Year: 1874

| OAuCb luSllCO W tAA 4bo OlulhOAAo VIII
as little infringement as possible up
on individual freedom; that the gov
ernment of the people by the people
and for the people, interpreted and
foreshadowed by the Declaration of
Independence as the true American
idea: that this idea can only be
realized by the election of honest and
capable men to public Office, and by
conducting public affairs with strict
prudence and in accordance with the
sound and approved maxims of bust
ness and political economy.


2. That party organizations are
useful and necessary, but that while
we are proud of the birth and history
of the Republican party, we recognize
no such allegiance to political associa-
tions as shall prevent our fair and
candid criticism of the acts of all
public men, and that every case of
negligence, wastefulness OF dishonesty
on the part of those having control of
public money, ought to be promptly
Investigated and severely punished,
without fear or favor; that we ex-
pect of our State Legislators and
State officers, the strictest integrity
and economy, the largest possible
relief from the burden Of taxation,
maintenance of public education, the
preservation Of the purity and free
dom of the ballot box, the enforce
ment of such laws as will secure to
all entitled to suffrage, the right to
its exercise and such rs will at the
same time exclude all fraudulent vot-
ing.


3. That we insist upon the right
and duty of the State to control every
franchise of whatever kind it grants,
and while we do not wish that any
injustice shall be done to the indi-
vidual or corporation investing capi-
tai or industry in enterprises of this
kind, we yet demand that no fran
chise shall be granted which is preju-
dicial to the public, in which the
rights and interests of the State and
the people are not carefully and fully
guarded.


A. That while we recognize the
full right of every citizen to express
and act upon his convictions upon all
questions Of public or State interest,
no person holding a Federal or State
office has the right to seek to in
huence the action of his subordinates
by exciting their fears of loss Of place
if their opinions or actions shall differ
from his own, and that we are oppos-
ed to all interference or participation
by them in the conventions of the
people for the nomination of their
candidates for Office.


5. That we are desirous of politi-
cal reform, and for honest economy
and purity in all official administra-
ton. That to secure this is the duty
of every citizen; that to this end every
good man should feel bound to par
ticipate in politics, and to make an
end of bad men forcing their elections
by securing o party nomination. =
That we believe there are as good
men in the Republican party as out
of it, and only the best men should
be nominated for offi:e, and only
such are entitled to receive the sup
port of the people.


6. That we sympathize with every
movement to secure for agriculture
and labor their due influence, interest
and rights, and the Republican party
will be their ally in every just effort
to attain that end.


7. That the interests of this State
demand its commercial relations
with the other States of the Union,
both present and prospective, and
will warrant o liberal expenditure on
the part of National Government in
the improvement of our harbors and
of our channels, and it is the true
policy of our people that they should
be SO represented in Congress as
shall the most effectively secure this
result.


8. That true economy in the man
ngement of all public lands OF the
United States, as well as the settle
ment of our vast domain and the de-
velopment of its resources, demands
liberal grants of the public lands to
aid in the construction of railroads
and other public works, with such
limitations and restril tions as will
secure the ultimate sale 10 actual
settlers.


8. That we are in favor Of Con
gressional aid to the Portland, Dalles
and Salt Lake Railroad; for the i'm
provement of the Columbia river al
the Dalles and Cascades; to aid the
extension of the Oregon Central
Railroad from st. Joe, through the
counties Of Polk and Benton, to its
junction with the Oregon and Cali
fornia Railroad, and the improve
ment Of the Willamette river.


10. That we favor Congressional
aid for the construction Of wagon
road from some point in Rogue river
valley to the nearest practicable point
on the coast and that we favor the
immediate construction Of good
and serviceable wagon road along the
south bank OF the Columbia river
from the mouth of the Sandy to the
Dalles.


II. That we are opposed to the
purchase or leasing by this State o.
the canal and locks at the falls Of the
Willamette river.


II. That we demand the repeal Of
the litigant law, Portland Police bill,
the unconstitutional acts increasing
emoluments and salaries of State and
Judicial officers, the acts increasing
the fees Of clerks and sherifs, and
the modification Of the school laws SC
as to relieve the people of the school
book monopoly.