Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-06-01
The Independent Platform.
AN EXPANSION OF THE REGULAR PLATFORM
WITH LEFT.HAsDED COMPLIMENT TO
THE PRESIDENT.


AN EXPANSION OF THE REGULAR PLATFORM
WITH LEFT.HAsDED COMPLIMENT TO
THE PRESIDENT.
The republicans of Pennsylvania, who
will not surrender their political rights,
and who maintain the exercise OF their
own conscience and judgement concern.
ing public affairs, having assembled in
state convention, make the following
declaration of principles and purposes
First. We declare our attachment to
the principles of the republican party
freedom, union nationality, equal rights
before the law, maintenance of the pub
lie faith, protection to home industry,
and we demand that the record which
has been so nobly made shall be wisely
and fearlessly perpetusted.
Second. We declare that the nomi.
nation and election OF James A. Garfield
to the presidency signitied to us the
triumph OF q true reform in the civil
service, and of an enlarged liberty Of
action for the masses OF the republican
party in the nomination Of their candi.
dates and the conduct OF their party
affairs and we deplore the overwhelm.
ing evidence presented to us in Penn
sylvania that the calamity OF his assas.
sination has been followed by the over.
throw of these reforms in the hands OF
his successor.
Third. We denounce the system
which makes patronage" and "spols"
out OF the public offices we denounce
this practice of giving them to political
managers for use in advancing personal
political end we denounce the removal
OF faithful and competent officers in the
absence ofa public reason we denounce
the practice of levying assessments and
demanding contributions tor the party
use from public officers; we denounce
severally and collectively the evils and
corruptions which accompany the con
duct of the government as a "spoils sys-
tenn" and which are inseparable from
such a method OF administration and
we denounce the system of "boss rule
and machine" control which when
tamely endured makes leaders into
autocrats and reduces the mass of citl.
zenship into political bondage.
Fourth. We declare our purpose to
take up the work which fell when Gar
''spoils system" the reformation OF civil
service by law, so that the appointed
places therein may be freely open to all
tit and meritorious citizens, and remov
ais shall be only for good and sufficient
public cause we demand Instead Of the
prostitution OF the public service to pri.
vate uses, its recognition as high and
honorable trust, to be administered for
the peoples benefit, with efficiency,
economy and integrity; we demand,
instead Of the insolence, the proscrip
ton and tyranny of "bossism' and
"machine" rule, the free and conscien
tious exercise of private judgment in
political affairs, and the faithful dis.
charge. by those who assume repTesen.
tative trusts, of the expressed will OF
the people.
Filth. We declare in favor Of the
following party reform
!. That delegates TO State conventions
shall be chosen by the people in the
manner in which candidates for the
general assembly are nominated.
>. That representation in the State
shall be by counties and
.hAll be apportioned according to their
vote.
5. That State conventions shall not
ne held without at least sixty days no.
tice. nor earlier than the second Wed.
nesday in July, except in presidential
years.
{. That the Republicans who voted
for the Republican candidate for presl'
dent at the presidential election next
shall be entitled to join IN
the choice Of delegates to State and
National conventions.
A resolution was inserted in the
platform calling upon the legislature to
submit to a popular vote the proposed
to the State constitution
the manufacture and sale Of
intoxicating liquors within the Com.
monwealth.