The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-10
PLATFORM
THE
National Republican Party.

National Rep11Dl1can PafIy.
Tho Republican party, ID national con-
vention assembled, at the end Of twenty
years since the federal government was first
committed to its charge, submit to the peo-
ple OF the United States this brief report OF
its administration. II suppressed rebellion
which Ind armed nearly y million ct men to
subvert the national authority. II recon-
structed the union Of the States with free
dom, instead of slavery ns it's corner stone.
It transformed four millions of human be-
ings from the likeness Of things to the rank
Of citizens. It relieved Congress from the
infamous work Of hunting fugitive slaves,
and charged 1t to see that slavery does not
exist. It has raised the value OF paper cur
rency from thirty eight per cent. to the par
Of gold. It has restored upon q solid basis
payment in coin of the national obligations
and has given us q currency absolutely
good and legal, and equal in evey part Of
our country. It has lifted the credit of the
nation from the point where six per cent.
bonds sold ut Sc to that in which four per
cent. bonds are eagerly sought at premi-
um. Under its administration railways in
creased from 81 900 miles il 1860 to more
than 1000 miles in 1879. Our foreign trade
has increased from 500, 00O, 900 to 81, $780,,
0O0, 900 in the same time, and our exports,
which were twenty millions less than our i'm
ports in 1860, were $264 100000 more than
our imports in 1879 Without resorting to
loans, it las, since the war closed. betrayed
the ordinary expenses of the government,
besides the accrning interest on the public
debt and disbursed annually more than
thirty millions for soldiers pensions. 1t has
paid $88s, O00, 600 Of the public debt, and by
refunding the balance at lower rates has
reduced the annual interest charge from
nearly $l5l, O00, 900 to less than $1,000, 0oO
All the industries Of the country have re-
viyed, labor is in demand, wages have in
creased, and throughout the entire country
there is evidence Of coming prosperity
greater than we have ever enjoyed. Upon
this record the Republican party asks for
the continued confidence and support Of the
people. ard this convention submits for
their approval the following statements and
purposes, and which will continue to guide
and inspire it's efforts.
First. We affirm that the work of the
last twenty -one years has been such us to
fruits of the costly victories which we have
achieved through immense difficulties
should be preserved. That the peace re
gained should be cherished, that the dis
severed union, now happily restored,
should be perpetuated, and that the iber-
ties secured to this generation should be
transmitted, undiminished to future gener-
aGlOnS, InaI the OTNef tStHDlISuGu ttnu l4e
credit required should never be impaired
that the pensions promised should be paid;
that the debt, SO 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 so great, should be
steadily encouraged.
O. The constitution Of the United States
is a supreme law, and not a mere contract.
fN,,t x,f faIa fafo
crign nation. Some powers are denied to
the nation, while others are denied to States,
but the boundaries between the powers del
egated and those reserved, is to be deter
mined by the national and not by the State
tribunal.
3. The work Of popular education is one
left to the care Of the several States, but it
is the duty Of the national government to
aid that work to the extent OF it's cOnstitu-
tional ability. The intelligence of the ma
ton is but the aggregate OF the intelligence
in the several States, and the destiny of the
nation must not be guided by the genius of
any one State, but by the average genius
at all.
4. The constitution wisely forbids con-
gress to make any laws respecting an es-
Enlistment Of religion, but it is idle to
hope that the notion can be protected
against the influence OF sectarianism, while
each State is exposed to it's denomination.
We, therefore, recommend that the consti-
tuition be so amended as to lay some restric-
tons upon the legislature Of each State and
to forbid the appropriation Of public funds
to the support Of sectarian schools.
5. We reatfirm the belief ayowed in 1876,
that the duties levied for tile 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 OF other corporation that slavery
having persisted in the States, its twin bar
barity, polygamy, must die in the territories;
that every where the protection accorded to
a citizen of American birth must be secured
to citizens by American adoption; that we
deem it the duty Of Congress No develop and
improve our water courses and harbOrs, but
insist that further subsidies to private per-
sons or corporations must cease; that the
obligations of the republic to the men who
preserved it's integrity in the day of battle
ire undininished by the lapsed of fifteen
years since their final victory. To 90 them
honor is, and shall forever be, the grateful
privilege and sacred duty Of the American
people.
g. Since the authority to regulate immi-
grafton and intercourse between the United
States and foreign nations rests with the
congress of the United States, and the trea-
ty-nlaking powers, the Republican party re-
garding the unrestricted immigration of
Chinese as q 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 pro-
duce that result.
Z. That the purity and patriotism which
characterized the earlier career Of Rutler-
ford b. Hayes in peace and war, and which
guided the thought Of our immediate pre-
decessors to him for a presidential candi-
date, have continued to inspire him in his
career us chief executive, and that history
will accord to lis administration the honors
which are due to an efficient, just and cour-
teous discharge Of the public business, and
will honor his vetpes interposed between
the people and attempted partisan laws.
s. We charge upon the Democratic party
the habitual sacrifice Of patriotism and JUS
tice to q supreme and Unsuitable lust for
office and patronage; that TO obtain posses
sion Of the national and State governments,
and the control of places and position. they
have obstructed all efforts to prom ote the
purity and to conserve the freedom of suf-
trage, and have devised fraudulent ballots
and invented fraudulent certificates of re-
turns; have 1abored to unseat lawfully
elected members of Congress, to secure at
all hazards, the vote of Il majority of the
States in the House Of Representatives have
endeavored to occupy by force and fraud
the places OF trust given to others by the
people Of Maine, rescued by the courage in
action OF Names patriotic sons: have by
methods, vicious in principle and tyrannical
in practice. attached partisan legislation to
appropriation bills upon whose passage the
very movement OF the government de-
pended: have crushed the rights of the in
divual, have advocated the principles and
sought the favor of the rebellion against the
nation, and have endeavored to obliterate
the sacred memories Of the war, and to
overcome the inestimably valuable results
of nationality, personal freedom, and ind-
vidual equality. The equal, and steady,
aud complete enforcement of the laws, and
the protection Of all our citizens in the en-
joyment Of all the privileges and immunity
guaranteed by the constitution are the first
luties of tie ne ton Iha 1la,,n OF col;a