Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-07-12
Republican Platform.

!. That the Republican party, in preserving
the life of the nation, in giving freedom and
equal rights to all its citizens, in the recon-
struction of the Union, in upholding the nation
al honor, in the generous provisions made foI
those who have suffered for their country, in
keeping the national faith and advancing the
national credit, in the speedy payment OF the
public debt, in the reduttion of national taxa
ton, in the elevation of civil service, in the en-
actment of series of wise public measures
which has given the country une1ampled pros
perity, have given the best assurances of its
purposes for the future.
=. That the Republican party believe now al
in the past in the maintenance of tariff sys-
TEN which will provide revenue for the Gov
ernment and at the same time will protect
American producers and American labor; that
it is opposed to the Democratic doctrine of "a
tariff for revenue only" because such doctrine
if enforced would of necessity compel Ameri-
can wOrkmen to accept the unremunerative
wages which are paid their foreign rivals. II
looks with alarm upon the purpose already
avowed by the Democratic leaders that the next
Congress will revise the tariff by further reduc-
ing the duties on imports, which, if executed
will unsettle the business of the country and
will produce great injury to the mechanics
3. That the wool tariff of 1867 should be re-
stored at the first possible opportunity.
4. That we are in favor of the establishment
by Congress of National Bureau of Labor
Statistics for the purpose Of collecting and sys-
tematizing all statistics relating to the indus
trial, social and sanitary condition of the labor
ing masses of the nation.
5. That we approve of the action of the Cen
eral Assembly Of Ohio in the submission OF
constitutional amendments in relation to the
liquor traffic, thus giving an opportunity to the
people 10 make such changes in the organic law
of the State as may be approved by their judg-
ment.
ment.
6. That we approve of the taxation of the
liquor traffic, for revenue, and for the purpose
Of providing against the evils resulting from
such traffic.
7. That we congratulate the country upon the
reduction, by the last Congress, of internal
taxes of more than forty million dollars annu-
ally while at the same time the credit of the
nation is maintained, and the steady reduction
of the national debt is provided for.
s. That the wise and conservative admins
tration of President Arthur meets with the
hearty approval Of the Republicans of Ohio.
8. That we commend the action of the Cen
eral Assembly OF the State In providing COM
mission to examine into the system of prison
contract labor, and we declare ourselves in
favor of the abolition of said contract system.
10. That we reiterate the declarations of pre-
vious Republican conventions in favor Of civil
service reform, and welcome every intelligent
effort to make that measure practical; and we
especially approve of the provisions made by a
Republican Congress for giving the patriotic
soldiers of the late war, with the proper quail
ications, the preference for all places under
the Government.
ii. That we favor the repeal of the law limit
ing the time in which applications for pensions
under the Arrears of Pension Act shall be
made.
~. That the greatly improved condition Of
the public institutions of the State; the sue
cessful refunding of the public debt at rate
of interest lower than loan has been placed
by any other State; the provision for and pay
ment of 81 900 of the public debt; the i'm
proved financial condition of the State being
such that we may reduce the rate of taxation
and at the same time be amply able to make
large expenditures for the benefit Of the charit-
able institutions of the State-all this accom-
plished in the face of what appeared to be an
absolute necessity under Democratic admins
tratiOn to increase State taxSton-attests the
wisdom, care and economy of the admnistra-
ton of Governor Foster, and is an assurance to
the people of the State that their best interests
are to be subserved by the continuance Of the
Republican party in power.