The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-09-25
THE REPUBLICAN, PLATFORM.

The nlnff0rTO Of the National Rpnf1hli- /
can Convention adopted At CHICAGO In
1888. and endorsed by the people Of the |
country by the election Of General Benia- |
min Harrison TO the Presidency. meets
our hearty approval and has our uuouali- |
fed reaffirmance. We conrratulate the |
State aud Nation upon the wise. courage
Gus and successful Administration brought
into power under its PRINCIPLES. President
Harrison has the full confidence and UNI
swerving support Of the Republicans of
this State.
The canvass upon which we are enter
| ing is one OF local and State policy only.
We declare ourselves pledged to local
sclf-government, in township, city and
county We are in harmony with that
provision of the State constitution which
declares 'sthe Legislature shall not pass
local or special laws regulating the inter-
raj affairs OF towns and countless" the
spirit of which provision was not only
ignored, but tlagrantly violated by the
last Legislature. The Legislature OF 1889
stands without q parellal in the history of
the State in the character OF its majority.
1t was partisan, il was arrogant, 1t was
| profligate. Itpassed its Ubiquitous partisan
| itpCdtciss ITO OuhCtui0lbS iOf tu6 ESutHttiCt-
ing of the State its new charters for
municipalities, and its acts for the creation
of new Offices, only after deals and proml-
SEES of appointment made between the leg
islative and executive branches Of the
State government. 1t is open and motor
ious history, since fulfilled, that municipal
charters were passed and foisted upon the
people, upon twenty-four hours publica
ton, through the efforts and votes of those
who were to and did take Office under
them. 1t entered into municipalities aud
counties against public protest, and abso-
| lutely annihilated existing methods of
local Cove rnment destroyed ward boun-
diaries, and overthrow all just basis of
local representation in local boards, 10 de-
fiance of the bill of rights in the constitu-
ton OF the State which affirms that "all
political power is inherent in the people"
1t not only repudiated all attempts at bal
lot reform rendered 1t by the voice OF
united labor and universal public sentl-
ment, but 1t trampled upon every SEM
blance of fair elections by the repeal of
all the protective provisions OF existing
laws for the registration and honest return
of the result OF elections in the several
municipalities of the State. Its record Is
a blot upon the history of the State.
We favor the enactment OF statutes re-
forming the election laws of the State to
prevent fraud aud false registration and
for the purpose OF establishing the Austria
liam or other like system of voting, w e e.
by the voter shall be enabled to act indie
pendently and intelligently 10 the exercise
OF his citizenship. Such legislation will
tend TO perpetuatc pop liar government
The Republican party always ready 10
anticipate public sentiment, fully recog-
nizes the public demand for the reorgani-
zetion and simpliiication OF the courts OF
civil procedure OF this State, 20 the end
that multiplicity OF appeals may be avoid
ed, and the trial OF causes be made expe-
| ditions and inexpensive.
We promise speedy consideration OF
this subject by appropriate Legislation.
Compulsory education is upon the sta
t'te books OF our State by the enactment
OF Republican Legislature, and we de-
mand the enforcement OF the law In all
cases, by the proper officers, and promise
such additional legislation as may be
necessary to provide facilities for the ac-
commodation In the public schools OF all
children between the ages OF 8 aud ID
years, not found in any other school.
The child labor law OF the State is of
Republican enactment and We demand Its
enforcement in order to prevent children
being put to trade In early youth, and
being broken down in body, and untutor-
cd in mind, before they have sufficient
| physical development to stand the strain
OF manual laJor.
The course OF the Democratic party In
organizing the Labor bureau OF tho State
into partisan machine Is perversion
of the objects for which Il is was formed,
and an insult TO united labor, In pursuance
OF whose demands 1t was created.
The request OF the wageworkers for rea-
sonable hours OF labor, aud the designa-
ton OF definite portion OF each weels
for recreation, demands aud should re-
ceive legislative consideration.
The present system of taxation OF COR
porate property and franchises for State
purposes has become the settled policy of
the State by the cnactments passed In
1884, devising the method for the taxation
of such property, which acts have since
been sustained and upheld as constitutions
al by the highest courts of the State. The
plan thus adopted meets public approval.
These laws were formulated and en-
grated upon the statute books of the
State by the wisdom Of the Republican
leaders In the Legislature, and the Repub-
| lican party is committed to these meas
ures and to the strengthening and uphold
| ing OF the same.
We recognize the fact that there Is a
pressing demand for greater economy In
all departments of the State government.
The expenditures of the State unde
twenty-one years of Democratic executive
control have increased the public burt1ens