Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-06-15
GARFIELD BOILED DOWN
The Chicago Platform,
Here 10 tho Platform Adopted
at Chicago.

The Republican party, in National
Convention assembled, at the end Of
twenty years since the Federal Govern
ment was first committed to its charge,
pubmit to the people Of the United States
this brief report of its administration {:
1t suppressed Il rebellion which had armed
nearly II million men to subvert the Ma
tionml authority. IL reconstructed the
Union of the States with freedom in
stead of slavery az it's cornerstone. II
transformed four million human beings
from the likeness of things TO the rank
OF citizens. 1t relieved Congress from
the infamous work of hunting fugitive
slaves and charged It to see that slavery
does not exist. 1t has raised the value
Of paper currency from 80 per cent to
the par Of gold. Ii has restored upon 4
solid basis the payment in coin of NIL
the national obligations and has given us
currency absolutely good and equal In
every part Of our extended country. 1t
has lifted The credit Of the nation from
he point where 0 per cent. bonds sold ut
&c 10 that where per cent. bonds are
eagerly sought at premium. Under It's
administration, railways have increased
FROM thirty-one thousand miles In 1860
10 more than eighty thousand miles In
1879. Our foreign trade has increased
from $700, 00O, 900 TO 81 10000, 900 in the
same time, and our exports, which were
$40, 000, 900 less than our imports IN 1850,
were $2si ,000, 900 more than our imports
IN 1870 without resorting 10 loans, II
has since the war closed betrayed the
expenses Of the Government, besides
paying the accruing interest on the pub
lie debt and dlsbursed annually more
than $50, 0O0, 900 for soldiers PENSIONS
1t has paid $685., 100000 Of the public
debt, and by refuidlng the balance ut
lower rates, has reduced the annual in
terest charged from nearly $l5l 100000
less than $50, 900, 900. All the industries
OF the country have revived. Labor Is
In demand. Wages have increased, and
throughout the entire countrythere Is
evidence Of coming prosperity greater
than we have ever enjoyed. Upon this
record the Republican party asks for the
continued confidence aud support of the
people, and this convention submits for
their approval the following statement
of the principles and purposes which
viii continue TO guide aud inspire its eff
forts.
We affirm that the work Of the last
twenty-onc years has been such ~ 20
commend itself 10 the favor of the nation
and that the fruits Of the costly victories
which we have achieved through Inn
mense difficulties should be preserved ;
that the peace rcgalned should be cher
ished; that the discovered Union. now
happily restored, should be perpetuated,
and that the liberties secured 10 this gem
Grafton should be transmitted undimln-
iehed 10 future generations; that the or
der established and credit acquired
should never be Impaired; that the pcn-
sions promised bhould be paid; that the
debt 80 much reduced should be extin-
gulshed by the full payment OF every
dollar thereof, that the reylvlng indus
tries should he further promoted, and
that the commerce, already so great,
should be steadily encouraged. ft
2. The Constitution Of the United
States II supreme law and not mere
contract. Out Of Confederate States Il
made sovereign nation. Some powers
are denied 10 the nation, while others
are denied to the States; but the bounda-
W between the powers delegated and
those reserved Ia 10 be determined by the
National and not the State tribunals.
3. Tho work OF popular education Ia
one left to the care Of the several States,
but II Ia the duty Of the National Gov
eminent 10 aid that work to the extent of
itA constitutional ability. The intclli.
gence Of the nation 10 but the aggregate
Intelligence In the several States, and
she destiny OF the nation must bc guild.
ed, not by the genius Of any one State,
but BY the average genius Of all.
4. The Constitution wisely forblds
Congress 10 make any law respecting an
establishment Of religion. but Il II idle
70 hope that nation can be protected
against the influence OF sectArlanism,
while each State II exposed 10 itS ilonl-
nation. We therefore recommend that
the Constitution be 30 amended ns 10 lay
the same prohibition on the Legislature
OF each State, aud to forbid the eppro-
prlatlon Of public funds 20 the support OF
sectarlan schools.
o. We re-aflrm the belief avowcd In
1870, that the duties levied for the pur-
pose VI revenue should 20 discriminate
AZ 10 favor American labor. that no fur-
ther grant Of the public domain should
b. made any railway or other corpora
ton that slavery having persisted in the
stalsa, itn twin harbarlty, polygamy.
must die In the Territories, that every
where Abe profession accorded ~ y cti-