The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-09-03
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM OF MICHIGAN.

/. The Republican party OF the State OF Mich
igan, assembled by its delegated representatives
in the city OF Jackson, upon the spot where the
National Republican party was born, after an
unbroken supremacy in the State of a quarter
OF century and in the nation OF two score oil
years, grateful Q an overriding Providence and
loyal people for the grand achievements OF
the past, here declares itself ow, as ever faith
full to the great principles OF liberty, equality
before the law, the perpetual union OF the
States, the supremacy OF the nation, free press
thought, speech and ballot, and the invincble
sacredness OF the constitutional results OF the
war for the Union.
2. With pride and satisfaction it challenges
scrutiny of It's record during the past 25 years
"a record unequaled in the history OF parties
since the foundation OF the government.
Among accomplished results we here recall
the conservation of the territories to freedom !:
the abolition OF slavery IN the District OF Co
lumbia; the preservation OF the integrity OF the
Union against the greatest and most cruel re-
belon in history; the provision OF free home
steads for free men; the emancipation CT over
100000 OF slaves; the comforting Of equal civil
and political rights upon the emancipated race ;
the creation OF wsr currency never equaled,
and the restoration OF that currency, by good
faith and honesty, to equality with the best
money in the world; the payment, with heroic
fidelity, Of more than two-th'rds OF the cost Of
the war; the vast reduction of the pi ,ncipal
and interest OF the public debt, and the eleva.
tIon OF the public credit until the nations four
per cent. bonds are eagerly sought at par; the
linking of the two oceans With bonds of iron
the enactment Of just and equal pension and
bounty laws for the defenders OF the l. Mon
and their widows and orphans; the settlement
OF momentous international questions by peacs-
full arbitration, ard the elevation Of the United
States TO the rank OF first-class nation, grand
in peace and mighty in war; making govern
ment OF the people, by the people and for the
people respected around the whole EARTH
During this came period the Democratic par
ty has been, as party abjectly pro slavery,
time-seryng, unpatrotic, in part reasonable,
reactlonary and obstructive. 1t Frustrated the
nations credit; 1t undermined the bulwarks OF
the constitution with the pernlcious doctrine Of
State Supremacy; it armed the rebellion it en-
couraged treason; it discouraged the defence OF
the nations life; opposed the draft Inaugural
ted bloody riots; declared for a truce with reb
DETAINED the greenback out OF share of its
honest value; bitterly opposed freedom for the
slave, civil rights for the freedman, and the
franchise for the black citizen; denounced the
constitutional amendments as revolutionary
and void; y denied freedom Of speech, press and
ballot in the South; by shot-guns, intimidation
and tissue ballots gained control OF both houses
government by refusing necessary supplies, and
bypcoercion OF the Executive, after having fail
ed to steal the Presidency by bribery.
II is now conspiring, under pretenses OF re-
pentance false upon their face, to install " the |
Lost cause in the capital OF the nation; to re-
organize the supreme court to undo all war
legislation, and to make 1t easy to annul the |
constitutional amendments and bankrupt the
treasury with rebel war claims and compensa-
ton for emancipated slaves.
With this record behind us, and our face Sc.
and confidently to the duties and
OF the future, We do .ere de-
clare
/. That the administration Of the constItu-
ton, the protection OF the Union, and the en-
forcement Of the constitutional amendments
should be entrusted to their friends, and not to
their enemies, who have reentlessly sought to
destroy them each and all.
2. That the blight OF slavery.wi not have
been wholly eradcated until all men shall be
in fact, as they are of right equal before the
law.
3. We demand for every citizen. rich and
poor, white and black, North and South, the
right and privilege OF casting his ballot once,
and but once, at each election, and OF having
that ballot fairly counted and returned, without
terror Of shot-guns, frauds Of tissue ballots, or
cheats of cipher dispatches.
4. We believe that the United States are
union, not confederacy; nation, not league.
The constitution is supreme law, and not
between foreign powers.
5. The Union must and shall be preserved;
the public faith must be maintained; the public
debt must be faithfully paid the pensions OF
he nations defenders and their dependents
must be sacredly guarded the public lands pre-
served for actual settlers: fidelity, intelligence
md efficiency exacted in the public service with
out destroying the freedom OF the office holding
,itiZen specie resumption must.be maintained
he laws for the protection OF the purity OF cleo
ions must be adhered to and enforced; educa
ton must be fostered; industry, economy, tenn
perance and morality encouraged and stimula
led; and the public funds strictly devoted to
public and unsectaran uses.
6. In collecting revenues for the current ex-
oenses OF the government and the payment OF
he public debt imposts should be so arranged
Is to relieve from taxation az far as practicable
he necessities Of the poor, and at the same
line 10 afford Incidental protection to Ameri-
an labor from competition with the ill-paid la
Dor OF other lands.
Z. The Republican party has ever been the
friend of the laboring class.
1t has abolished the competition OF slave Ia
)or.
1t enacted the homestead law; placed on the
statute book "the eight hour law" and framed
'enefcent measures for the protection OF immi-
,rants.
1t recognizes the fact that the great mass OF
,ur people must ever belong to the laboring
lass; and while it denounces all agrarianism
md communism, and will hold sacred all rights
II property and contract, it will make the rights
nd interests Of the great laboring class the OBJ
ects OF its jealous care.
8. Resolved, That the ticket for State officers
his day nominated is confidently commended
o the electors of Michigan as one eminently