The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-10-22
WHOLE NO. 1885.
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM OF MICHIGAN.

| 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 of
years, grateful c an overruling Providence and
a loyal people for the grand achievements OF
the past, here declares itself now, as ever, faith
ful 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 invincible
sacredness of the constitutional results OF the
war for the Union.
2. With pride and satisfaction it challenges
scrutiny of Its record during the past % yens
"a record unequaled in the history OF parties
since the foundation Of the government.
Among accomplished results we here recall
the consecraton OF tho territories TO freedom;
the abolition OF slavery IN the District OF CO.
lumbia; the preservation or the integrity OF tee
Union against the greatest and most crnei re-
belon in history; the provision o. free home
steads for free men; the emancipation q over
100000 of slaves; The conGerring Of equal civil
and political rights upon the emapc pated race
the creation Of war currency never eq lale2,
and the restoration OF that currency, bv good
faith and honesty, to equality w!ta tae best
money in the world; the payment, with heroic
fidelity, OF more than two thirds or the cost OF
tho war; the vast reduction OF the prlncrai
and interest OF tho public debt, and the eleva.
ton 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 ron
tho enactment OF just and equal pension and
bounty laws for the defenders OF the mon
and their widows and orphans; thc settlement
of momentous international questions by peaca-
ful arbitration, and the elevation or the United
States to the rank of a first-class naton, grand
in peace aud mighty ia war, making govern
ment OF the people, by the people aud FOR the
people" respected around the whole earth.
During this same period the Democratic par
ty has been, as q party, abjectly pro-savery,
time-serving, unpatriotlc, in part treasoDahe,
reactonary and obstructive. II prostrated the
nations credit: 1t undermined the ba!warss or
the constitution with the pernicious doctrine Of
State Supremacy it armed the rebellion; It en-
couraged treason 1t discouraged the defence Of
the nations life; opposed the draft inaugara
ted bloody riots; declared for truce with reb-
els in aims; pronounced the war q failure;
DETAINED the gfeenback 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 :" denied freedom CT speech. press and
ballot in The South by shot-guns, intimidation
and tissue ballots gained control OF both houses
OF congress- aud attempted to revolutonze the
government byrefuslng necessary supplies, and
by coercion OF the Executive, after hay;ag fai
ed to steal the Presidency by bribery.
1t is now conspriug, under pretenses OF re-
pentance false upon their face, to install "tne
lost Gauge" in the capital OF the nation; to re-
organize the Supreme court 10 undo al war
legislation, and TO make 1t easy TO annui the
constitutional amendments and bankrupt the
treasury with rebel war claims and compenss-
ton for emancipated slaves.
With this record behind us, and our Face Sc.
courageously aud confidently to the duties and
responsibilities OF the future, we do .eIe de-
clare:
/. That the administration o. the constItu-
ton, the protection OF the Union, and .he en-
forcement OF the constitutional amendments
should be entrusted to their friends, and not to
their enemies, who have relentlesslY sought TO
destroy them each ana all.
.. That the blight OF slavery will not have
been wholly eradicated until all men shall be
in fact, as they are of right, equal before the
law.
8. We demand for every citizen. rich aud
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 a
union, not a confederacy nation, not league.
The constitution is supreme law, and noi
treaty between foreign powers.
5. The Union must and shall be preserved;
the public faith must be maintained; the pnblic
debt must be faithfully paid the pensions OF
the nations defenders and their dependents
must be sacredly guarded; the public lands pre-
served for actual settlers: fidelity, intelligence
and efficiency exacted in the public service, with
out destroying the freedom OF the Office holding
citizen: specie resumption must be maintained,
the laws for the protection or the putty or eec-
tions must be adhered to and enforced; educa-
tlO0 must Do 1OsteI6u luuuoIy, cCOhoiiy, tcm-
perance and morality encouraged and stimula-
ted; and the public funds strictly devoted 10
public and unsectarlan uses.
g. In collecting revenues for the current ex-
penses OF the government aud the payment OF
the public debt, imposts should be so arranged
as to relieve from taxation as far as practicable
the necessities of the poor, and at the same
time to afford incidental protection to Ameri-
can labor from competition with the paid Ia
Dor of other lands.
Z. The Republican party has ever been the
/ friend OF the laboring class.
il has abolished the competition OF slave Ia
/ bor.
It enacted the homestead law placed on the
/ statute book "the eight hour aw,' aud framed
benefcent measures for the protection OF immi-
grants.
1t recognizes the fact that the great mass OF
cur people must ever belong TO the laboring
class: and while il denounces all agrarianism
and communism, and will hold sacred all rights
OF property aud contract il viii make the rights
and interests OF the great laboring class the OBJ
iects OF its jealous care.
8. Resolved, That the ticket for State officers
this day nominated is confidently comme nded
to the electors of Michigan as one eminently
worthy OF their support.
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