The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-10-14
Republican Platform-1SSO.

United States this brief report of its
administration:
1t suppressed rebellion which had
armed nearly a million of men to sub
vert the National authority [applause];
it reconstructed the Union of the
States with freedom instead of slavery
as its corner stone [applause]; it trans
formed 100000 human beings from
the likeness of things to the rank of
citizens [applausel; it relieved Con
gress from the infamous work of hunt
ing fugitive slaves, and charged it to
see that slavery does not exist Tap
pausel; it has raised the value of our
paper currency from 3S per cent. to the
par of gold [applausel; ithad restored,
upon solid basis, payment in coin Of
all national obligations, and has given
us a currency absolutely good and
equal i'm every part of our extended
country, fapplause]; it has lifted the
credit of the Nation from the point of
where per cent bonds sold at SO, to
that where per cent. bonds are
eagerly sought at premium. APP
plause.
Under its administration railways
have increased from 1000 miles in
1860 to more than 81, 900 miles in 1879.
|
creased from S700 900 900 to 81, $50, ,0OO,-
600 in the same time, and our exports,
which were $4,000, 900 less than our
imports in 1860. were $2G5, 900, 900 more
than our imports in 1879. [Applause
and cries of "Good!!" "Good."
Without resorting to loans, it has,
since the war closed, betrayed the or.
dinary expenses ofgovernment besides
the accruing interest on the public
debt, and has disbursed annually more
than 10000, 900 for soldiers and sail
ors' pensions. 1t has paid $3.50, coo 600
of the public debt, and, by refunding
the balance at lower rates, has reduced
the annual interest charge from nearly
$50, 900, 900 to less than 500, 900 900. All
the Industries of the country have re.
vived, labor il in demand, wages have
increased. and 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 the continued
confidence and support of. the people,
and this convention submits f1f Gheir
approval the following statement of
the principles &nd purposes which will
continue to guide and inspire its
efforts:
l. We affirm that the work of the
Republican party for the last twenty
years has been such as to commend it
to the favor of the nation; that the
fruits of the costly victories which we
have achieved through immense diff
culties should be preserved; that the
peace regained should he cherished;
that the Union should be perpetuated,
and that the liberty secured to this
generation should be transmitted un-
diminished TO other genEr5ticns; that
the order established and the credit
acquired should never be impaired !;
that the pensions promised should be
paid; that the debt so much reduced
should he eXtinguishe by the full
payment of every dollar Thereof; that
the reviving industries should be fur
thcr promoted, and that the com
merce already Increasing should be
encouraged.
2. The Constitution of the United
States is a supreme law, and not Il
| mere contract. Oct of confederate
| States it made n sovereign nation.
| Some powers are denied TO the nation,
while others are denied to the States,
but the boundary between the powers
| delegated and those reserved is to be
determined by the National and not
by the state tribunal. [Cheer..]
3, The work of popular education
| is Ole left to the care OF seveial States,
| but it is the duty Of Tie National
Government to aid that work to
the extent of its constitutional
ability. The intelligence of the
nation is but the aggregate of the iii
| telligenCe in the several States, and
the destiny of the nation must be
! guided, not by the genius of any one
State, hut 'y the average genius fall.
| [Applause. ....
1. The Constitution wisely forbids
Congress TO make any law respecting
the establishment of religion, but it
is idle to hope that the nation can be
protected against the influence OF
secret sectarnism, while each State is
exposed to its domination. We, there
fore, recommend that the Constitution
be SO amended as To lay the same pro-
hibitiOn upon the legislature Of each
State, and 10 forbid the appropriation
of public funds to the SUPPORT of sec.
tartan schools. Nheers.
.. We rcailirm the belief aVOwed in
1876 that the duties levied for the
purpose of revenue should so ,liacrill-
! mate rs to favor American labor
(cheerS); that no further grants Of the
public domain should be made to any
railway or other corporation; that
slavery having perished in the States
its twin barburity, polygamy must
die i'll the Territories; that everywhere
the protection accorded to citizen OF
! American birth must he secured to
citizens by American adoption. That
we deem it the duty of Congress TO de,
vclop and improve our seacoast and
harbOrs, but insist that further sub,
sidies to private persons or corpora
tinns must cease, lcheersj; that the
obligations of the Republic to the men
who preserved its integrity in the day
of battle are undiminished by the
lapse of fifteen years since their final
victory. 70 do them honor is and
shall forever be the grateful privilege
and sacred duty Of the American
people.
6. Since the authority to regulate
| Immigration and intercourse between
the United States and foreign nations
rests with the Congress of the United
States and the treaty making power
the Republican party, regarding the
unrestricted immigration of Chinese
as matter of grave coucernment
| under the exercise of both these
powers, would limit and restrict that
immigration by the enactment of such
Just, humane, and reasonable law.
and treaties as will produce that re-
suit.
I. That the purity and patriotism
which characterized the earlier career
of Rutherford b. Hayes in peace and
| Xuor and 1.hi.b oniIoJ fl,a }hnrrbt ..