Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-07-20
IL Republican, Platform.

at Cincinnati. June 10TH 1876.
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, for the people was to be demon
strated, the Republican party came into power
Its deeds have passed into history, and We look
back to thens with pride melted by their memo
res, and high aims for the good of our county
and mankind and looking to the future with
altering courage hope and purpose, We. the
representatives OF the party in National Con-
vention assemble ed. make the following declara-
tioR Of principles
T. The United States of America is nation.
not league. BY the combined workings of the
National and State Governments under their
respective Constitutions, the rights of every
citizen are secured at nome anu protected
abroad, and tbs common welfare promoted.
; The Republican party has preserved those
Governments to their hundredth anniversary
Of the nations BIRTH and they are now embOdi
lnents Of the great truths spoken at its cradle,
that all men are created equal :" that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain inalien
able rights, among which are life, liberty, and
the pursuit OF happiness; that for The attain
iaent of these ends, Governments have been in
stitutcd amonS men, deriving their just powers
from the consent Of the governed. Until these
truths are cheerfully obeycd, or, if need be- Wig
orouSly enforced, the work of the Republican
party i unfinished.
); The permanent pacifcatfon of the South
section OF the Union, and the complete pro-
tectIon of its citizens in the frOc enjoyment Of
all thoir rights, duties to which the Rcyub-
lican party stands pledged. The power to pro
bodied in the recent Constitutional Amendments
is vested by those amendments in the Congress
ofthc United States: and we declare it to be the
solemn obliga ton of the Legislative and Exec
utive Departments of the Government to put
into immediate and vigorous exercise all their
constitutional powers for removing any just
causes Of discomfort for securing to every Amer
lean citizen complete liberty and exact equality
in the exercise of all civil. political, and public
rights. To this end we imperatiyely demand a
Congress and Chief Executive whose courage
and fidelity to these duties shall net falter until
these results placed beyond dispute or re-
call,
l. 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. and
solemnly pledged its faith to make provision at
the earliest practicable period for the redcmp-
ton of United States notes in coin. CONNER
cial prosperity, public morals, and the national
credit demand that this promise be fulfilled by q
continuous and steady progress to specie pay
ments,
heads Of departments are to make noni cti0ns
for Office the Senate is to advise and to consent
to appointments, and the House of Representa-
tivcS Is to accuse and prosecute faith eSS officers
The best interest OF the public service demand
that these distinctions be respected that Sena-
tors and Representatives,, who may be judges
and accuSers, should not dictate appointments
to office. The invariabie rule for appointments
should have reference to the honesty, fidelity
and capacity OF the appelntee giving to the
party IN power those places where harmony and
viFt r of administration requires Its policy to
EEp Ptfson scecetd With sole reference
to the efficiency of the public service. aud the
right OF all citizens to share in the honor of rem
dering faithful service to their country.
s. We rejoice III the quickened conscience of
the people concerning political affairs, and
will hold all officers to rigid responsibility
and engage that the prosecution and puuion
ment OF all who betray "iical trust shall be
speedy, thorough and unsparing.
!, The public school system of the several
States Is the bulwark Of the American Republic
and with view to its security and permanence.
VIC recomcnd an amendment to the ConstitU ion
of thc United State forbidding the application
of any public funds or property for the benefit
of any schools or institutions under sectarian
control.
8. The revenue acessary for, current expen-
ditureS aud the obligations of the public debt
must be largely derived from duties on import
ations, which, so far as possible, should be ad-
justed to promote the interest of American labor
and, advance the prosperity OF the whole coUn-
try
3. We reafirm our opposition to further grants
of the public lands to corporations and mOuOp-
olies, and demand that the national domain be
devoted to FREQ homes for the people.
10, 1t is the impertiye duty Of the Govorn-
ment so to modify existing treaties with Euro
pean Covenants that the same protection shall
be afforded to the adopted American citizen
that Is giveal to the native born, and that all
necessary laws should be passed to protect I'M
migrants in the absence o. power in the States
tor that purpose,
II. 1t is the Immediate duty Of Congress to
fully investigate the effect Of the lmlni grafton
and importation of AIongolians upon the moral
and material interest Of the country,
Il. The Republican party recognizes with an
prevail the substantial advance recently made to-
ward the establishment Of equal rights for
women by the many important amendments
effected by Republican Legislature 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 s..
per intendence Of education charities and other
public trusts, The honest demands of this class
Of citizens for additional rights and privileges
and immunities should be treated with respect
tul consideration.
49, The constitution confers upon Congress
sovereign power over the Territories of the Unit
ed States for their government, and in the ex-
ercise of this power it is the right and the duty
of Congress to prohibit rnd eXtirpatoin the Terri
itories that relic of barbarisn, polygamy, and
We demand such legislation as shall secure this
end. and the supremacy OF American InSti-
tutions in all the Territories.
Il. The pledges which the nation has given to
our soldiers and sailors must be fulfilled; the
greatefal people will always hold those who per-
lied their lives for the countrys preservation in
tho kindeSt remembrance
Is. We sincerity deprecate all sectional feel
ing and tendencies: We therefore note with deep
solcItude that the Democratic party counts as
IT'S chief hope CT success upon the electoral vote
OF the united South secured through the efforts
OF those who were recently arrayed against the
nation; and we invoke the earnest attention
OF the country to grave truth that a success
thus achieved would reopen sectional strife and
imperil the national honor and human rights
To- W charge the Democratic party as being
the same III character an6 spirit as when il sym
VIII S1edSoH Win lE1hinS us control
of the House of Representative the tripmph
and the opportunity of the nations recent foes /:
with asserting and applauding IN the National
Capitol the sentiments of unrewentant rebell-
ion with sending Union soldiers to the rear anu
promoting Confederate soldiers to the front
with deliberately proposing TO repudiate the
pliglred faith of the Government: with being
equally false and imbecle: with overshadowing
the ends of justice by the partisan mismanage-
ment and obstruction of Investigation: with
proving itself. through the period Of its aScen-
dancy in the Lower House Of Congress, utterly
incompetent TO administer the Government
We warn the country against trusting a party
thus alike unworthy, recreant, and inca pAble.
II. The National AdmInistration merits COM
nendation for its honorable work IN the man
President Grant deserves the hearty gratitude
II the Aneaican psopla for his patriotism and
L.s I'D sense segviceIa va a. q - Ie4-e'