Year: 1872




clares its faith and appeals to its history
and announces its position upon the cues
tions before the country:


FIRST-Dming eleven years of supremacy
it has accepted with grand courage the solemn
duties of the time. 1t suppressed a gigantic
rebellion emancipated four million slaves
decreed the equal citizenship of all and estab-
lished universal suffrage. Exhibiting unpara-
lleled magnanimity, it criminally punished no
man for political offenses, and warmly well
coined all who proved their loyalty by obeying
the laws and dealing justly with their neigh
bors.


1t has steadily decreased, with a firm hand
the resultant disorders of a great war, and ini-
tiated wise policy towards the Indians The
Pacific Railroad, and similar vast enterprises,
have been generously aided and successfully
conducted The public lands are freely given
to actual settlers immigration is protected,
encouraged and the full acknowledgment Of
the naturalized citizens rights has been secur-
ed from European Powers. The national cur
rency has improved in reputation and the ma
tional credit has been sustained under extra
ordinary burdens, and new bonds have been
negotiated at lower rates. The revenues have
been carefully collected and honestly applied.
Despite the annual large reductions from the
rates of taxation, the public debt has been re-
duced during Grants presidency at the rate of
one hundred million dollars per year. A great
financial crisis has been avoided and peace
and plenty prevail throughout the land. Men
acing foreign difficulties have been peacefully
and honorably compromised, and the honor
and power of the nation has been kept high
throughout the world. This glorious record Of
the past is the party's best pledge for the
future. We believe the people will not intrust
the Government to any party or combination
of men composed of those who chiohy have
resisted every step in this beneficial progress.


SECOND-Complete liberty and exact equal
ity in the enjoyment of all civil, political and
public rights should be established and effect
ually maintained throughout the Union, by
efficient and appropriate State and Federal
legislation. Neither the law nor its admins
tration should admit of any discrimination in
respect to citizens, by reason of race, creed,
color, or previous condition of servitude.


THIBD-The recent amendments to the Ma





tained, because they are right not merely
tolerated because they are law; and should be
carried out according to their spirit by appro-
pirate legislation, the enforcement Of which
can be safely trusted only to the party that
secured the amendments.


FOURTH-The National Government should
seek to maintain an honorable peace with all
nations, protecting its citizens everywhere and
sympathzing with all people who strive for
greater liberty


FIFTH-Any system Of civil service under
which the subordinate positions of the Gov
ernment are considered as rewards for mere
party zeal, is fatally domorali1ing, and we
therefore favor reform of the system by laws
which shall abolish the evils of patronage and
make honesty, efficiency and fidelity essential
qualifications for public position, without prac-
tically creating life tenure of Office.


SIAIII-Wc are opposed to further grants
of the public lands to tocorporations and monop-
olies, and demand that the national domain
shall DO set apart for the free uses Of the
people.


SEYENTH-The annual revenue, after pay
ing the current expenditures should furnish





principal of the debt; and revenue, except so
much as may be raised by duties on TOBACCO
and liquors, ought to be raised by duties on
importations, the scale of which should be so
adjusted as to aid in securing remunerative
wages to laborers and to promote the indus
trics, growth and prosperity Of the whole
country.


EIGHTH-We hold in undying honor the
soldiers and sailors whose yalor saved the
Union. Their pensions are "A sacred d sbt Of
the nation, and the widows and orphans Of
those who died for their country are entitled
to the care Of the Government and the graft
tude Of the people. We favor such additional
legislation as will extend the bounty Of the
Government to all our soldiers and sailors who
were honorably discharged, and who in time
of duty became disabled, without regard to
the length Of their service or the cause Of such
discharge.


NINTil-Thc doctrine ofIGreat Britain and
other European Powers concerning allegiance,
" once subject always a subject" having at
last, through the efforts of the Republican
party, been abandoned, and the American idea
Of the right of the individual to transfer his
allegiance having been accepted by European
nations, it is the duty of our Government to
guard with jealous care the rights Of adopted
citizens against the assumption of unauthor-
lied claims by their former governments and
we urge tho continued and careful encourage
ment and protection of voluntary immigration
TENTH-The franking privilege ought to be
abolished and a way prepared for u reduction
in the rates of postage.


ELENENTli-Among the questions which
press for attention is that which concerns the
relation of capital and labor, and the Repub-
lican party recognizes the duty Of so shaping
legislation as to secure full protection and an
ample field for capital, and lor labor, which
creates for capital the largest opportunities,
and just share Of mutual profits of those two
great servants of civilization.


TWELFTH-We hold that Congress and the
President have only fulfilled an important
duty in their measures for the suppression of
violent and reasonable organizations in GER
tain of the lately rebellious regions, and for
the protection of the ballot box and, there
fore they are entitled to the thanks of the
nation.


THIRTEENTII-We denounce reputation
Of the public debt, in any form or disguise as
a national crime. We witness with pride the
reduction Of the principal of the debt and of
the rates Of interest upon the balance, and we
confidently expect that our excellent national
currency will be perfected by the speedy re-
sumption Of specie payment.


FOURTEENTi-The Republican party is
mindful Of its obligation to the loyal women
of America for their noble devotion to the
cause Of freedom. Their admission to useful
ness is received with satisfaction, and the
honest demands Of any class of citizens for