Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-22

| save the Alabama question was auopteu. A
lively discussion then ensued on the Alabama
case, after which the minority report was re-
jected-yeas, 353; nays, 375-and the report
of the majority was adopted.
The Committee on Resolution then re-
ported the following platform, which was
subsequently adopted without amendment:
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 demonstrate
ed the Republican party came into power. Its
deeds have passed into his tory, and we look back
TO them with pride. Incited by their memories
ana high aims for the good OF our country and
mankind, and looking TO the future with unfalter-
ing courage, hope and purpose, we, the repre-
sentatives of the party in National Convention.
| assembled, make the following declaration of
1. The United States of America is a Nation,
not league By the combined workings of the
National and State Governments under their re-
spective Constitutions. the rights OF every citizen
are secured at home and protected abroad, and
the common welfare promoted. s.sats,..f
2. The Republican party has preserved these
Governments to the hundredth anniversary of the
Nations birth, and they are now embodiments
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
governments have been instituted among men,
the governed" Until these truths are cheertully
obeyed, or, if need be, vigorously enforced, the
| work of the Republic an party is unfinished.
8. The permanent pacifcation OF the Southern
section of the Union, and the complete protection
OF Its citizens in the free enjoyment OF all their
rights, are duties to which the Republican party
/ stands sacredly pledged. The power to provide
Tor the enforcement of the principles embodied
| in the recent Constitutional amendments is
vested by those amendments III the Congress of
| the United States; and we declare 1t to be the
! solemn obligation of the Legislative and ENeeu-
| tive Departments of the Government TO put into
immediate and vigorous exercise all their const-
| tutional powers for removing any just causes of
discomfort on the part of any class, and for Sc
! curing to every American citizen complete lib
| erty and exact equality in the exercise of
| all civil, political and public rights. To this
| end we imperatively demand congress and
! a Chief Executive whose courage and hdelIty TO
these duties shall not falter until these results
are placed beyond dispute or recall.
q. In the first act of Congress signed by Presi-
| dent Grant the National Government assumed to
remove any doubts of its duties to discharge all
just obligations to public creditors ana solemnly
pledged its faith to make provisions at the earli-
| est practicable period for the redemption OF
| United States notes in CON. commercial pros
perity, public morals and National credit demand
| that this promise be fulfilled by continuous and
| steady progress to specie payments.
). Under the Constitution the President and
| heads OF departments are to make nominations
for office. the Senate is to advise and TO consent
| to appointments, and the House OF Representa-
tves is to accuse and prosecute faithless officers.
| The best interests OF the pubic service
| demand that these distinctions be respected :;
that Senators and Representatives, who may
be Judges and accusers, should not die
tate appointments to office. The 1nEarlable
| rule for appointments should have reference
| to the honesty, fidelity and capacity Of the
| appointees, giving to the party IN power those
| places where harmony and vigor Of admins ira
rion require its policy to be represented, but per-
uniting 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
| the people concerning political affairs and will
hold all public officers to a rigid responsibility,
and engage that the prosecution and punishment
of all who betray official trusts shall be speedy,
| thorough aud unsparing.
| z. The publicschool system of the several
| States is the bulwark of the American Republic,
| and, with a view to its security and permanence,
we recommend an amendment to the Constitu-
ton Of the United States Iorbidding the applica-
ton of any public funds or property for the bene
fit of any schools or institutions under sectarian
control. =.
s. The revenue necessary for current expendi-
lures and the obligations of the public de BIT must
be largely derived from duties impO rtatiOns,
which, so far as possible, should be adjusted to
promote the interest of American labor and ad-
vance the prosperity of the whole country.
9. We 1eaffirm our opposition to further grants
| of the public lands to corporations and mOn0po-
| lies, and demand that the National domain be de-
voted TO free homes for the people.
| 10. 1t is the imperative duty of the Government
so to modify existing treaties with European
Governments that the same protection shall be
afforded TO the adopted American citizen that is
given to the native born, and that all necessary
laws should be passed to protect immigrants in
the absence of power III the States for that pur-
pose.
II. 1t is the imperative duty of Congress to
| fully investigate the effect of the immigration
and importation of Mongolians upon the moral
and material interests Of the country.
| II. The Republican party recognizes with ap-
prevail the substantial advance recently made to-
ward the establishment of equal rights for
women by the many important amendments
effected by Republican Legislatures in the laws
| which concern the personal and property rela-
| tons of wives, mothers and widows, and by the
! appointment and election of women to the super
intendence of education; charities and other pub
lie trusts. The honest demands CT this class OF
citizens for additional rights and privileges and
immunities should be treated with respectful
consideration. '. p .s.
49, The Constitution confers upon Congress
sovereign power the Territories of the United
States for their government, and in the exercise
of this power it is the right and the duty of Con-
gress to prohibit and extirpae in the Territories
that relic of barbarism, poly gamy, and we demand
such legislation shall secure this end, and the
supremacy OF American institutions in all the
Territories.
IA The pledges which the Nation has given to
our soldiers and sailors must be fulfilled; the
grateful people will always hold those who per
lied their lives for the country's preservation in
the kindest remembrance.
49, We sincerely deprecate all sectional feeling
and tendencies: we therefore note with deep
sOlCltude that the democratic party counts as It's
chief hope of success upon the electoral vote of
the united South, secured through the efforts of
those who were recently arrayed against the Ma
ton: and we invoke the earnest attention of the
country to the grave truth that a success thus
achieved would reopen sectional strife and i'm
peril the National honor and humas rights.
16. We charge the Democratic party as being
the same in character and spirit as when it sym
pathized with treason; with making its control
of the House of Representatives the triumph and
the opportunity of the Nations recent foes; with
asserting and applauding in the National Capitol
the sentiments of unrepentant rebelliOn with
sending Union soldiers to the rear, and promot-
ing Confederate soldiers to the front; with de-
liberately proposing to repudiate the plighted
faith of the Government; with being equally
false and imbecle; with overshadowing the ends
of Justice by its partisan mismanagement and
obstruction of Investigations with proving
itself, through the period of its ascend
ency in the Lower House of Congress, utterly in
competent to administer the Government We
warn the country against trusting party thus
alike Unworthy, recreant and incapable.
II The National Administration merits COM
mendation for its honorable work in the manage
ment of domestic and foreign affairs, and Presi-
dent Grant deserves the continued and hearty
gratitude of the American people for his patriot
ism and his eminent services in war and in peace
The Chair then announced that the next
business would be the nominations of candi-
dates.
Amotion to adjourn was made and lost.
Mr.. Kellogg of Connecticut, then presented