River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-02
OUR PLATFORM.

The Republicans Of Wisconsin, bv their rem
resentative assembled in state convention. de-
clare their adhesion to the following PROPOSE
tons
First-The republic of the United States ia a
nation, not q confederacy Of sovereign states
and its government is clothed with permanent
authority for the regulation Of all subjects of
national concern.
Second-The election Of members OF con-
gress are national elections and as ar eh fha
whole country is interested in having them
fairly and peacefully conduced, SO that every
voter may be afforded an opportunity to eyer
else his right Of suffrage freely and without
fear Of personal violence, to vote once and
only once at given election, and to have his
vote honestly counted and returned. It is the
duty Of the national government to enforce
this right. The Republican party is opposed
to any military interference with elections. ex-
cept when it is necessary to maintain the pub
lie peace and protect the constitutional right Of
citizens. In no instance under Republican
administration have United States troops inter
fered with the exercise of free suffrage on the
part of the people. The Democratic party bv
the votes of its representatives in congress
against the proposition to prohibit the pres
ence in the vicinity Of the polls not OF Tinted
States troops, but OF all men armed with
deadly weapons, has clearly shown the bad
faith and hypocrisy of its affected horror of
bayonets st the polls. 1t would permit an
armed mob of its own partisans to surround
the ballot-box, but would prohibit the employ
ment of United States soldiers to protect
peaceful citizens from intimidation. and VIC
lence at the hands Of the mob.
Tblrd--The refusal of a mere majority IL
congress to make appropriations of money
already collected by tax from the people for
the ordinary and legitimate expenses of the
government, with the pu' pose of compelling
the president by such refusal to approve
measure which he regards as unwise and
wrong, were revolutionary in principle, sub
versive of the constitution and deserving the
condemnation of all good citizens.
Fourth-The practice of attaching what is
popularity termed political riders" to appro-
priation bills is vicious legislation and should
be prohibited.
Fifth-The thanks and grateful recognition
of the people are due to President Hayes and to
the Republican members Of congress for their
firm and successful resistance to the attempts
made by the Democratic party to disarm the
national government on election DAYS and to
repeal all law for protecting the security of the
ballot-box and providing for the detection and
punishment of fraudulent voting.
Sixth-The successful resumption Of specie
payments has vindicated the wisdom of the
Republican party on that subject, and afforded
a signal illustration of the lack of statesman
ship which led the Democratic party to oppose
resumption, and to declare that it was impossi-
BILE. 1t has already borne precious fruits in
enabling the government to fund its debt at
millions per annum, in promoting feeling of
confidence ard security that is already giving
powerful impulse to all business and industrial
pursuits. The interests of all classes Of the
people are best promoted by a currency pos
sessing or representing intrinsic value, such as
we have at present. and bearing a fixed rela-
ton TO the worlds money of commerce. All
attempts to modify the existing laws In way
to induce depreciation or fluctuations in the
money Of the country should meet with firm
and determined resistance.
Seventh-That it is the duty Of congress to
enact laws to carry out the provisions Of the
constitution, with its amendments, and secure
to the prople Of the state the right guaranteed
by it, and that the laws, when enacted, are SUI
preme, and must be obeyed and enforced, and
the recent attempts or the Democratic con-
gress to repeal AID strike from the statute
books such laws, some of which were placed
there by our father, and have been enforced
nearly century, has no parallel in the history
of the country.
Fighth-That our governor and state officers
are entitled to the thanks and approval of the
people for their wise and faithful administra-
ton of the public trusts committed to them.