The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-06-22
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

SiEClnlltll NOllN 6IltlOH IttSl Ntths
/. The United States of America
is a nation, not league. BY the COM
bined working of the National and
State Governments, under their res
pective Constitutions, the rights of
every citizen are secured at home and
protected abroad.
2. The republican party has pre-
served these governments to the hun
dredth anniversary of the nations
birth, land they are now the embodi
ments of the great truths spoken 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, gov
ernments have been instituted among
men, deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed" Until
these truths are cheerfully obeyed, or,
if need be, are vigorously enforced,
the work Of the Republican party is
unfinished.
3. The permanent pacification of
the Southern section of the Union,
and the complete protection of its cit>
liens in the free enjoyment of all
their rights are 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 in the Congress of the
United States. and we declare it to be
the..solemn obligation of the Legisla-
tive and Executive Departmental the
Government TO put into immediate
and vigorous use all their constitution
al powers for removing any just caus>
es Of discomfort on the part of any
class, and for securing to every Amer
lean citizen complete liberty and ex>
act equality in the exercise of all CIV
il, political and private rights. To
this end we imperatiEely demand a
Congress and Chief Executive
whose courage and fidelity to these
duties shall not falter until these re-
suits are placed beyond dispute Or re-
call.
4. In the first act of Congress sign
ed by President Grant, the National
Government assumed to remove any
doubts of its purpose to discharge its
just obligation 20 public creditors,
and solemnly pledges its faith to
make provision, at the earliest prac-
ticable moment, for the redemption
of United States notes in coin. Com
mercial prosperity, public morals and
the national credit demands that this
promise be fulfilled by continuous
and steady progress to specie pay
ment.
5. Under the constitution the Pres
ident and heads of departments are to
make nominations for office, the Sen
ate is to advise and consent TO the APP
pointments, and the House of Repre-
sentatives i4 to nccu8e and prosecute
faithless officers. The best interests
Of the public service demands that
these distinctions be respected, and
that Senators and representatives.,
who may be judges and accusers,
should not dictate appointments to
Office. The invariabIe rule for APP
pointments should have reference to
the honesty, fidelity. and capacity of
the appointees, prefering friends of the
party in power for places where har-
mOny and and vigor 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 all citizens to share
in the honor of rendering faithful
service to their country.
6. We rejoice in the quickened
conscience of our people concerning
political aff.iirs, aud will hold all pub
lie officers to a rigid responsibility,
and engage that the prosecution and
punishment Of all who betray official
trusts shall be speedy, thorough and
unsparing.
Z. The public school system of the
several States is the bulwark of the
American Republic, and with view
to its security and permanence, we re-
commend an amendment to the con-
stitution of the United States forbid
ding the application of any public
funds or property for the benefit of
any schools or institutions under sec.
tartan control.
s. The revenue necessary for cu:-
rent expenditures and the obligation
of the public debt must be largely
derived from duties on importations,
which SO far us possible, should be
adjusted TO promote the interest of
American labor and advance the
prosperity of the whole country.
8. We reafirm our opposition to
further grants ofthe public lands to
corporations and monopohes, and de-
mand that the national domain be de-
voted to free homes for the people.
10. 1t is the imperative duty of
the Government so tomodify existing
treaties with European Governments,
that the same protection shall be at
forded to the adopted American cit
izen that is given to the native
born, and that all necessary laws
Should be passed to protect immi-