Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-01-06
The following is the Platform adopted by
the Republicans at Chicago:
THE PLATFORM.

THE PLATFORM.
The Republicans of the United States assem-
bled by their delegates in National Convention
pause on the threshold tfstheir proc eedings to
honor the memory of their first great leader,
the immortal champion of liberty and the
rights of the people-Abraham Lincoln, and to
membrance and gratitude the heroic names of
ouI later leaders who have more recently been
Arthur, Logan. Conkling. May their memories
be faithfully cherished. We also recall with
our greet ings and with prayer for his recovery
the name OF one of our living heroes whose
memory will be treasured in the history both
of Republicans and of the republic-the name
of that noble soldier and favorite child of vic
tory, Philip 81. Sheridan.
In thesspirit of those great leaders, and of our
own devotion to human liberty, and with that
hostility to all forms OF despotism and oppres-
sion which is the fundamental ideal of the Re-
publican party. we send fraternal congratula-
ton to our fellow Americans of Brazil, upon
their great act of emancipation, which COM
pIeted the abolition of slavery throughout the
two American continents We earnestly hope
that we may soon congratulate our fellow-cti-
Zens of Irish birth upon the peaceful recovery
of home rule for Ireland.
We reaf1irm answering devotion to the
National constitution and to the indissoluble
union of the states. to the autonomy reserved
to the States under the constitution. to the
personal rights and liberties of citizens in all
the States and Territories In the Union. and
especially to the supreme and sovereign right of
every lawful citizen, itch poor, native or
foreign bern, white or black, to cast one free
ballot in public elections, and to have that bal
lot duly counted. We hold the free and honest,
popular ballot, and the just and equal represen-
Iation of all the people, to be the foundation of
our Republican Government. and demand eff
fective legislation to secure the integrity and
purity of elections, which are the fountains of
all public authority. We charge that the pres
ent administration and the Democratic major
ity in Congress owe their existence to the sup
preston of the ballot by criminal nullihca-
ton of the constitution and laws of the United
States.
We are uncompromisingly in favor of the
American system of protection; we protest
against its destruction as proposed by the Pres
ident and his party. They serve the interests
of Europe; we will support the interests of
America. We accept the issue and confidently
appeal to the people for their judgment. The
protective system must be maintained. Its
general disaster to all interests, except those
of the usurer and the Sheriff. We denounce
ness, the labor and the farming interests of the
country, and we heartily 1ndorse the consistent
and patriotic action of the Republican Repre-
sentatives in Congress in opposing its passage
We condemn the proposition of the Demo-
cratic party to place wool on the free list, and
we insist that the duties thereon shall be ad-
iusteG and main tanned SO as to furnish full and
adequate protection to that industry.
rednction of the Npfioyan revenne hw reneaI1
ing the taxes upon tobacco, which are an an
noyance and burden to agriculture. and the
mechanical purposes; and by such revision of
the tariff laws as will tend to.check imports of
production OF which gives employment to our
labor, and releases from import duties those
articles OF foreign production except luXurles)
the like of which cannot be produced at home.
II there shall still remain a larger revenue
than is required for the wants OF the govern
ment, we favor the entire repeal of internal
taxes rather than the surrender of any part of
the protective system, at the joint behest of
the whiskey trusts and the agents of foreign
manufacturers.
We declare our hostility to the introduction
into this country of foreign contract labor, and
of Chinese labor, alien to our civilization and
our constitution. and we demand the rigid en-
forcement of the existing laws against it. and
clude such labor from our shores.
We declare our opposition to all combina-
tions of capital. organized in trusts or other
wise, to control arbitrarily the condition of
trade among our citizens, and we recommend
to Congress, and the State Legislatures in their
respective Jurisdictions, such legislation as
will prevent the execution of all schemes to