Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-03-23
THE platform.

The Republicans of Wisconsin, in State con-
vention assembled, in response to the call of
the National Union Republican committee for
the Republicans of the several States of the
Union to elect delegates to their National con
vention, send fraternal greetings to the Repub-
licans II all parts of our beloved land with
cordial assurances to all patriotic citizens who
honor the flag of our common country, as the
emblem of liberty, equality and fraternity, of
our earnest desire to see the republic enter
upon the second century of its prosperous cas-
reer free from sectional strife or injustice of
any name or nature, and that we will erdea-
vor to promote friendly feeling and permanent
harmony throughout the entire country, and
will maintain and support all measures, acts
and laws, the enforcement of which shall
secure to every citizen his constitutional rights
including the full and free exercise of the
right of franchise without intimidation or
fraud.
We are in favor of vigorous efforts to pros
ecute and punish those who have been guilty of
official dishonesty, and to detect and to bring
to punishment all who have in any form con-
spired to defraud the Government of its lust and
legal revenues.
We believe in the unwritten law of the land
which declares it unwlse for Chief Magistrate
10 hold his office beyond two terms. andi we
accept the declaration of President Grant in
harmony with this law as bnt another claim to
our veEeration and gratitude
We believe in national arbitration in lieu of
war, and we point to the scene of two nations
strong enough to be above fear, and wise
enough to be above passion, adjusting claims
before this tribunal as among the proudest
monuments of the Republican party.
While endeavoring to reduce the national
debt that was incurred IN the presence of or
ganized treason ard armed rebellion within
political party which again aspires to the con-
troll OF the Government we are opposed to i'm
pairing the credit of the nation By depreciatne
any of its obligations, and in favor of sustain
inc in every way the national faith and finan,
cal honor
We believe in honest money that the cur,
rency of the nation should be, as soon as con-
sistent with business interests and safety, be
made equal to gold, and, until that time, should
continue as legal tender.
We hold as of priceless value and of the
greatest Importance the common school system
OF the country, which, supported, by just and
equal taxation of property for the benefit OF
OF all, and accessible to the children of citi
cent of every nationality, color, condition or
reed, should be maintained absolutely free
from sectarian control, and that popular edu-
cation is the right arm of national safety under
free and tolerant Government whose
guaranty of liberty can only be perpetuated
while knowledge pervades the masses.
While reiterating our firm devotion to the
principles that were cheri she'd and established
by the American patriots of 1875 as incorpor>
ated in their declaration of independence in
the Constitution of the Union, and the laws
ofCongress, we cannot ignore the fact. which
is indelibly written in our national7hstory,
that for the privilege of celebrating the CEN
tenniai of the Republic the freemen of
America are indebted not only to its founders
but also to its defenders, and that if to-day
we nave country or Government whose
existence is worth celebrating it because in
the hour of its greatest peril, its interests and
welfare were intrusted to party which gave
no aid or comfort to the enemies of our
common country, and which now gives, the
only security or means Tor present imure
safety, prosperity, and honor as power for
good among the nations
With the renewal of our pledges to the
platform of principles adopted by the Repub-
lcan State Convention in July last, we enter
upon the campaign of 1876 with assurances
from all directions that the party OF law,
order, progress, and freedom will achieve
another glorious victory.