The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-06-09
The Platform.

government was first committed to its
charge, snbmits to the people Of the
United States this brief report of its
administration. 1t suppressed n re.
bellion, which had armed nearly a
million of men 10 subvert the national
authority. IT reconstructed the union
Of the states with freedom instead Of
slavery as its corner stone; it trans.
formed four million human beings
from the likeness of things to the rank
Of citizens; it relieved congress from
the infamous work af hunting fugative
slaves aud charged it to see that
slavery does not exist. 1t has raised
the value of our paper currency from
thirty-eight per eentum to the par Of
gold. 1t has restored upon solid
basis payment in coin for all the ma.
tional obligations aud has given US
currency absolutely good and equal
in every part of our extended country.
1t has lifted the credit of the nation
from the point where six per centum
bonds sold at eighty-six to that where
four per cent. bonds are eagerly sought
at premium. Under its administra.
ton the railways have increased from
thirty-one thousand miles in 1860 to
more than eighty.two thousand miles
in 1879. Our foreign trade has in.
creased from seven hundred 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 S264,000,000
more than our imports in 1879. With
out resoring to loans it has, since the
war closed, betrayed the ordinary ex.
penses of government besides the ac-
cruiDg interest on the public debt,
and disbursed annually more than
thirty millions of soldiers pensions. 1t
has paid $188,000,000 of the public
debt and by refunding the balance at
lower rates has reduced the annual
interest charge from nearly S151 900
600 to less than S9,000,000. All the
industries of the country have revived,
labor is in demand, wages have in
creased and throughout the entire
country there is evidence Of coming
prosperity greater than we have ever
enjoyed Upon this record the Re.
publican party asks for the continued
confidence and support of the people
and this convention submits for their
approval the following statements of
the principals and purposes which will
continue TO guide and inspire its
efforts.
RESOLUTIONS.
First, We affirm that the work of the
last twenty-one years has been such as to
commend itself to the favor of the nation,
and that the fruits of the costly Victories
which we have achieved through immense
difficulty should be preserved. That the
peace regained should be cherished, the
discovered Union now happily restored
should be perpetuated, and that the lib
erty secured to this generation should be
transmitted undiminished to future gem
erations. That the order established and
the credit acquired should never be i'm
paired. That the pensions promised
should be paid. That the debt so much
reduced should be extinguished by the
full payment of every dollar thereof.
That reviving industries should be further
promoted, and the commerce already so
great should be steadily encouraged.
J Second, The constitution of the United
States is supreme law and not a mere
contract out of confederated states. t
made n sovereign nation. That some
powers are denied to the nation while
others are denied to the states. but the
boundry between the powers delegated
and those reserved are to be determined
! by the national and not the tate tribunals.
lhlrd, The work of popular education
: is one left To the care of the several states
IL is the duty OF the national government
TO aid that work TO the extent of its con-
2 a IL. .A-IIg
nation IS but the aggregate of the intelli-
gence OF the severaI states, and the destiny
OF the nation must be guided not nv tht
, genius OF any one state, but by the aver.
age genius at all.
Fourth, The constitution wisely forbids
congress 10 make any law respecting an
! establishment of religion, but il is idle &c
, hope that the nation oan be protected
alnst the influence of sectarianism while
} each state is opposed TO domination. we
therefore recommend that the constitution
be so amended as to lay the same prohi.
pltloh on the legislature of each state, anG
10 IorDld the appropriation ofpublic funds
e TO the support of sectartan schools
tltth, we Teathrm the belief expressed
IN 1870, Tn It duties levied for the purpose
j. OF revenue should so discriminate as Il
iavor American labor. That no further
! grant OF the public domain should bt
4 made 10 any railroad or other cOrporation
Ihat slavery, having perished in the states
S its twin barbarity, polygamy. must di,
IN the territories. That everywhere tn,
. same rights as those of a citizen of Amer
n lean birth must be secured TO citizens b,
, American adoption. That we esteem i
}, the duty of congress to develop and i'm
]. prove our water courses and harbors. bu
OUT insist that further subsidies TO priyat
e persons and corporations must cease. Tha
:. the obligations of the republic 10 the mel
who preserved its integrity in the davs q
y battle are undiminished by the lapse o
I nlteeh years since their final victory, an,
u that their perpetual honor is and shal
e. forever be the grateful privilege am,
sacred duty of the American people.
ie SlNth, Since the authority 10 regulat
es immigration and intercourse between th
United States and foreign nations rest
or WIIh urine inc congress Of the United States an