Year: 1871

First-That the Republicans of California by
their representatives in State Convention assem-
bed, avow their determination TO maintain and
perpetuate the principles of the National Repub-
lican party. That we recur with pride and sat-
isfaction to the many practical and substantial
triumphs of those principles achieved during
the past ten years in the coercion by force OF
the rebellious States into obedience Of the Fed
eral Constitution and laws in maintaining
through long, severe and bloody struggle the
authority of the General Government against
powerful armies in front, English and French
interference on the flank, aud the Democratic
party in the rear in roofing out the Democrat
lc institution of slavery, and banishng it for
ever from the jurisdiction of the United States
in prohibiting any State from abridging the
privileges of any citizen of the Republic iu
providing irrepealable guarantees for the pay
ment of the public debt incurred in suppressing
the late rebellion and securing the people Of all
the States against being taxed for the payment
of the debt of the late rebel Confederacy in de-
caring the civil and political equality of every
citizen, and in establishing all these principles
in the Federal Constitution, by amendments
fhereto, as the permanent law.


Second-That in Ulysses S. Grant we recog-
nze large measure of the patriotism, ability
and honesty which distinguished the Presden-
tial career of Abraham Lincoln, and we feel as
sured that the storm of fasehood and petty
slander directed against him by the malice of de-
teated enemies will no more prevail in deprecia-
ting his character in the minds of the people,
than when the same means were employed by
the same agencies TO destroy his great co-laborer
and predecessor that his services both military
and civil, entite him to the regard and conf
dence of the whole American people, and give
assurance that the wisdom, perseverance and
capacity which commanded success at the head
of great armies, will in the civil affairs of the
Government accomplish results equally import
ant and valuable


Third-That the present National Admnistra-
tion inaugurated amid political, civil aud social
disorders incident to civil war, and confronted
by complication foreign and domestic, unpar-
alleled in their difficulty and extent, has thus far
achieved a most gratifying success and given
universal assurances of the stability and power
of popular government. That by its judicous
conduct Of our foreign relations its firm and
impartial attitude toward the great powers of
Europe, recently involved in desolating and
destructive war its prompt and rigid enforce
ment of the laws Of neutrality its successful
solution of grave and threatening issues long
pending between our own country and Great
Britain its wise and economical management
of the national finances its correction of frauds
in the revenue, and efficient collection of tue
same its retrenchment of expense in all the
departments of Government its reduction of
the public debt by more than two hundred mil
lions of dollars its diminutiou of taxation
eighty millions of dollars per annum, and its es-
tabliShment of the public credit upon a secure
basis, 1T commands universal respect at home
and abroad aud deserves the continued conf
dence and support of the American people.


Fourth-That the concentration of the landed
property Of the country in the possession and
ownership of a few, to the exclusion of the many
is in contravention of the theory of American
government, subyersiye to the rights liberties
and happiness of the masses of the people, and,
ap,r,ftf tod Il
speedy establishment of an aristocracy upon the
ruins Of our free institutions; and we are in fa-
vor of such legislation both by the nation and
the State as shall secure a just aud equal distri-
button Of the public lands remaining to them
respectively, to actual settlers and proprietors in
small quantities, at the lowest reasonable prices,
and for homestead purposes only.


Fitth-That the safety ard perpetuity of Re-
publican institutions depend mainly upon popu-
lar education and intelligence We therefore
approve and recommend a common school sys-
tem that shall not only extend its benefits to ALL
but which shall be compulsory upon all-and
we are inhexibly opposed to any application of
the public school moneys with any reference to
distinction in religious creeds


Slxth-That religious liberty in its broadest
sense is a fundamental principle of American
government; and legislative enactments having
in view the establis hment of creeds the regua-
ton of modes of worship, or the enforcement of





herewith, and nyasions Of the right of the citizen


Seyenth-That the presence in our midst of
large Numbers Of Chinese who are incapable of
assimilation with our own race, ignorant of the
nature aud forms of our Government, and who
manifest no disposition to acquire a knowledge
Of the same, Or TO conform to our habits man
nefs and customs, is a serious and continuing
injury to the best interests of the State that
their employment under the plea Of cheap wages
is offensive to the exalted American idea of the
dignity of labor, detrimental to the prosperity
and happiness of our own laboring classes and
an evil that ought to be abated that while we
unsparlngly reprobate and denounce all acts of
violence wheresoever and by whomsoever com
mitted upon them, we are infexibly opposed to
their admission to citizenship, and demand of
the Federal Government the adoption Of such
treaty regulations and legislation as shall dis
courage their further immigration to our shores


Eighth-That the substituting of railroads, or
other private corporations by grants Of public
lands, or by taxation Of private property, in any
form, Is contrary to sound maxims Of govern
ment productive Of gross corruption and abuse
and plain invasion of the rights of the citizens
And we hereby pledge the Republican party to
an uncompromising opposition to any and all
legislation for such purpose and whereas the
Supreme Court has decided that such legislation
is not in conflict with the Constitution, there
fore resolved, That we are in favor Of an amend
ment to that instrument prohibiting the enact
ment of any law granting such subsidies.


Ninth-That we demand an immediate repeal
Of tbs act Of the last Legislature commonly
known as the l." five per cent subsidy law"


Tenth-That the scandalous abuse of power
exhibited by a Democratic Legislature in the
creation OF useless Offices, boards and commits
sons, and the exorbitant increase of fees and
salaries, for partisan purposes its papable and
wanton violation Of plain provision of the Con-
stitution by the infamous enactment commonly
known as the "lGtery bill :" its measureless
subseryiency on a corrupt lobby, eynced by nu-
merous prohigate grants Of subsidies to rail-
way companies official sanction of most of