Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-10-04
TIE GROWTH OF IMPERIALISM
Extracts From the Republican
Platforms.
FROM BIRTH OF PARTY, IN 1856
The Party Founded for the Purpose 1T
Restoring Principles of Washington
and jefferson Has Strayetl From
the Teachings of Its Founders.


the Teachings of Its Founders.
Ihe republican party was not always
I the party of imperialism and specia
privilege. AT the beginning OF its history
the leading planks in all it's platforms
declared in strongest terms for the ''oqua
rights of man." 1t is only Of recent
years that this principle has been ignored
or expressly denied. A comparison o
the platforms since the birth of the part,
will sufficiently indicate this drift. Al
the first republican convention, held il
Philadelphia, June Eth, 1866, the plat
form adopted by the delegates started
with this propositions
"This convention of delegates assemble
in pursuance of call addressed to tho
people of the United States, without re-
gard to past political differences or di.
visions y who are in favor OF
restoring the action of the federal gov
eminent to the principles of Washington
and Jefferson, and who proposed to unite
in addressing the candidates for the
offices of president and vice president
do resolve as follows:
"Resolvcd, that the maintenance OF
the principles promulgated in the Declar-
ation OF Independence and embodied in
the federal constitution, is essential tC
the preservation OF our republican insti-
tutions X x
"Resolved, that, as our republican ia
theirs, we hold it to be a self-evident
truth, that all men are endowed with the
inalenable rights of life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness, and that the de-
sim of our federal government was to
sa....u. 4l,..- -:elA~ 80 III ,.,;tl-:-
;ts Exclusive jurisdiction
"Resolved, the highwayman's plea,
that might makes right embodied in
the Ostcnd circular, was in every respect
unworthy Of American diplomacy, and
would bring shame and dishonor on any
government or people that give it their
sanction."
Upon these platforms, Gen. Fremont
of California was nominated, and received
in the electoral college II votes.
The republican convention which
nominated Abraham Lincoln for his first
term met at Chicago, May lG, 1850, and
adopted among others this platform
affirming again the equal rights OF man :
"Resolved, that the maintenance OF
the principles promulgated in the Dcclar-
alton of Independence and embodied in
the federal constitution, quote that all
men are created equal, that they are en-
dowed by their Creator with certain in
alienable rights; That among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit OF happiness,
that to secure these rights, governments
are instituted among men, deriving
their Just powers from the consent OF the
governed is essential to the preservation
OF our republican institutions, and that
the federal constitution, the rights OF
the states and the union OF the states
must and shall be preserved
Mr.. Lincoln was rcnominated at Baltl-
more, June 18th, 1864, at the so-callc''
regular republican convention. The plat
form adopted on this occasion was con-
cerned chiefly with the issues current at
that time, relating to the struggle be-
tween the states, but ii contained Il re-
affirmation in general terms of the equal
rights platform of 1860.
The republicans met at Chicago, May
20, 1868, and nominated Gen. Grant fol
president. This was the height of Il
period OF imperialism, which arose in
the republican party Immediately after
the war, but in measure, subsidized {;
few years later under the wise warnings
OF a few faithful democrats, who saw tn,
trend of the times, and recognized in the
unbridled corruption and unrestraincc
use Of power accorded to the president
by his hattcrers and supporters ten
dency to imperil the pcrmanence of the
republic. The platform upon Wllci
General Grant was nominated is almos
silent upon the subject Of "equal rights,
except as applied to the newly enfran
chised \ egro slaves. But the concluding
plank contains this affirmation:
1--WE recognize the great principle
laid down in the immortal Declaration
of Independence as the true foundation
OF democratic government, and we hal
with gladness every effort towards max
ing these principles a living reality OF
every inch of American soil.'
In 1872, when Gen. Grant was renomi
mated at Philadelphia, on June 9th, tn
republican party was still further steepe