Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-06-12

rank of citizens. 1t relieved Con.
gress from the infamous work of
hunting fugitive slaves and
changed it to see that slavery does
not exist. 1t has raised the value
of our paper currency from 80 per
cent. to the par of gold. It has
restored upon solid basis payment
In coin for all the national obliga-
tons. and has given us q currency
absolutely good and equal in every
part OF our extended country. 1t
has lifted the credit Of the nation
from the point where 6 per cent.
bonds sold at Sc, to that where 4
per cent. are eagerly sought at a
premium. Under its administra-
tion. railways have increased from
81 900 miles in 1860 to more than
$4,000 in 1879 Our foreign trade
has increased from 500 900, 600 to
81, $50 600 900 in the same time and
our exports, which were SO, 0O0,-
900 less than our imports in 1860
were S264000, 900 more than our
imports in 1879; without resorting
to loans, has since the war closed
betrayed the ordinary expenses OF
government, besides accruing in
terest on the public debt, and dis
bursed annually more than $780,
100000 for soldiers pensions. 1t
has paid 1888 900, 900 on the public
debt, and by refunding the bal
ance at lower rates. has reduced
the ann dal interest charged from
nearly $l5l, 100000 to less than
$50, 900, 900. All the industries of
the country have revived; labor
is in demand; wages have increas-
ed, and throughout the entire
country there b evidence of a COM
ing prosperity greater than we
have ever enjoyed. Upon this
record the Republican party ask
for the continued confidence and
support OF the people, and this
convention Submits for. their APP
prevail the following statements OF
the principles and purposes which
will continue TO guide and inspire
its efforts: :.
1. We affirm that the work OF
the last tWenty-one years has been
such as to commend itself to the
favor of the nation, and that the
fruits of the costly victories which
we have achieved through i'm
mense difficulties should be pre-.
served, after that the peace re.
gained shonld be cherished; that
the discovered Union, now happi-
ly restored, should be perpetuated,
and that the liberty secured to
this generation shall be transmit
ted undiminished to future gener-
ations; that the order established
and the credit acquired should
never be impaired; that the pen
sions promised should be extin-
guished by the full payment OF
every dollar thereof that the re-
viving industries should be furth-
er promoted, and that the COM
merce already so great should be
encouraged.
2. The Constitution of the Uni.
ted States is q supreme law, and
not a mere contract of confeder-
a.ed states; it made a sovereign
nation. Some powers are denied,
while the others are reserved to
the states; but the boundary be.
tween the powers delegated and
those reserved are to be determine
ed by the nation, and not by the
state tribunals. Applause.
3. The work OF populari educa-
ton Is one left to the care of the
several states; but IL IL the duty OF
the national government to aid
that work to the extent OF its con-
stitutional duty. The intelligence
of the nation Is but the aggregate
OF the intelligence of the several
states, and the destiny of the ma
ton must be guarded not by the
genius OF one state, but by the
genius fall.
4. The Constitution wisely for
bids Congress to make any law
respecting an establishment OF re-
ligion; but 1t Is idle to hope that
the nation Can be protected
against the influence OF sectarian-
Ism while each state Is exposed to
Its domination. We, therefore,
recommend that the Constitution
be 80 amended as to lay the same
prohibition upon the legislature
of each state. and to forbid the ap-
preparation Of public funds to the
support OF sectarian schools.
tCheers-
We affirm the belief avowed In
1876, that the duties levied for the
purpose OF revenue should so dis
crimidate as to favor American
labor. That no futher grant of
the public domain should be made
to any railway or other corpora.
ton. That slavery, having per-