The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-10-29
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

struction of the states, the Acknowledgement
of the freemen, the protection of American
labor. the passage Of the homestead laws
granting the public domain TO actual
settlers; the restoration and preservation of
the public credit, the resumption of specie
payments, and The firm establishment in
the national statutes of the principle of
genuine civil service reform. The progress
OF the State and nation for a quarter of
ceatury of Republican rule is a sufficient
answer to all charges against its course in
the past, and is guarantee that It's future
achievements will be equally grand and
beneficial to the people.
They reaffirm their loyal adherence TO
the declaration of the principles of the
National Republican party, and adopt on
the basis of their pledges to the people this
statement of Republican, principles and
policies.
First-We favor tariff upon the i'm
ported products of low-priced foreign labor,
fairly and justly distributed, SD as to pro-
tect the interests of American wage work
ers without adding 10 their burdens, and
we point to the history of Republican leg
islatIon as exhibiting such wise revisions
Of the tariff laws from time to time as
have secured these valuable results for the
country and the people. The party whose
quick sense Of its duty to the people is
responsible for those achievements can be
depended upon to make such future re
Visions of the laws as shall be found to be
most advantageous TO the real interests of
American industry, and conspicuous among
the changes we now deem salutary is the
restoration of the tariff of 1867 on wool.
The record of the Democratic party shows
its utter incapacity TO deal with this sub.
ject.
Second-The money of the constitution
is gold and silver com, and the paper rep
resentative of money, including gold and
silver certificates, and treasury and bank
notes, should always be convertible into
coin Of equal denomination at the will of
the holder We produce both gold and
silver largely in our own country, and
therefore these metals, so far as is consist
ent with sound principles of finance, should
be utilized as money.
Third-We regard with favor the intel
ligent organization of labor for such worthy
purposes as mutual education and for the
protection of their interests in all things re.
lating TO their welfare and 10 the industrial
welfare of the country, and we favor the
enactment of State and National laws pro.
viding the settlement OF controversies be-
tween employers and employees by methods
OF voluntary arbitration, rby The establish.
ment OF courts of Cancellation to avoid the
waste, loss and ill-feeling resulting from
strikes and lOckouts, and the usual burden
and expense of litigation. We are opposed
to the further importation of Chinese labor
into this country. or Of any other foreign
laborers under the contract system. we
favor any plan for the relief of free labor
from the competition of convict labor
which does not impose upon free labor q
greater expense of supporting convicts in
idleness or useless labor, and we favor the
adoption of laws providing for the protec-
tion OF workers in our mines and other
hazardous callings, for the regulation of
the labor OF children, and for such other
measures as will sustain and improve the
material and social welfare of our indus.
trial population. Weare earnestly opposed
to the doctrine of the so.called anarchists.
and we believe in the utmost protection to
each and every individual, in the enioy-
ment of the fruits of all his personal efforts
to earn an honest livelihood.
FOurth-We believe that when any con-
siderable portion of the State desires to
express itself by vote upon change in the
organic law, it ought to be allowed to do
so in constitutional manner. and recog.
nizing the evils of intemperance, and de-
string to overcome those evils, we believe
the temperance question is one upon which
that expression should be so permitted
We further demand the thorough enforce.
ment of the present tax and police laws as
they stand on the statute books.
Fifth-We are opposed to the granting of
of the government domain to nonresident
foreigners to the exclusion OF our own citi.
zens TO whose ownership and use for homes
it should be dedicated.
Sixth-We again declare our constant
sympathy with the just and consistent
policy and practice of granting
out OF the nations abundance generous
pensions to the disabled veterans of our
wars, whether for the country's defense or
for the preservation of the Union. We
denounce the present National Adminlstra.
ton for its indefensible vetoes of meritori.
Gus measures TO the relief of veterans and
the widows and orphans of veterans, and
the coarse and insolent terms in
which those vetoes were expressed. We
protest against the removal from official
places Of worthy and disabled Union sol
diers to make way for partisan civilians
and ex. confederates.
Seyenth-We favor such wise national
legislation in regulation of commerce be- |
tween the states as will prevent extortion
by common carriers and secure for the |
producer the transportation of his products
ID all markets at q reasonable and proper
cost and without unjust discrimination in |
favor of any class, interests or sections.
We also favor the amendment of the pat |
ent laws so as to exempt the the owners
and users of patent articles purchased in |
the ordinary way of trade from any labil- |
ity TO the patentee or his assigns.
Eighth-Repudiating the arrogant claim |
Of the supremacy of church over state, we |
insist that it is the duty of Congress to |
enact such laws as shall promptly and eff
suppress the system Of polygamy, |
and that the laws so enacted shall he rigid |
~ enforced by the civil authorities, if pos
siblc, and by the military il necessary.
Ninth-We rcaffirm our sympathy with
The oppressed Of other lands, and especially |
with the Irish nation, in their gallant strug-
yle for the sacred right of self government.
Their cause is one which should not appeal
In vain to liberty loving and liberty en-
1t.