Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-08
PLATFORM
OF THE
Republican National Convention

The members OF the Committee TOOK inc
platform, and the Hon. Edwards Pierrepont
was introduced as the Chairman and greeted
with applause.
Mr.. Pierrepont-I hardly need to say that
In committee composed Of one from every
State in the Union, from every Territory, and
from the District of Columbia, there was
great diversity Of opinion about the questions
which In the resolutions should be brought
before this convention. Early in this conyen-
ton it became apparent that we would have
sufficient number of exciting topics which
would keep US active and awake. We have
eudeavor9d in the resolutions we present to
have nothing upon which we could not our
selves agree and nothing which would tend
to disturb the harmony Of this convention
or awaken angry debate or long delay.
have now the honor to present the reso-
buttons which the committee have agreed
upon.
Mr.. Pierrepont set out to read the report
himself but the galleries wanted to hear the
stentorian voices of the two reading clerks,
and the ex- Minister of the Court OF st. james,
appeared not in the least displeased. The re-
solutions as read
WERE AS FOLLOWS;
The Republican party, in National Conyen'
tien 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 ad-
ministration
1t suppressed rebellion which had armed
nearly million of men to subVert the Nation.
al authority; it reconstructed the Union OF
States with freedom instead of slavery as IT'S
ne--stone; it transformed 100000 human
beings from the likeness of things to the rank
of citizens; it relieved Congress from the infa-
nous work of hunting fugitive slaves, and
charged it to see that slavery does not exist; II
has raised the value of our paper currency
| from IS per cent to the par of gold; it has re-
| stored, upon a solid basis, payment in coin OF
| all National obligations, and has given us a
| currency absolutely good and equal in every
| part of our extended country; it has lifted the
| credit of the Nation from the point where
| per cent bonds sold at Sc, to that where a per
| cent bonds are eagerly sought at a premium.
Under the administration railways have In.
| creased from $1,000 miles in 1860 to mora
| than $4,000 miles in 1879 Our foreign trade
increased from $700, 900 to 81 $50 0O00 in
| the same time, and our exports, which were
| 600 less than our imports In 1861 were
| 1865 Dos, 900 more than our imports in 1879.
Without resorting to loans, it has since the
War closed, betrayed the ordinary expenses Of
| Government besides the accruing interest on
| the public debt. and has disbursed annually
more than $4,000, 900 for soldiers and sailors
| pensions. 1t has paid $780, 10000 of the pub
| lie debt, and by refunding the balance at low.
| er rates, has reduced the annual interest
| charge from nearly S160,OO0,O00 to less than
| $4,000, 600. All the industries OF the country
| have revived, labor is in demand, wages have
| increased, and throughout the country there
| is evidence of a coming prosperity greater
than we haveiever enjoyed.
| UPON THIS RECORD.
| the Republican party asks for the continued
| confidence and support of the people, and this
| Convention submits for their approval the
following statement OF the principles and pur-
poses which will continue to guide and inspire
its efforts:
First-We affirm that the work of the Re-
! publican 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 vic
tories which we have achieved through i'm
mense difficulties should be preserved; that
the peace regained should be cherished; that
the Union should be perpetuated, and that
the liberty secured to this generation should
be transmitted undiminished to other genera
| tions; that the order established and the cred
it acquired should never be impaired; that
the pensions promised should be paid;
that the debt so much reduced should be ex-
tinguisbed by the full payment of every dol
| lar thereof; that the revlving industries should
be further promoted, and that the commerce
already increasing should be steadily encour-
| aged.
Second-The Constitution of the United States
is a supreme law and not mere contract.
Out of confederated States it made sover-
| eign 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 deter
mined by the National and not by the State
tribunal.
Third The work OF popular education is one
left to the care of the sevel al states, but it is
the duty OF the National Government to aid
that work 10 the extent of its constitutional
ability. The intelligence OF the Nation is but
the aggregate of the intelligence in the sever
al states, and that the destiny Of the Nation
must be guided not by the genius OF any one
State but by the average of all.
FOurth-The Constitution forbids Con-
gress to make any law respecting the estab-
\ lishment of religion, but it is Idle to hope that
the nation can be protected against The in
fuence of secret seetarianism, while each
State is exposed to its domination. Wethere-
fore. recommend that the Constitution he 80
amended as to lay the same prohibition upon
the Legislature Of each State, and to forbid
the appropriation of public funds 10 the sup
port OF sectarian schools.
| FIfth-We reaffirm the belief avowed In
1876 that the duties levied for the purpose of
revenue should so discriminate as to favor
American labor; that no further grants of the
public domain should be made to any railway
or other corporation; that slavery having per-
ished In the States, Its twin barbarty, polyga-
my, must die In the Territories that every
where the protection accorded to citizen of
American birth must be secured TO citizens by
American adoption. That we deem it the du-
ty Of Congress to deVelope and improve our
sea-coast and harbors, but insist that further
subsidies to private persons or corporations
must cease; that the obligations of the Repub-
lie to the men who preserved It's integrity in
| the day of battle are undminished By the
| lapse of fifteen years since their final victory.
To do them honor is and shall forever be the
grateful privilege and sacred duty of the
| American people.
Si1th-Since the authority to regulate i'm
migration and intercourse between the Uni
ted States and foreign nations rests with the
Congress of the United States and the treaty
making power, the Republican party regard
ing The unrestricted immigration of Chinese
as matter of grave concernment under the
exercise OF both these powers, would limit and
| restrict that immigration by the enactment OF
such just, humane and reasonable laws and
treaties as will produce that result.
| SeUenth-That the purity and patriotism
| which characteriZes the earlier career Of Ruth
| erfOrd B. Hayes in peace and war. and which
| guided thoughts Of our immediate predeces-
| sors to him for q Presidential candidate, have
| continued to inspire him in his career as Chief
| Executive; and that history will accord to his
administration the honors which are due to an
| efficient, just and courteous discharge of the
| public business, and will honor his vetoes in
terposed between the people and attempted
| partisan laws.
| Eighh-We charge upon the Democratic
party the habitual sacrifice OF patriotism and
justice to a supreme and Unsuitable lust for Of
| flee and patronage; that to obtain possession
| OF the National Government and the control
of place. they have INSTRUCTED all efforts to
| promote the purity and to conserve the free
| dom OF the suffrage and have devised fraudu-
lent ballots, and invented fraudulent certifca-
| ton of returns; have labored to unseat law
| fully elected members OF Congress TO secure
| at all hazards the vote of majority of States
in the House of Representatives; have en-
deavored to occupy by forca and fraud the
places of trust given to others by the people
of Maine, rescued by the courage and action