Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-09-19

THE PLATFORM AND THE CASnIoArEs.
Tn; platform adopted nj the Worcester
convention is su!! .-'antially as follows:
The Republican party of Massachusetts, al
the close Of the first quarter of the century ol
its history, plcdsing itself anew TO INC con
tinued performance of the duties IN which II
originated. and to the defence and mainic-
nance of those principles upon which 1t va
founded. and which are still essential to Inc
peace. security and prosperity OF the repnh-
lie, makes these declarations:
First-Wc affirm that, whether assailcd by
political persecution at home or mcnaced by
tyranny abroad all citizens of the United
| States. without distinction of origin. race,
creed or color. musl he protected 10y the Ma
| tional Government in all the rights granted
| to them by the constitution and the laws !:
and We demand that elections shall he free
from all interference by unlawful bodies OF
armed men, and shall also he trc" from the
interference of National or State military
forces. except when employed as Il part OF
the posse c0njtdtUs. We denounce that fierce
( partisan Intolerance which prevents free
ballot, denies freedom of political opinion
and action. and takes from any Of the people
the right to choose their homes aud ~ con
| troll and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Second-Wc dcprerate the course OF the
members Of The Democratic party who have
| undertaken TO revive sectional animoslt:cs
| for the purpose of securing political aScen-
| dency in the Southern States, ami who have
revived the memories of sectional strife by
! the defiant declaration Of purpose 10 repeal
| laws made necessary by the war and enacted
/ to secure the results of the war. and we con
/ denim their attempts 10 secure 10y legislation
| what was not accomplished by arms, namely,
| the establishment. under the name of State
| sovereignty, of those pernicious doctrines
which destroy the national supremacy, and
which, in the past, hay" led To- secession and
| civil war.
Third The pledges Of the Republican
party to maintain the national honor and 10
preserve the National credit have been re-
deemed. in the face Of bitter opposition, by
the prompt resumption of specie payments
and the reduction both of the principal and
the interest of the public debt. We are OPP
posed To reputation in all its forms, either
by scaling of debts or dchascmrnt of the
lcgal-tendcr circulation. We insist that the
paper and the coin circulation of the country
shall at all times be maintained at par with
the gold STANDARD of the commercial world.
Fourth-Wc applaud the firm and patriotic
course of President Hayes in maintaining the
Constitutional prerOgalives of the ElocgiyF
ing all efforts of a Democratic Congress 10
cripple the functions of the Government. We
recognize the carnestncSs and sincerity with
which he has labnrcd torcstorc harmony and
good feeling Ia all se:ioas of the country
10 secure purity. efficiency und irlg4lity III
every branch OF the public service. and ~
divorce the civil service from the manage
ment of partisan politics To sustain the fin
ancial credit Of the Cove rnmcnt. and 10 in
sist upon free and honest elections and We
will support the President in the responsible
ity Of making nominations to office without
dictation from other departments of the Gov
eminent, and in pcrsistcntly carrying ON the
principles relating 10 the civil service de
clared in the Cincinnati platform, and his
letter of acceptance.
Fifth While the Republican party is prac-
ticaly united in demanding a suppression of
intcmpcrancc 10y the wiscst LEGISLATION. il
recognizes an honest difference Of opinion
among lis members as to which form Of law
will bts, accomplish that end, and the
question Is therefore referred 10 the pco-
pie, 10 he settled 10y them in the Legislature
We again demand that our system of taxa
ton shall he 50 modified that each person
shall contribute onl, in proportion To- what
he is worth, Ia the end thai there snail be
substantial relief from the existing burdcnsof
taNaliOh IN our ulilnlnn, the lnr has come
when the executive officers of the common
wealth gnd the members OF LEGISLATURE
should be elected for IA longer term than one
year and that thu adoption Of "a fulsti-
tuti1nal amendment providing l3r biennial
elections and biennial sessions of the l.tlsisa-
ture would tend Ia give slcadinoss 10 lcgisla
ton and la the administration al The ltWs.
and To the Importance of llr Offices and tlic
care OF the VOTERS in finding them aud would !
relieve the people from that frequency Of .
elections which is believed To- he no Longer
conducive I" the welfare OF the common
wealth.
THE CANDIDATES.