Year: 1871

]
was called to order by Walter Van Dyke, Chair
man of the Republican State Central Committee
The following temporary officers were elected by
exclamation Charles E. Filkins, Chairman ;
Marcus D. Boruck, Secretary Albert Hart, As
sistant Secretary. Committees on credentials,
permanent organization and platform and reso-
lutions were appointed, and the Convention took
recess. When the Convention reassembled,
Hon. John A. Bingham, Congressman from Ohio,
was introduced and addressed the Convention
The committees on credentials and permanent
organization made reports which were adopted
The report of the committee on platform and
resolutions was unanimously adopted The fol-
lowing is


THE PLATFORM.


That the Republicans of California by
their representatives in State Convention assem-
bled, avow their determination to maintain and
perpetuate the principles of the National Repub-


ican party. That We recur with pride and sat-
lsfaction to the many practical and substantial
triumphs of those principles achieved during the
past ten years in the coercion by force of the
| rebellous States into obedience of the Federal
Constitution and laws in maintaining through
a long, severe and bloody struggle the authority
of the General Government against powerful ar
mics in front, English and French interference
on the flank, and the Democratic party in the
rear in roofing out the Democratic institution
of slavery, and banishirg it forever from the ju-
risdietion Of the United States in prohibiting
any State from abridging the privileges of any
citizen Of the Republic in providing irrepeala-
BILE guarantees for the payment 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 declaring the civil
and political equality of every citizen, and in
tablishing all these principles in the Federal
Constitution, by Amendments thereto, as the
permanent law.


Second-That in Ulysses s. Grant we recog-
nize large measure of the patriotistr ability
and honesty which distinguished the Presiden-
tial career of abraham Lincoln, and we feel as
sured that the storm of falsehood and petty
slander directed against him by the malice of de-
feated 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, entitle him to the regard and conf
dence of the whole American people, and give
assurance that the wisdom, perseverance and Ca
pacity which commanded success at the head of
great armies, will in the civil affairs of the Gov
ernment accomplish results equally important
and valuable.


Thrd-That the present National Administra-
ton, inaugurated amid political, civil and social
disorders incident to civil war, and confronted
by complication foreign and domestic, unpar-
aleed 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 judicious
conduct of our foreign relations, its firm and


impartial attitude toward the great powers of
Euronn. rncpntv involved in n 1pSoIatino nd
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 the
same its retrenchment of expense in all the de-
partments OF Government its reduction of the
public debt by more than two hundred millions
of dollars its diminution of taxation eighty
millions Of dollars per annum, and its establish
ment OF the public credit upon secure basis it /
commands universal respect at home and abroad, |
and deserves the continued confidence and sup |
port 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 70 the theory of Amer !
ican government, subversive to the rights liber-
ties and happiness of the masses of the people, ri
and, if permitted, would inevitably terminate in
the speedy establishment of an aristocracy upon
the ruins of our free institutions and we in
favor of such legislation both by the nation and
the State as shall secure a just and 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.


Fifth-That the safety and perpetuity Of Re-
publican institutions depend mainly upon popu-
lar education and intelligence. We therefore
approve and recommend a common school sys-
TEN, 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


SiXth-That religious liberty in its broadest
sense is fundamental principle Of American
governments and legislative enactments having
in view the establishment of creeds, the regula-
tion of modes of worship, the enforcement of
religious observances of any kind, are nconsst-
ent Herewith, and invasons 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 and forms Of our Government, and who
manifest no disposition to acquire a knowledge
of the same, or to conform to our habits, man
ners and customs, is serious and continuing in
jury 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
unsparngly reprobate and denounce all acts Of
violence wheresoever and by whomsoeve- 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 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 nncompromising opposition to any and all