Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-05-31
The Platform Adopted.

was directly traceable.
The Platform Adopted.
The platform was then reported and
| read. 1t was received with orderly
| interest, which broke into approving
noise at the phrases: "The calamity OF
this assassination has been followed by
the overthrow of these reforms in the
hands of his successor; "we declare
our purpose to take up the work which
fell when Garfield fell"; and at the last
clause. the one omitted from the Har-
risburg platform. The Independent
Republican platform follows:
| The Republicans of Pennsylvania
who will not surrender their political
rights and who maintain the exercise
| of their own conscience and judgment
concerning public affairs, having as
sembled in State Convention, make the
following declaration of principles and
purpose:
FIRsT-We declare our attachment
to the principles of the Republican
party = freedom, union, nationality
equal rights before the law, mainten-
ance of the public faith, protection to
home industry-and we demand that
the record which has been made shall
be wisely and fearlessly perpetuated.
SEcoND-We declare that the nom
ination and election Of j. A. Garfield
to the Presidency signihed to US the
triumph of true reform in the Civil
Service and an enlarged liberty of ac-
ton for the masses of the Republican
party in the nominations OF their can
didates and in the conduct of their
party affairs, and we deplore the
overwhelming evidence presented to
US in Pennsylvania that the calamity
ofthis assassination has been followed by
the overthrow of these reforms IN the
hands of his successors.
THIRD-We denounce the system
which makes patronage" and "spoils"
out of public Offices; we denounce the
practice of giving them to political
managers for use in advancing personal
ends: we denounce the removal OF
faithful and competent officers in the
absence of a public reason; we denounce
the practice of levying assessments
and demanding contributions for party
use from public officials; we denounce
severally and collectively the evils of
corruption which accompany the con-
duct of the Government as "spolls
system" and which are lnsepara6le
from such a method of administration,
and we denounce the system of ''boss
rulen and machine control!" which
when tamely endured, makes leaders
into autocrats and reduces the mass OF
the citizens into political bondage.
FoURTH-We declare our purpose
to take up the work which fell when
Garfield fell. We demand, in place Of
the "spoiIs SYSTEM" the reformation OF
the Civil Service by law, 50 that the
appointed places therein may be fully
open to all fit and meritorous citizens,
and removals shall be only for good
and sufficient pu1tic cause. We de-
mand, instead of the prostitution of the
public service to private uses, its rec
ognition as high and honorable trust,
to be administered for the peoples
benefit, with efficiency, economy and
integrity. We demand, instead of the
insolence, the prescription and tyranny
of "bossism" and "machine rule" the
free and conscientious exercise of pri-
vate judgment in political affairs and
the faithful discharge by those who
assume representative trusts of the ex-
pressed will of the people.
FIFrH-We declare in favor of the
following party reforms:
l. That delegates to State Conven-
tions shall be chosen by the people IN
the manner in which candidates for the
General Assembly are nominated.
9. That representation in the State
Convention shall be by counties, and
shall be appointed according to their
Republican vote.
3. That State Conventions. shall
not be held without at least sixty days
notice, or earlier than the second We'd
nesday of July, except in Presidential
years.
4. That the Republicans who voted
for the Republican candidate for Presi-
dent at the Presidential election next
preceding shall be entitled to join in
the choice of delegates to the State
and n ational Conventions.
NOMINATIONS MADE.
The Convention heavcd sigh of
relief, for number of delegates had
been oa their feet with various radical
The decks were now
fairly cleared for action, and the Chair
man announced that nominations were
in order. The first real sensation of
the day came next. Major Merrick,
whose beaming, honest face and win
ming smile had been centre of obser-
vation, rose from bis seat in the rear
part of the delegates benches, and in
substance withdrew from the contest