Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-06-13
National Republican Platform.

lttc thc American people on the attain
ment of so many results in legislation and
administration, by which the Republican
party has. after saving the Union done 81
much To render its institutions just, equal
aud bencficent, the safeguard of liberty and
the embodiment of the best thought and
highest purposes of our citizens. The
Republican purity has gained its strength
by quick and faithful response to the &C.
mandS of the people for freedom, and the
equrliiy of all men; for a united nation,
a>>urin" the rights of all citizens; for the
elevation of labor; for an honest currency: :
for purity in legislation, and for integrity
and accountability in all departments Of
the ~''v 'rnment, and it accepts anew the
duty "f leading in the work of progress
and re.uim.
We lament the death of President Gar
field. whose craftsmanship. long conspic
nous in Congress, gave promise of Il strong
and successful administration-n promise
fully realized during the short period of
his office us president of the United States
His distinguished success in war and
peace have cndcared him to the hearts o;
the American people. In the administers
ton of President Arthur we recognize ii
wise, conservative and patriotic policy,
under which the country has been blessed
with remarkable prosperity. We believe
his eminent services are entitled to, and
will, receive the hearty approval of every
citizen.
1t is the first duty of good government
to protect the rights and pr,motc the in.
tcrcsts of its own people. The largest di1
versity of industry is productive of general
prosperity and of the comfort and indcpcn.
dencc of the people. We recognize the
importance of sheep husbandryin the Unit
cd States; the serious depression which
ii is now experiencing. and the danger
threatening its future prosperity, and we
therefore respect the demands of the rep.
rcsentativcs of this important agricultural
interest for readjustment of the duty on
reign wool, in order that such industry
shall have full and adequate protection
We therefore demand that the imposition
of duties on foreign imports shall be made
not for revenue only, but that in raising
the requisite revenue for the government,
such duties shall he so levied as 10 afford
security 10 our diversified industries and
protection to the rights and wages of the
labOrer, to the end that intelligent labor,
as well rs capital, may have its Just reward
and the laboring man his full share in the
national prosperity. Against the so-called
economy system of the Democratic party
which would degrade our labor 10 the for
eign standard, we enter our earnest protest
The Democratic party has failed compile.
ly to relieve the people of the burden of
unnecessary taxation by wise production
of surplus. The Republican party pledges
itself to correct the irregularities of the
tariff and TO reduce the surplus, not by the
vicious and indiscriminatc process of hOr-
izontal reduction, but by such methods as
will relieve the taxpayer without injuring
the laborcr or the great productive interests
of the country.
The Republican party favors policy
which shall keep us from en.angling ALI.
ances with foreign nations, and which
gives us the right to expect that foreign
nations shall refrain from meddling in
American affairs. The policy which seeks
peace can trade with all powers, but cspe,
cially with those of the western hemis.
phcre. We demand the restoration of the
navy to its old time strength and efficiency,
that it may in any sea protect the rights of
American citizens and the American COM.
merce, and we call upon Congress to re-
move the burdens under which American
shipping has been depressed, so that it
may again be true that we have com.
merce that leaves no sea UNEMPLOYED and
navy which takes no law from superior
force.
Res0lred, That the appointments BY the
president to Offices in the territories should
he made from the bona tide citizens and
of the territories wherin they are
TO serve. We have always recommended
the best money known to the civilized
world, and we urge that efforts should be
made to unite all commercial nations in
the establishment of an International stand.
ard, which shall fix all the relative values
Of gold and silver coinage. The regula-
ton of commerce with foreign nations and
between the states is one of the most i'm
portant prcrOgativcs Of the general govern
ment, and the Republican party distinctly
announces its purpose to support such leg.
islatiOn as will fully and effectually carry
out the constitutional powers Of Congress
over interstate commerce. The principle
of the public regulation of railroad cor.
pOrations is a wise and salutary one for
the protection of all classes of people, and
we favor legislation that shall prevent I'm.
just discrimination and excessive charges
for transportation and that shall secure to
the people and the railroads alike fair
and equal protection of the laws We favor
the establishment of national bureau of
labor, the enforcement of the eight hour
law, a wise and judicious system of gene.
raj education by adequate appropriations
from the national revenue whenever the
same is needed. We believe that every.
where the protection of American birth
must be secured to citizens by American
adoption, and we favor the settlement: of
national difficulties by international arbi-
tration. The Republican party having its
birth in hatred of slave labor and de-
sire that all men may be truly free and
equal, is unalterably opposed to placing
our working men in competition with any
form of scrvile labor, whether at home or
abroad. In this spirit we denouncc the
importation Of contract labor, whether
from Europe or Asia. as an offcnse against
the spirit of American institutions, and
We pledge ourselves to sustain the present
law respecting Chinese immigration, and
to provide such further legislation as Is
necessary to carry out its purposes.
The reform Of the civil service begun
under Republican administration should
be completed by further extension of the
reform system already established by law
10 all SIaucS III tie SeTNlCc 10 WHICH II IS
applicable. The spirit and purpose of the
reform should be observed in all executive
appointments, and all laws at variance
with the existing reform legislation should
he repealed, to the end that the dangers to
free institutions. which lurk in the power
of official patronage may be wisely and
effectively avoided.
The public lands are the heritage of the
people of the United States, and should be
reserved as far as possible for small hold.
ings by actual settlers. We are opposed TO
the acquisition of large tracts of these
lands by corporations or individuals, espe.
cially where holdings are in the hands of
nonresident aliens, and we will endeavor
to enact such legislation as will tend to
correct this evil. We demand of Congress
the speedy forfeiture of all land grants
which have lapsed by reason of non com.
pliancc with the acts of incorporation, in
all cases where there has been no attempt
made in good faith to perform the condi.
lions Of such grant, The grateful thanks
of the American people are due to the
soldiers and sailors of the late war, and the