Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-02-12

The following is the platform adopt
ed by the Republican State Conven-
tion, held at Harrisburg last week:
RESOLVED, FIRST. That, rejoicing over
the steady growth of the national pros.
perity which began in 1876 with the
change of balance in our favor, and
over the successful resumption and
maintenance of specie payments, we
may reasonably claim the financial
| soundness and prosperity of the coun.
try as the natural result OF the financial
policy we as party have sustained.
SECOND. The resumption of specie
payments having been accomplished at
| the time appointed by law. and the
finances of the country being in thoe.
oughly healthy condition, we regard i.
as unwise to engage in any new at.
tempts at financial legislation. The
country is prosperous under our fnan-
cial system as it is, and we know of no
good reason why that system should
now be disturbed.
THIRD. The persistent efforts of the
free traders to destroy our tariff piece
meal by legislation, to repeal the duties
on special articles, admonishes us of the
necessity of adhering more strongly
than ever to the tariff policy OF the
past twenty years, which has built up
our grand system OF manufactures, fos.
tered the revenues of the government,
and promoted our national prosperity.
The business Of the country will not
bear this tinkering OF the tariff, and IL
any revision of that tariff is to be made
at all it should be done through n com
mission of capable men, after a patient
and thorough hearing of all parties TO
the interests involved.
FoURTm. We object most decidedly
to all attempts to enact a new tariff
through the agency of commercial
treaties. A treaty framed, negotiated,
discussed and ratified in secret is not a
proper method of regulating the revc.
nues Of the government.
Firth. In view of recent events in
| Congress and in the Southern States,
and latterly in the State of Maine, We
deem this fitting opportunity to reaf.
| firm our adherence to the following
principles, viz: First The Union OF
States, with equal rights, indestructible
| by any unconstitutional means. Sec.
ond. Protection to the person, liberty
and property of the citizen of the Unit.
ed States in each and every portion of
our common country, wherever he may
choose TO move, demanding of him
only obedience to the laws and proper
respect for the rights of others. Third.
Strict integrity in fulfilling all our obi.
cations, State and National. Fourth.
The perfect security of free thought,
free speech and a free press, and OF
equal rights and privileges of all men,
everywhere, irrespective of nationality,
color or religion. Fifth. A free and
pure ballot, thoroughly protected so
that every man entitled to cast vote
may do so, just once, ct each election,
without molestation, moral or physical,
on account Of his political faith, nation
ality or the hue of his skin. Sixth.
Honesty in elections. The people hav.
ing the virtue and the patriotism TO
govern themselves, our government
must depend for its stability upon hon.
est elections. Until man il consider
ed infamous who casts an illegal vote,
our government will not be safe, and
whoever deprives citizen of his right
to vote, or of the legal effect OF his vote
is traitor 70 our government. Sev.
enth. An honest count Of all votes le.
gally cast and an honest return of who
ever is elected, free from ell attempts
to defraud the people of their choice
through technicalities or by an arbitra.
ry rejection Of their votes.
SIXTH. We extend to the Republi.
cans of Maine our congratulations over
the peaceful and successful resistance to
an effort TO defraud the people of that
State Of the right to choose their own
representatives and to the attempt to
steal the government of that State.
Our republican form Of government will
be q signal failure when any political
party can succeed in defying the public
will, as shown by the people at the bal
lot.box.
SEVENTH. We deeply regret the
growing tendency to throw elections
aside on mere tech chnicalities and infor.
malities. The right of the people to
choose their public servants il too
sacred to be subverted upon any pretext
that the returns of elections are def.
cient in some trivial matters of form.
EionTH. We thank our Senator and
Representatives at Washington in the
last Congress, and In this, for their firm
adhesion to Republican principles and
policy, and for their opposition 20 Dem.
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