Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-06-13
The Republican Platform
Adopted at Chicago.


States, in national convention as
sembled, renew their allegiance to
the principles upon which they have
triumpbed in six successive presl'
dental elections, and congratulate
the American people on the attain
ment of so many results in legisla
ton and administration, by which
the republican party has, after saw
ing the Union, done so much to rem
der it's institutions just, equal and
benefcent, the safeguard of liberty
and the embodiment of the best
thought and highest purpose ofouI
citizens. The republican party has
gained its strength by quick and
faithful response to the demand Of
the people for the freedom and the
equity of all men; for united ma
ton, assuring the rights of all citi
zens; for the elevation of labor, fol-
an honest currency, for purity in
legislation and for integrity and
accountability in all departments
of the government, and it accepts
anew the duty of leading in the
work of progress and reform.
GARFIELD AND ARTHUR.
Welament the death of President
Garfield, whose sound statesman
ship, long conspicuous in Congress,
gave promise of a strong and sue
cessful administration, promise
fully realized during the short peri
cd of his office as President Of the
United States. His distinguished
success in war and in peace has en-
deared him to the hearts of the
American people. In the admins
tration of President Arthur, we
recognized a wise conservative and
patriotic policy under which the
country has been blessed with re-
markable prosperity, and we be-
lieve his eminent services are enti-
tied to and will receive the hearty
approval of every citizen.
1t is the first duty Of good gov
ernment to protect the rights and
promote the interests of its own
people, the largest diversity Of in,
dustry is most productive of gener-
al prosperity and of the comfort
and independence of the people.
THE TARIFE PLANK.
We therefore demand that the
imposition of duties on foreign i'm
ports shall be made not "for reven
no only" but that in raising the re-
quisite revenues for the government
such duties shall be so levied as to
afford security to our diversified
industries and protection to the
rights and wages of the laborer, to
the end that active and intelligent
labor as well as capital may have
its just reward and the laboring
man his share in the national pros.
perity.
Against the so.called economical
system of the democratic party
which would degrade our labor to
the foreign standard, we enter our
earnest protest. The democratic
party has failed completely to re-
lieve the people of the burden OF
unnecessary taxation by wise re-
duction of the surplus.
The republican party pledges it.
self TO correct the inequalities ofthe
tariff, and to reduce the surplus,
not by the vicious and indiscrimi.
nate process Of horizontal reduc-
tion, but by such methods as will
relieve the taxpayer without injuI-
ing the laborers or the great pro-
ductive interests of the country.
SHEEP HUsBANDRY.
We recognize the Importance of
sheep husbandry in the United
States, the serious depression which
tits now experiencing and the dan
ger threatening its future prosperi.
ty, and we therefore respect the
demands of the representatives of
tnis importantagricultural interest
for a readjustment of the duty upon
foreign wool in order that such in
dustry shall have full and adequate
protection.
A STANDARD OF GOLD AND SILVER COINAGE.
We have always recommended
the best money known to the civil
lized world. and we urge that an
effort be made to unite all CONNER
cial nations in the establishment
of the international standard which
shall fix for all the relative value of
gold and silver coinage.
REGULATING INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
The regulation of commerce with
foreign nations and between the
States is one of the most important
prerogatives of the general govern
ment, and the republican party dis
tinctly announces its purpose to
support such legislation as will
fully and efficiently carry out the
constitutional power of Congress
over interstate commerce. The
principle of the public regulation
Of railway corporations is a wise
and salutary one for the protection
Of all classes of the people, and we
favor legislation that shall prevent
unjust discrimination and excessive
charges for transportation, and that
shall secure to the people and to
he railway alike the fair and equal
protection of the laws.
ANATIoNAL LABOR BUREAU.
We favor the establishment of a
rational bureau of labor, the en-
Orcement of the eight.hour law, a
wise and judicious system of general
.ducation by adequate appropria-
ion from the national revenues
wherever the same is needed.
We believe that everywhere the
protection to a citizen of American |
firth must be secured to citizens by |
adoption, and we favor
he settlement of national differ.