Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1880-09-04
HEl
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
PLATFORM,
....ADoPTRD ,Ar....1
Chicago, June 8, 1880.

The Republican party, in National Conven-
tion assembled, at the end of twenty years
since the Federal Government was first COM
mitted to its CHARGE submits to the people
of the United States this brief report Of its
administration. 1t suppressed q rebellion
which had armed nearly 100000 of men to
subvert the National authority. 1t recon-
structed the union of States with freedom,
instead of slavery. as its corner stone. 1t
transformed 4,O0O.OO0 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 thai slavery does not exist 1t has
raised the value Of paper currency from
thirty-eight per cent. to the par Of gold. it
has restored upon a solid basis the payment
in coin Of all 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 the point
where 6 per cent. bond sold at So, to that
where four per cent. bonds are eagerly sought
ways have increased from 81 900 miles in
1860 to more than $1,000 miles in 1879. Our
foreign trade has increased from $500 ,OOo.-
600 to 81, i 100000 in the same time: and
our exports, which were 500, 900, 900 less than
our imports In 1850, were s264 600 900 more
than our imports in 1870. without resorting
to loans, it has, since the close of the war,
4 A. -. ~
ernment besides the sccruing interest on the
public debt aud has disbursed annually
more than $4,000, 900 for soldiers and sailors
pensions. 1t has paid S8s0,0OO,000 of the
public debt, and by refunding the balance
at lower rates has reduced the annual inter-
est charge from nearly $3.50, 100000 to less
than s69.OO0.0O0. All the industries of the
country have revived. Labor is in demand.
Wages have increased, and throughout the
entire country there is evidence of q com
ing prosperity greater than we have ever en-
joyed.
UPON THIS RECORD
The Republican party asks for the continued
| confidence and support of the people, and
this Convention submits for their approval
purposes which will continue to guide its
purposes:
Fir-t-We affirm that the work of the last
twenty-one years has been such as to COM
mend itself to the favor of the Nation, and
that the fruits of the costly victories which
we have achieve through immense difficult
ties should be preserved; that the peace
.l.., a ~ al.a
severed Union. now happily restored. should
be perpetuated, and that the liberties secured
to this generation should be transmitted un-
diminished to future generation; that the
pensions promised should be paid; that the
debt 50 much reduced should be extinguished
by the full payment of every dollar thereof;
that the reviving industries should be further
promoted, and that the commerce already 30
great should be steadely encouraged.
Second-The Constitution of the United
| States is the supreme law. and not 4 mere
| contract. Out of the Confederate States it
| made q sovereign Nation. Some powers are
denied to the Nation, while others are retain
ed by the States: bur the boundary between
the powers delegated and those reserved is to
be determined by the National and not by the
| State tribunals
Third-The work of popular education is
one left to the care of the several states; bat
1t is the duty of tine National Government to
aid that work to the extent of its constitution
al ability. The intelligence of the Nation is
but the aggregate of Of the intelligence in the
several States, and the destiny of the Nation
must be guided not by the genius of one
State, but by the average genius of all.
| aaFourth--The Constitution wisely forbids
Congress to make any law respecting the es =
Enlistment of religion but it is idle to hope
that the Nation can be protected against the
influence of sectsrlsnism while each State is
exposed to Its particular domination. We
| therefore recommend that the Constitution
be 50 amended as to lay the same prohibit
| tions npon the Legislature OF each State, and
to forbid the appropriation of public funds
10 the support of sectarian schools.
Fifth--We reaffrm the belief avowed in
1876. that the duties levied for the purpose
of revenues should so discriminate as to IA
vor American Labor. That no further grant
of the public domain should be made to any
railroad or other corporation. That slavery
having perished In the States, its twin bar
barity, polygsmy, must die in the Terrisories.
That everywhere the protection accorded to
a citizen of American birth must be secured
to a citizen by American adoption. That IL
is the duty of Congress to develop and i'm.
prove our watercourses and harbors, but we
issist that further subsidies to private per.
sons or corporations must cease. That the
oblinstions to the men who preserved its in
tegrity in the day of battle are undinhnish.
ed by the lapse of fifteen years since their
final victory, Their perpetual honor is, and
shall forever be. the grateful privilege and
the sacred duty of the American people.
sixth-since the authority to regulate immi
9Iation and intercourse between the United
States and foreign Nations rests with tho
Congress of the United States and its treaty
making powers, that the Republican party