Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-09-09
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
Full Text of the Platform Adopted by the
Republican National Convention.

Full Text of the Platform Adopted by the
Republican National Convention.
The Republican party in National convention
assembled at the end Of twenty years since the
Federal Governn ent was first committed to its
charge, submits to the people of the United
States this brief report of its administration ::
1t suppressed rebellion that had armed
nearly million of men to subvert the National
authority. 1t reconstructed the Union Of States
with freedom instead of slavery as its corner
stone. 1t transformed four millions Of human
beings from the likeness Of things to the rank
of citizens. 1t relieved Congress from the in
famous work of hunting fugitive slaves, and
charged 1t to see that slavery did not exist. 1t
has raised tbe value Of our paper currency
from 80 PEI cent. to the par of gold. 1t has
restored, upon a solid basis, payment i. coin of
all National obligations, and has given us cur
rency absolutely good and equal in every part
of our extended country. It has lifted the
credit of the Nation from the point where
six per cent. bonds sold at Sc, to where four
per cent bonds are eagerly sought at pre-
MUM.
Under its administration railways have in
creased from 81, 900 miles in 1860 to more than
80, 900 miles in 1879. Our foreign trade has
increased from 800, 900 to 81, $50, 000,0 900
IN the same time, and our exports, which were
800, 900 900 less than our imports in 1860, were
1864, 600, 900 more than our imports in 1879.
Without resortIng to loans, it has, since the
war closed, U6IraV6u Un6 ORDINARY expenses Oh
government besides the accrulng interest on
the public debt, and has disbursed annually
more than 30,000,000 for soldIeS' pensions.
1t has paid 1888, 600, 900 of the public debt,
and, by refundmg the balance at lover rates,
has reduced the annual interest charge from
nearly $151, 000, 900 to less than $89, 900, 900.
All the industries OF the country have revived,
labor is IN demand, wages have increased, and
throughout the entire country there's evidence
of coming prosperity greater than we have
ever ell lyed. Upon this record the Republi-
can party asks for the continued confidence
and support of the people, and the convention
submits for their approval the following state
ment Of the principles and purposes which
will continue to guide and inspire it's 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 victories
which we have achieved through immense diff
cultles should be preserved that the peace re-
gained should be cherished that the Union
should be perpetuated, and that the liberties
secured to this generation should be transmit
ted undiminished to future generations that
the order established and the creJit acquired
should never be impaired; that the pensions
and promises should be paid that the debt 80
much reduced should be extlnguished by the
full payment of every dollar thereof; that the
revlvlng Industries should be further promoted,
and that the commerce already so great should
be steadily encouraged.
SECOND-Ihe constitution of the United
States is a supreme law and not mere contract.
Out of confederate States it made sovereign
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 determined by the natl
onal, and not by the State tribunals.
THIRD-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 its constitutional ability
The intelligence of the Nation is but the aggre-
gate OF the intelligence in the several States,
and that the destiny of the Nation must be
guided not by the genius Of any one State, but
by the average genius of ALL
FoURTH-The constitution wisely forbids
Congress to make any law respecting an
establishment of religion, but it is Idle to
hope that the Nation can be protected
against the influence of sectarianism while
each State Is exposed to its domi-
nation. We therefore recommend that the
constitution be so amended as to lay the same
prohibition upon the legislature of each State,
and to forbid the appropriation of public funds
to the support of sectarian schools.
FIFTH-We reaffirm the belief ayoHed i'll
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
VI JULIET COTpOrdllOu IuaC SlaV6ry having
persisted In the States, its twin barba1ty,
polygamy must die in the Territories that
everywhere the protection accorded to citizen
of American birth must be secured to citizens
by American adoption that we deem it the
duty of Congress to develop and improve our
water courses and harbors, but insist that
further subsidies to private persons or corpor-
ations must cease that the obligations of The
Republic to the men who preserved its integrity
in the hour OF battle are undim nished 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.
SIXTTl-Since the authority TO regulate i'm
migration and intercourse between the United
States and foreign nations rests with the Con-
gress OF the United States and the treaty
making power, the Republican party, regard
ing the unrestricted immigration of Chinese as
a matter of grave Government, 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 >uit.
SEyENTH-Ihat the purity and patriotism
which characterized the earlier career of Ruth
erford B. Hayes, in peace and war, and which
guided the thought of our Immediate prede-
cessors to him for a presidential candidate,
have continued to inspire him IN his career as
chief executive, and that history viii 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
interposed betwe en- the people and attempted
partisan laws.
EIGHTH-We charge upon the Democratic
party the habitUal sacrifice of patriotism and
Justice to a supreme and Unsuitable Just for
offic6 and patronage; that to obtain posses
SIGN of the National and State Governments
and the control of place and position they
they have obstluctCd all efforts TO promote
the purity and to conserve the freedom OF
suffrage, and have devised fraudulent ballots,
and invented fraudulent certiicatlon of re
turns; have labored to unseat lawfully elected
members of Congress to secure at all hazards
the vote of majority of States III the House
OF representatives 4; have enGeayored to oc-
cupy by force and fraud the places OF trust
given to others by the people of Maine, rescued
by the Courage in action of Names katrlotic
sons haSN, by methods vicious in principle
ana tSrannissl in practice, attached partisan
1eSlsia.ion " appropriation bills upon whose
9 assSss 1ne veg movement of government
p.So, ~, Sushed the rights of the
lhulN ~ %. t naNe located the principles and
sought the favor OF 10 reI,oItioSS arrof,,o+ ~ a
Nation, ana have endeir6 ~ tb
s acieu biv vsIn,bie rrsr and to overcCme
Its lnestiina 9 ,SSlts Of nationality
personal fr Ta n,s ana I'm mIdltsaal equality
enforcement of the laws, and thS t4ip
IN our citizens in the enjoyment - IN -
iayes and immunity guaranteed by M op,ati
t,SIion- are the first duties of the Ma :ior
TENTH-The danger Of q 9 solid South GOV,