River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-06-12

equality of all men for a united nation, assuring
the rights Of all citizens for the elevation of
labor for an honest currency for purity in legis-
lation and for integrity and accountability in all
departmer IS of the government, and IL accepts
anew the duty of leading in the work Of progress
and reform.
GARFIELD AND ARTHUR
We lament the death Of President Garfield,
whose sound craftsmanship, long conspicuous
in congress, gave promise OF a strong and sue
oessful administrations promise Tuily realized
during the short period Of his office as president
Of the United States His distinguished success
in war and peace have endeared him to the hearts
of the American people. In the administration
of President Arthur, we recognize wise, con-
seryatiye and patriotic policy, under which the
country has been blessed with remarkable pros
pcritv and we believe his eminent services are
entitled 70 and viii receive the hearty approval
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
1t is the first duty of q good government to
own people. The largest diversity OF industry
is most productive of general prosperity and of
the comfort and Independence of the people.
We therefore demand that the imposition of du-
ties on foreign imports shall be made not fer
revenue only, but that in raising the requisite
revenues for the government such duties shall
be so levied as to afford security to our diversi
fed industries and protection to the rights and
wages of the laborer. 70 the end that active and
intelligent labor as well as capital may have lis
Just award 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 to the foreign standard, we enter our
earnest protest The Democratic party has
failed completely to relieve the people of the
burden of unnece ssary taxation by wise re-
duction of the surplus. The Republican party
pledges itself to correct the inequalities of the
tariff and to reduce the surplus, not by the ",
earious and indiscrimInate process OF horizontal
reduction, but by such methods as will relieve
the taxpayer without injuring the laborer.
Among the great productive interests OF the
country we recognize the Importance OF sheep
husbandry in the United States, the seri-
Gus depression which il is now experiencing,
and the danger threatened its future prosperity,
and We therefore respect the demands Of the
representatives of this important agricultural
interest for Teadjustment of duty upon for
eign wool, in order that such industry shall have
full and adequate protection.
THE CURRENCY.
We have always recommended the best money
known to the civilized world, and we urge that
efforts be made to unite all commercial nations
in the establishment of an international stand
ard which shall fix all the relative value of gold
REGULATING COMMERCE
The regulation of commerce with foreign ma
tions and between the states Is one of the most
important prerogatiyes of the general govern
ment, and the Republican party distinctly an
nounees its purpose to support such legislation
as will fully and efectually carry out the eonstt
tutional power of congress over interstate COM
MERGE. The principle of the public regulation of
railway corporations is wise and salutary one
for the protection of all classes of the people,
and we favor legislation that shall prevent un-
just discrimination and excessive charges for
transportation and that shall secure TO the peo-
pie and the railways alike the fair and equal pro-
lection of the laws.
LABOR
We favor the establishment of a national
bureau of labor, the enforcement of, the eight
hour law, a wise and iudicious system of general
education by adequate appropriation from the
national revenues whenever the same Is needed.
We believe that everywhere protection to a cltI-
zen of American birth must be secured TO citl-
zens by American adoption, and we favor the
settlement of national differences by interna-
tional arbitration. The Republican party
having its birth in a hatred of the slave labor
and desire that all men may be truly free and
equal is inalienaby opHoscd to placing our
workingmen in competition with any form Of
seryiie labor whatever some or abroad. In
this spirit we denounce -l- importation of con-
tract labor whether from Europe or Asia, as an
offense against the spirit Of American inst1tu-
tions, and we pledge ourselves to sustain the
present law restricting Chinese immigration and
to provide such further legislation as Is neces-
sary to carry out its purpose
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Reform of the civil service auspiciOusly begun
under a Republican administration should be
completed by the further extension OF the re-
formed system already established by law to all
grades of the service to which il Is applicable.
The spirit and purpose of the reform shonld be
observed in the executive appointments, and all
laws at variance with the objects OF existing re-
formed legislation should be repealed, to the end
that the dangers to free institutions which Turk
in the power of official patronage may be wisely
and effectually ayerted
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
The public lands are the heritage of the people
of the United States, and should be reserved, as
far as possible, for small holdings by actual
settlers. We are opposed to the acquisition of
large tracts Of these lands by corporations or
individuals, especially where such holdings are
in the hands of non-residents or aliens and we
will eudeaFOr to obtain such legislation as viii
tend to correct this evil We demand of congress
the speedy forfeiture of all land grants which
have lapsed by reason of noncompliance with
the acts of Incorporation IN all cases where there
has been no attempt in good faith to perform the
condition of such grants.
THE PENSIONERS.
ba mi ne ha American ppODla
are due to the Union soldiers and sailors of the
late war, and the Republican party stands
pledged to suitable pensions for all who were dis
abled, and for the widows and orphans OF those
who died in the war. The Republican party also
pledges itself to the repeal of the Limitation con-
tanned in the act of 1879, so that all Invalid
soldiers shall share alike, and their pensions
begin with the date of disability or discharge,
and not with the date of the application.
FOREIGN POLICY AND THE NAVY
The Republican party favors a policy which
shall keep us from entangling alliances with
foreign nations and which gives us the right to
expect that foreign nations shall refrain fff3n
meddIing in American affairs The policy which
seeks peace can trade with all powers, but
especially with those of the Western hemisphere
We demand the restoration of our navy TO its
old time strength and efficiency, that 1t may In
any sea protect the rights of American citizens
and the interests Of American commerce, and we
call upon congress to remove the burdens under
which American shipping has been depressed, so
that it may again be true that we have COM
merce which leaves no sea unexplored and
TIE TERRITORIES AND PoLYGAMY.
Resolved, That the appointments by the pfesl-
dent to officers in the territories should be made
from bona fide citizens and residents OF the ter
ritories where they are to serve.
Resolved, That it is the duty of congress to
enact such laws as shall promptly and effeetualy
suppress the system of polygamy within our
territory and divorce the political from the
ecclesiastical power of the so-called Mormon
church, and that the law enacted should be
rigidly enforced by the civil authorities II pos
sible and the military II need be.
FREE BALLOT.
The people of the United States in their or
ganized capacity constitute a nation and not a
mere confederacy of states. The national gov
eminent is supreme within the sphere Of its
national duty, but the states have reserved
rights which should be faithfully maintained
each should be guarded with Jealous care, so
that the harmony of our system of government
may be preserved and the Union kept 1ny1olate
The perpetuity of our institutions rest on the
maintenance of free ballot, honest and correct
returns. We denounce the fraud and violence
practiced by the Democracy in the Southern
states, by which the viii of the voters is defeat
ed as dangerous to the preservation of free in
stitutions. We solemnly arraign the Democratic
party as being the guilty recipient of the fruits
of such fraud and violence. We extend to the
Republicans of the South, regardless of their
former party affiliations. our cordial sympathy.
and pledge to them our most earnest efforts to
promote the passage of such legislation as will
secure to every citizen of whatever race or
color the full and complete recognition, possess
sion and exercise of all civil and political rights
The next business in order was the call OF
| states for the announcement of members OF the
| cali was made and voted down, and the call was
| then proceeded with.
| The convention then took recess until z p. m