Morning journal and courier., 1881-09-23
Friday Morning, Sep. 23, 1881.
A REPUBLICAN PLATFoRM.

The Republicanism of Massachusetts is
 of a first class kind and 8 State convention
 of Massachusetts Republicans is always in-
 teresting. The one held at Worcester, We'd nesday, when the present State officers were
 renominated, was the most quiet convention held in recent years, but it is noteworthy on
 account of the boldness and general excellence
 of the platform adopted
 This platform deals largely with the work remaining for the Republican party to do. It declares that all the powers of the govern ment should beussd to more effeetually guard the right of every citizen entitled to vote to
 the free exercise and just effect of his suf- frage, and that it is the duty of Congress- to refuse to admit to seats in that body persons who were chosen at elections where legal vo- ters had no fair chance to vote, where the ballot boxes were fraudulently purged or stuffed, or where the legal votes cast were dishonestly counted It asks legislation by Congress to give the country 8 currency having one standard of value-that of the gold dollar. To this end, it declares, the coinage of silver dollars of less intrinsic value than the gold dollar should be stopped, and the law making paper money legal ten- der should be repealed.
 On the important subject of the tariff the platform is explicit. It says there is needed
 "a revision of the tariff laws to make them conform more justly to the present develop ment and needs of our various industries and foreign commerce But this measure, af- fecting vitally industries in which vast cap- ital is invested and upon the prosperity of which millions of our people are dependent for daily bread, should be comprehensive, not partial conservative, not destructive. In our judgment it cannot be undertaken safely until after the whole subject shall have been thoroughly investigated by competent national commission. For this reason we urge the prompt passage of bill creating. such commission with adequate powers"
 A thorough reform in the methods of mak- ing and obtaining appointments to the civil service is asked for. This reform, it is stated, will comprehend these aims, namely
 Maintenance of the constitutional preroga- tive of the President to make nominations upon his sole responsibility, and of the con- stitutional prerogative of the Senate to con-
  free from executive dictation the relief and exclusion of the members of the legislative branch from the business of selecting office holders in the departments of administration; prohibition of assessments upon the salaries of ofhce-holders for party purposes; ap- pointments to clerkships to depend in the first instance upon successfully passing 8 proper examination, open to all applicants without distinction of party, and second ly upon satisfactory service during a pe- riod of probation tenure of office during good behavior or for reasonable fixed term, with promotion for meritorious performance of duty, and no removals except for cause. Experience having shown that the voluntary efforts of any ad- ministration in the cause of civil service re. form are apt to be ''partial, intellectual and subject to relapse" the Massachusetts repre- sentatives in Congress are reminded that they are expected to aid the adoption of measures designsd to give to good intentions the SUD- port of commanding law binding upon the willing and the unwilling alike.
 Better methods of ascertaining the result of Presidential elections are asked for, edu cational aid to the States where illiteracy is most prevalent is recommended, and a wise and stable Indian policy desired. Concern ing polygamy the platform has the follow ! ing Immediate and stringent measures to | suppress the crime of polygamy which, under the guise of a precept of religion, is spread 1 ing over the southwestern Territories and in- l trenching itself in defiance of law and moral | ity. A rank offence and an increasing threat, it has been too long tolerated.
 Aside from it's length the platform of the 1 Massachusetts Republicans is 8 model one. It is very clear and forcible statement of | the duties and aims of the Republican party. 1 Other conventions may well follow it's lead.