The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-06-24
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM
Adopted by the National Convention
at Chicago.

Following are the resolutions reported to
the National Republican Convention Satur.
day, the 5th of June, amended and adopted (:
The Republican party in National Conven.
ton assembled, at the end Of twenty years
since the Federal Government was first com.
miteed to its charge, submits to the people OF
the United States this briet report OF its adj
ministratiOn. II suppressed a rebelhon which
the National authority. 1t reconstructed the
union of the states with freedom instead OF
slavery as Its cornerstone. 1t transformed
100000 of human beings from the likeness OF
things TO the rank of citizens. II relieved
Congress from the Infamous work Of hunting
fugitive slaves and charged it TO see tina
slavery does not exist, 1t has raised the value
If our paper currency from 81 per cent. to the
par of gold. 1t has restored upon a solidibasis
payment in coin for all the National Obliga-
lions, and has given us a currency absolutely
good and equal in every part Of our extended
country. II has lifted the credit of the Ma.
ton from the point where 9 per cent. bonds
sold at SO cents, to thai where 4 per cent.
der It's administration railways have increased
from 81 900 miles in 1860 to more than $1,000
miles in 1879, Our foreign trade has increased
from $1,000 600 900 to 81 l5O,OOO,OOO in the same
time and our exports, which were S2O,WO,O0O
,ess than our imports in 1860, were 1854, 10000
more than our imports in 1879. Applause
Without resOrting to loans 1t has since the
war closed betrayed the ordinary expenses OF
government, besides thea ccruing interest on
he public debt, and has annual y disbursed
more than $50, 1000, 900 for soldiers pensions. II
las paid SSSS,O . 900 of the pubic debt, and by
S%efunding the b~alancel at rates has re-
luced the annual interest charge from nearly
3l5l 600. 900 TO less than $50, 10000 M All the in
iustries of the country have revived, labor is
n demand, wages have increased, and
throughout the entire country there is evil
lence of the coming prosperity greater than
we have ever enjoyed.
Upon this record the Republican party asks
or the continued confidence and support OF
he people, and this Convention submits for
their approval the following statements Of the
principles and purposes which will continue
o guide and inspire its efforts:
Frst-We affirm that the work of the last
twenty-one years has been such as TO com-
mend itself to the favor of the Nation, n
that the fruits of the costly victories which we
uave achieved through immense difficulties
should be preserved; that the peace regained
should be cherished; that the discovered
Union, now happily restored, should be per-
petuated, and that the liberties secured TO This
generation should be transmitted undimin.
Shed TO future generations; that the order
established and the credit acquired should
aever be impaired; that the pensions prom
sed should be eXtinguished by the full pay.
ment Of every dollar thereof, that the re-
Tiving industries should be further promoted,
anu JlldG lllG GOululCICt, dlItduy 81 great
should be steadily encouraged.
~Second-The Constitution OF the United
States is a supreme law and not a mere con-
tract; out of Confederate Statesit made asov.
ereign Nation. Some powers are denied 10
the Nation, while others are denied 10 the
States, but the boundary between the powers
delegated and those resereed Is to be deter.
mined by the National and not by the State
tribunals.
Third-The work OF popular education ls
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 Constitu-
tioHa duty. The intelligence Of the Nation is
but the aggregate of the intelligence in the
several states, aud the destiny of the Nation
must be guided not by the genius of any n
state, but by the average genius Of all.
The constitution wisely forbids
Congress to make any law respecting al es-
Enlistment 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 domination. 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 sup
port Of sectarian schools.
Fifth-We affirm the belief avowed in 1879
that the duties Levied Tor the purpose OF rev.
enue should so discriminate as to favor Amer
lean labor lapplausel that no further grant
OF the public domain should be made to any
railway or other corporation; that slavery
having persisted in the states, its twin bar
barity, polygamy, must die in the Territories
I%applausel; that everywhere the protection
accorded TO citizens Of American birth must
be secured to citizens by American adoption,
and that we esteem it the duty of Congress to
develop n improve our watercourses and
harbors, but insist that further subsidies TO
private persons or corporations must cease;
that the obligations of the Republic to the
men who preserved its integrity in the hour
of battle are undiminished by the lapse of the
fifteen years since their final victOry-to do
them perpetualhOnor is, and shall forever be,
the grateful privilege and sacred duty of the
American people.
Sixth-Since the authority TO regulate ina
migration and intercourse between the
United States and foreign nations rests with
Congress or with the United States Il its
regarding the unrestricted immigration of the
Chinese as an evil of great magnitude invoke
the exercise of those powers to restrain and
limit that immigration by the enactment of
such Just, humane and reasonable provisions
as will produce that result,
Seventh-That the purity and patriotism
which characterized the earlier career OF
Rutherford b. Hayes in peace and war, and
which guided the thoughts OF our immediate
predecessors to him for a Presidential candl-
date 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 courte-
Gus discharge Ofthe public business, and will
hOnor his interpOsition between the people
and proposed partisan laws.
Eighth-We charge upon the Democratic
party the habitual sacrifice OF patriotism and
justice to a supreme and Unsuitable lust OF
office and patronage; that to obtain possess
sion of the National and state Governments
ami the control Of place and position they
have INSTRUCTED all effort to promote the
purity n to conserve the freedom otSutirage,
and have devised fraudulent certiications
n returns; have labOred to unseatl Rwtully-
elected members of Congress, to secure at all
hazards the vote Of a majority of the states in
the House of Representatives; have endeavor-
ed to occupy by force and fraud the places OF
trust given to others by the people of Maine,
and rescued by the courageous action OF
Names patriotic sons; have, by methods
vicious in principle and tyrannical in prac-
tiCe, attached partisan legislation to appro-
p~riation bills, upon whose passage the very
movements OF the Government depend, and
nave crushed the rights OF individuals have
advocated the principles and sought the favor
Of rebellion against the Nation, and have en-
deavored to Obliterate the sacred memories
of the war, and TO overcome its inestimably
valuable results of nationality, personal free
dom and individual equality,
The equal, steady and complete enforcement
oflaws and the protection OF all our citiZensin
the enjoyment OF all privileges and immuni-
ties guaranteed by the Constitution are the
first duties of the Nation. The dangers of a
Solid South can only be averted by "A faithful
performance of every promise which the Ma
ton has made to the citiZeA. The execution,
of the laws and the punishment OF all those
who violate them are the only safe methods
by which an enduring peace can be secured
and genuine prosperity established through
out the South. Whatever promises the Nation
makes the Nation must perform, and the Ma
ton cannot with safety relegate this duty to
the States. The Solid South must be divided
by the peaceful agencies Of the ballot, n all
opinions must there find free expression, and
to this end the honest votes must be protected
against terrorism, violence or fraud.
And we affirm 1t to be the duty and the
purpose Of the Republican party to use every
legitimate means to restore all the States Of
this Union TO the most perfect harmony that
may be practicable, and we submit 1t to the
practical, sensible people Of the United States
to say whether it would not be dangerous TO
the dearest interests Of our country at this
time to surrender the administration of the
National Government to the party which
seeks to overthrow the existing policy under
which we are so prosperous, and thus bring
distrust and confusion where there are now
order, confidence and hope.
The Republican party, adhering to the