The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-03
National Republican Platform.

its administration. 1t suppressed rebellion
which had armed nearly u million of men to
subvert the national authority. It recon-
structed the union of the States with free.
dom, instead of slavery as its corner stone.
1t transformed. four millions of human he
ings from the likeness Of things to the rank
Of citizens. 1t relieved Congress from the
infamous work of hunting fugitive slaves,
and charged it 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. 1t has restored upon solid basis
payment in coin of the national obligations
and has given MS . currency absolutely
good and legal. and equal in evey part Ut
our country. 1t has lifted the credit Of the
bonds sold at sc to that in which four per
cent. bonds are eagerly sought at a premi
UNI. Under its administration railways in
creased from 81 600 miles in 1860 to more
than $4,000 miles in 1879. Our foreign trade
has increased from 500, 0OO, 200 to 81, $780,
1000 in the same time, and our exports,
which were twenty millions less than our inn
our imports in 1879. Without resorting to
loans, it has, since the war closed, betrayed
the ordinary expenses Of the government,
besides the accruing interest on the public
debt and disbnrsel annually more than
thirty millions for soldiers pensions. 1t has
paid $685., O0O, 600 of the public debt, and by
refunding the balance at lower rates has
reduced the annual interest charge from
nearly $l5l ,OOO, 600 to less than $4,000, 900.
All the industries Of the country have re-
viveef, labor ia in demand, wages have in
creased, and throughout the entire country
there is evidence of a coming prosperity
greater than We have ever enjoyed. Upon
this record the Republican party asks for.
the continued confidence and support of the
people. aid this convention submits for
their approval the following statements and
purposes, and which will continue to guide
and inspire its efforts.
First. We affirm that the work of the
last twenty-0ne years has been such as to
commend itself to the nation, and that the
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
should be perpetuated, and that the liber-
ties secured to this generation should he
transmitted, un,liminishcd to future gener-
atiOns, that the order established and the
credit required should never he impaired
that the pensions promised should be paid
that the debt, SO much reduced, should be
cxtinguisled by the full payment OF every
dollar thereof; that the reviving industries
should be further promoted, and that the
steadily encouraged
2. The constitution of tho United States
is II supreme law, and not a mere contract.
Out OF Confederate States it made SOW
erign 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.
j. The work of popular education is one
left to :he care of the several States, but it
is the duty OF the national government to
aid that work to tie extent Of its constitu-
tional ability. The intelligence of the ma
ton is but the aggregate of the intelligence
i'll 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
ut all.
4. The constitution wisely forbids con-
gress to make any laws respecting an es-
tablishment 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 its denomination
We, therefore, recommend that the consti-
tuition be SO amended as to lay some restric-
lions upon the legislature of each State, and
to forbid the appropriation of public funds
to the support Of sectarian schools
5. We reatfrnl the belief avowed iii 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 lonain should be made to any
railway or ether corporation; that slavery
having persisted in the States, its twin bar
barity, polygamy, must die i'll 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 duty of Congress to develop and
improve our water courses and harbors, but
Insist that further subsidies to private Der
sons or corporations must cease that tie
obligations Of the republic to the nlan who
preserved its integrity in the day of battle
are undiminished by the lapsctl OF fifteen
years since their final victory. To 40 them
honor is, and shall forever he, the grateful
privilege and sacred duty of the American
people.
T.. 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 tre;.-
ty-n ing powers, the Republican party re-
gardlHg the unrestricted immigration of
Chinese us IL matter of grave concernment
under the exercise OF both these powers |
would limit and restrict that immigration
hy the enactment OF such just, humane and |
laws and treaties us will pro:
'lucc that result.
I. That the purity and patriotism which |
the earlier career of Ruther-
ford Ii. Hayes in peace and war, and which,
guided tae thought Of our immediate pre-
lecessors 10 him for presidential candi-
late, have continued to inspire him in his
career as chef executive, and that history
will accord TO his administration the honors
wl,ic, are due to an efficient. just and cour-
eous discharge of the public business, and
he people and attempted partis-n laws.
:. We charge upon the Democratic party
he habitaal sacrifice of patriotism and jus
ice to Il supreme and Unsuitable lust for
tiice aud patronage; that to obtain posses
ion of the national and State governments,
nd the control Ut places and position. they