The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-06-24
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

sion to refer to 1t during the pending presi.
dental campaign, we give place in our col
umns to the Republican platform, as adopted
by their national convention last week at
Cincinnati The headings to the different
planks are those of the Chicago Times:
! HISTORICAL.
When, IN the economy of providence, this
land was to be purged OF human slavery, and
when the strength of the government of the
people by the people and for the people was
to be demonstrated, the republican party
came into power. Its deeds have passed into
history and we look back to them with pride
lncited by their memories and high aims for
the good of the country and mankind, and
looking to the future with unfatering coNr.
age, hope, and purpose, we, the representa-
tives OF the party in national convention
assembled, make the following declaration of
principles:
A NATION.
|. The United States Of America is ma
ton, not league, and by the combined work.
lngs of the national and state governments,
under their respective constitutions, the
rights OF every citizen are secured at home
and protected abroad and the common wei
| fare promoted.
3 The republican party has preserved
those governments to the Tooth anniversary
of the nations BIRTH and they are now en-
bodments of the great truths spoken at its
cradle, that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with Ger.
tain inallenable rights, among which are life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that
for the attainment of these ends governments
have been instituted among men, deriving
their just powers from the consent of the
I governed Until those truths are cheerfully
Obeyed, or, if needed to be, vigorously enforc-
ed, the work Of the republican party is un.
| finished
FOR THE KU'KLUX
g. The permanent paci6cation of the south.
ern section Of the union, and the complete
protection Of its citizens IN the free enjoy
ment OF all their rights, are duties to which
the republican party stand sacredly pledged
Applause The power to provide for the
enforcement of the principles embodied in
the recent constitutional amendments is vest
ed by those amendments IN the congress of
the United States, and we declare it to be the
solemn obligation of the legislative and exc
cntive 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
citizen complete liberty and exact equality
in the exercise Of all civil, political anG pub
lie rights. Applause To this end We i'm
peratively demand a congress and chief
executive whose courage and fidelity TO these
duties shall not talter until these results are
placed beyond dispute or recall. Applause.
FINANCIAL.
t. In the first act of congress signed by
President Grant, the national government as.
sumed to remove any doubts of its duties to
discharge all just obligations to public credi-
tors and solemnly pledged Its faith to make
provision at the earliest practicable period
for the redemption of the United States notes
in coin. Cheers Commercial prosperity,
public morals, and national credit demand
that this promise be fulfilled by a continuous
and steady progress to specie payments.
Load and long continued applause ana
cheers
PUBLIC PURITY,
5. Under the constitution the president and
heads of departments are to make nomna-
tons for office The senate is to advise anc
to consent to appointments, and the house of
representatives is to accuse and punish faith
less officers. The best interests of the public
service demand that these distinctions be re-
spected; that senators and representatives
who may be judges and accusers should not
dictate appointments to office. The invari-
able rule for appointments should have refer
ence to the honesty, fidelity, and capacity of
the appointees, giving to the party in power
those places where harmony and vigor Of adj
ministratiOn requires its policy to be repre-
sented, 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.
NO MORE BELKNAPs.
G. We rejoice in the quickened conscience
of the people concerning political affairs, and
will hold all public officers to rigid respon.
sIbility and engage that the prosecution and
punishment of all who betray official trusts
shall be speedy, thorough, and unsparing. |
Cheers.
OH, YES, THE SCHOOLS.
7. The public school system of the several
states is the bulwark Of the American repub-
lie, and with view to its security and per.
we recommend an amendment to
the constitution of the United States forbid.
ding the application of any public funds or
property for the benefit of any schools or in
stitutons under sectarian control. Great
cheering, continued for several minutes. In
response to repeated calls Gen. Hawley read
the plank the second time, and the delegates
and audience repeated their cheers.
REVENUE.
s. The revenue necessary for current ex
penditures and the obligations of the public
iebt must be largely derived from duties on
mportations which, so far as possible, should
De adjusted TO promote the interest OF Ameri-
IAN labor and. advance the prosperity of the
whole country Cheers
NO MORE CREDIT MoBILIER.
0. We reaffirm our opposition TO further
grants OF the public lands to corporations and
and demand that the national do
hahn be devoted TO Tree homes for the people.
sop FOR THE DUTCH. '
10. II is the imperative duty of the govern.
nent so to modify existing treaties with Eu-
opean governments that the same protection
hall be afforded 10 the adopted American
itizen that is given 10 the native born, aud '
1,,,.- IL, H., col.