH-The Constitution confers 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 TO prohibit and ex-
tirpato in the Territories that relic of barbar
ism, polygamy; and we demand such legisla-
tiOn as shall secure this end and the suprema-
cy of American institutions in all the Terrific
ries.
FOURTEENTH The pledges which the Nation
has given to her soldiers and sailors must be
fulfilled, and n grateful people will always
hold those who imperiled their lives for the
country's preservation in the kindest remem-
brancc.
FIFTEENTH-We sincerely deprecate all sec
tional feeling and tendencies. We therefore
note with deep solicitude thatthe Democratic
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 Nation, and invoke
the earnest attention Of the country to the
grave truth that a success thus achieved would
reopen sectional strife and imperil the nation
al honor and human rights
SIxrEENrE-We charge the Democratic par
ty with being the same in character and spirit
as when it sympathiLed with treason with
making i l. control of the House of Represent
atives the triumph and opportunity of the
Nations 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 prop osing TO repudiate the plighted faith
of the Government; with being equally false
and imbecie upon the oyershadowing fnnn-
eal question with avoiding the ends of JUS
tice by its partisan mismanagement and OBJ
structiOn of investigation; with prOylDg IT.
self, through the period of its ascendancy IN
the Lower House of Congress, utterly incom-
petent TO administer the Government and
we warn the country against trusting party
thus alike unworthy, recreant and incapable.
SEVENTEENTH National Administra-
tion merits, for its honorable work in the man
agement of domestic and foreign affairs, and
President Grant deserves, the continued hear
ty gratitude of the American people for his
patriotism and his eminent services in war
and peace.