Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-09-16
REPUBLICAN
NATIONAL PLATFORM
L IS 6.

people by the people, and tor the people was
demonstrated, the Republican party came in
to power. Its deeds have 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 unfaluering courage,
hope 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 a
nation. not a league, by the combined work
ing of the National and State Governments,
under their respective Constitutions, the rights
of every citizen are secured at homo and pro-
tected abroad, and the common welfare pro-
noted.
SEtoND-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 Tor 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 cheertully
obeyed. Or If need be, vigorously enforced
The wora of the Republican party is unhn-
ished.
THIRD-The permanent pacihcation of the
southern section of the Union and the COM
plete protection of all its citizens in the free
enjoymc mt of all their rights and duties is II
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 Departm nts of the Government, to put
into immediate and vigorous exercise all
their Constitutional powers, tor removing any
just causes OF discomfort on the part OF any
class and for securing to every American cit
izen complete liberty and exact equality in
the exercise of all civil, political and public
rights. To this end we imperatvely demand
Congress and Chief Executive whose cour-
age and fidelity to their duties shall not talter
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 oblig tions to
public creditors, and sOlemnly pledged its
faith to make lrovision, 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 fuliled by continuous
and steady progress toward specie payment.
FIFTH Under the Constitution, the Pres-
dent and the heads Of departments are to
make nominations for Office, tho Senate is to
advise and consent to appointments, and the
House OF Representatives is to accuse and
prosecute faithless officers. The best inter
ests ofthe 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 tho 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 bat perh itting all others TO
be tilled by persons selected with some refer
ence to the eihci sncy of the publc service and
the right of all citizens to share in the honor
of rendering public service to the country.
SNTH-We rejoice in the quickened CON
science otthe people concerning political al
fairs, and will hold all public officers to II rig
Id responsibi lity, and engage that the prosecu-
ton of all who betray official trust shall be
swift, thorough and unsparing.
SEvENrH-The Public School System of the
several States is the bulwark 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
for5idding the appropriation of any public
funds or property for the benefit of any school
institution uuder sectarian control.
EIGHTH-The revenue necessary for current
expenditure and the obligations of the public
debt must be largely derived from duties upon
importatOns, which, so far MS pos ible, shou d
be ADJUSTED to promote the interests of Ameri-
can labor and advance the prosperity of the
whole country
NINTH-We again affirm our opposition to
further grants of public lards to corporations
and mOnOpolies, and demand that tue nation
al domain be devoted to free homes for the
people.
TENrH-It 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 the
States, for that purpose.
ELEvENTH-lt is the immediate duty of Con-
gress to fully investigate tho effect of the inn
migration and importation of Mongolians up
on the moral and material interests of the
country.
TwELFTH-The Republican party recogn ze
with approval the substantial advances re-
comfy made toward the establishment of equal
rights or women, by the many important
lures in the land, which concern the personal
and property relations of wives, mothers and
widows, by the appointment and election OF
women 10 the superintendent, OF education,
charities and other public trusts. The honest
demands Of this class of citizens for addition
al rights privileges and immanities should be
treated withJudicious consideration.
THIRrEENTH-Th 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-
tirpate in the Territories that relic of barbar-
ism, polygamy and we demand such legisla-
tion as sha 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 grateful people will always
hold those who lmperiled their lives for the
eountry's preservation In the kindest remen-
branoe.
FIFrEaNTH-We sincerely deprecate all sec
tional feeling and tendencies. We therefore
note with deep solicItude that the Democratic
party counts, as its chief hope of succ s. upon
the Electoral vote of the United states, to be |
secured by the efforts of those who were re- |
Gently arrayed against the alton, and invoke |
the earnest attention Of the country to the
grave truth that success thus achieved would
reopen sectional strife and lnperil the nation |
al honor and human rights
SIxrEENTH-W G charge the Democratic par
ty with being the same in character and spirit
as when it sympathiLed with treason with
making i Is control Of the House OF Represent-
atives the triumph and opportunity of the
Nations recent foes with asserting and ap-
plauding in the National Capital the senti-
ments of unTepentant rebellion with sending
Union soldiers to the rear and promoting Con
federate soldiers to the front with deliber-
ately proposing to repudiate the plighted faith
of the Government; with being equally alse
and imbecile upon the OvershadOwing fnan-
cial question with avoiding the ends OF JUS
tice by its partisan msmanagement and OBJ
strncton of investigation with proving it,
self, through the period of its ascendaney 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-The National Administra-
ton 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.