The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-06-10
FOURTH DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Report of Committee on Platform and Resolu.
lions.

Report of on Platform and ResOlu-
lions.
The Republican party. in National Convention
assembled, at the end of twenty years since the
Federal Government was first committed TO its
charge, submit 10 the people Of the United States
this brief report Of It's administrator:
1t suppressed a rebellion which had armed nearly
amilliOn OF men to suDvert the National authority.
1t reconstructed tile union of the states, with
freedom instead OF slavery as its corner stone.
It transformed 1000, 900 human beings from tho
likeness OF thin gs TO the rank Ofcitizeus. 1t relieved
Congress from the Infamous work of hunting III
RitiYe slaves, and charged 10 10 SEQ that slavery
does not exist. II has raised the value OF our
pape- currency from thirty eight per cent. to the
par OF gold. 1t has restored upon q solid basis
payment in coin for all the National obligations,
aud has given us a currency absolutely good and
equal in every part OF our extended country. II
has lifted the credit Of the Nation from the point
whore SiK-per-centIbOnds sold at SO, to that where
four. percent. bonds are eagerly sought at a pre-
MUM. Under its administration railways have
increased from $1,000 miles in . 1860,
70 more than $1,000 miles in 1879.
Our foreign trade has Increased from seven hun
dred millions to eleven hundred and fifty millions
In the same time. and our exports, which were
twenty millions less than our imports in 1860,
were 1864, 600 600 more than our imports in 1879.
Without resorting to loans, 1t has since the war
closed betrayed the ordinary expenses Of Govern
ment, besides the ac0rulng interest on the public
debt, and disbursed annually more than thirty
millions for soldiers pensions. II has paid $685.
100000 OF the public debt, and by refund
ing the balance at lower rates, has reduced the
annual interest charge from nearly $l51, 000, 600
to less than $3.50, 100000.
Al tile industries OF the country
have revived. labor is in demand. wages have in
creased, aud throughout the entire country there
is evidence of a coming prosperity greater than
we have ever enjoyed. Upon this record the Re-
publican party asks for tho continued confidence
and support OF the people, and this Convention
submlte for their approval the following state
ments OF tho principles and purposes which will
continue TO guide and Inspire lite efforts:
First-We affirm that tho work of the last TWEEN
ty-one years has been such as tn commend Itself to
the favor Of the Nation, and that tho fruits Of the
costly Victories, which we have achieved
through immense diffcnlties, should be preserved;
that the peace regained should be Cherishod; that
the diSseYered Union, now happily restored, should
he rerpeth6ted, aud that the liberties secured to
this generation shoHd he transmitted undilnin
ished to future generations; that the order estab-
lishod and the credit acquired should never be
impaired; that the pensions promised should be
paid: that the debt, ga much reduced, sbOuld be
extinSIished by the full payment of every dollar
thereof; that tho rcviving Industries should be fur
ther promoted, and that the comluerce already so
great should be steadily encouraged.
Scoond-The Constitution OF tho United StRtes Is
o supreme law, and not n mere contract; ont Of
contederated States 1t made d sovereign Nation.
Some powers are denied TO the Nation while others
are denied to tho States, but the boundary between
tho powers delegated and those reserved is ia be
Determined by the National and not tie State
tribunal.
Third-The work of popular education is one
left TO the care OF tho sayCral States, but II is the
duty OF the National Government to aid
thnt work to tho extent OF Its con.
atitutiOnal ability; the intelligence OF the
Nation is but the aggregate Of the Intelligence
in the several States. and tho destiny of tho Nation
must be guided not by tho genius OF any one State,
but by the average genius Of all.
Fourth-The Constitution wisely forbids Con.
Eress to mako any law respecting sn establish
nlent Of religion, but 1t is idle 60 hope that the
Nation can be protected AGAINST the influence of
BcctRrianism while each State ia exposed to its
domination. We therefore recommend that the
Constitution be 80 amended as TO lay the same
NHnhihNItnn an thn riu1 NUNa T. AAAl Gk.t,
and TO forbid the appropriation of public funds to
the support of sectRriau echools.
Fifth-We reatHrm the belief RvOwod in 1876,
that the duties lowed for the purpose Of revenue
ehouid so as to favor American labor.
That no fnkkIer grants OF the public domain should
be made tdAny railway or other corporation; that
slavery having persisted in the States, lite twin
barbarity, "polygnmy," must die In the
Territories that e%yerywhoro ths pro:
% S@spIcan GpirIhl0S mus. be- secured to S't the citizens Os
by American adoption; that wo esteem 1t the
duty OF COngresa to develop and improve our
water courses and Darbors, but insist that further
cease; that the obligations Of The Republic 10 the
mon who preserved Its integrity In the day OF
fifteen years since their final victory.
Their perpetual honor IL and shall forever be the
grateful privilege md sacred duty OF tho American
people,
s%ixth-since the authority to regulate immigrA.
tion and intercourse between the United States
and foreign Eations rests with tho Congress Of the
OulNVu NlhNbh anu u IIthly 'inNhlnk DOWGlb, the
Republican party, regarding the unrestricted i'm
migration Of CDineHe as nm evil of great mngnl-
tudr, invoke the exercise OF that power to restrain
and limit that immigration by the enactment Of
such Just, humane and reasonable provisions as
will produce that result.
S~eventh-Tbat tho purity and patriotism which
characterized the earlier career of Rutherford b,
Hayes, In peace ana wnr, ana which guided the
thought Of our immediate predecessors to him for
q Presidential candidate, haVo continued TO in
spiro him in his career as Chief Executive, aud
that history will accord TO his Administration the
honOrs which are due to IN efficient, just and
courteous discharge of the public business, and
will honor hs interpretations between the people
and proposed partisan laws,
Eighth-We charge upon tho Democratic party
n supreme aud inaatiable lust Of Office
and patronage, That to obtain pos
session OF tho National and State Governments
and the coutrof Of place they have oh.
Rtruoted oil efforts TO promote tho purity aud
10 conserve The freedom OF suffrage; have devised
fraudulent certificates aud returns; have labOred
90 ,,~Asat lawfully elected members Of Congress
" sas,ro nj all lHGarde the vote OF n majority Of
~ 9,atep in ihc fioueo OF Representatives; have
n"rs1 IN oocupv hy force and fraud the
nIscsa of trnst given to others by the. people OF
Mama md rescued by tho courage W RqiiQn OF
Names patriotic sons have ny methods -fio'"As
ip nrinninla an9 tyrahuical IN practice, attached
partisan legislation TO appropriation bills upon
whose passage tho worry moyomcnts OF govern
ment depend; have crushed tho rights OF the
individuals; have advocated tho principles ana
sought the favor of rebellion against tho Nation,
ana have endeavored to obliterato the saored
memories OF the wal and have overcome Its ines
iimnbly valuable results OF, nationally
personal freedom and Individual equally.
The laws and the protection ofall our citizens In tho
AniNvnoent az Ali nrivllAQoA and immunitIes guar.