Chapter XLVII: Book II: Political Platforms (8)

Therefore, we pledge the Republican party to appropriate legislation asserting the sovereignty of the Nation in all Territories where the same is questioned, and in furtherance of that end to place upon the statute books legislation stringent enough to divorce the political from the ecclesiastical power, and thus stamp out the attendant wickedness of polygamy.

The Republican party is in favor of the use of both gold and silver as money, and condemns the policy of the Democratic Administration in its efforts to demonetize silver.

We demand the reduction of letter postage to one cent per ounce.

In a Republic like ours, where the citizen is the sovereign and the official the servant; where no power is exercised except by the will of the people, it is important that the sovereign—the people—should possess intelligence. The free school is the promoter of that intelligence which is to preserve us as a free nation; the State or nation, or both combined, should support free institutions of learning sufficient to afford to every child growing up in the land the opportunity of a good common-school education.

We earnestly recommend that prompt action be taken by Congress in the enactment of such legislation as will best secure the rehabilitation of the American merchant marine, and we protest against the passage by Congress of a free ship bill, as calculated to work injustice to labor by lessening the wages of those engaged in preparing materials as well as those directly employed in our ship yards. We demand appropriations for the early rebuilding of our navy; for the construction of coast fortifications and modern ordnance and other approved modern means of defence for the protection of our defenceless harbors and cities; for the payment of just pensions to our soldiers; for necessary works of national importance in the improvement of harbors and the channels of internal, coastwise and foreign commerce; for the encouragement of the shipping interests of the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific States, as well as for the payment of the maturing public debt. This policy will give employment to our labor, activity to our various industries, increase the security of our country, promote trade, open new and direct markets for our produce, and cheapen the cost of transportation. We affirm this to be far better for our country than the Democratic policy of loaning the Government’s money without interest to “pet banks.”

The conduct of foreign affairs by the present administration has been distinguished by its inefficiency and its cowardice. Having withdrawn from the Senate all pending treaties affected by Republican administrations for the removal of foreign burdens and restrictions upon our commerce and for its extension into better markets, it has neither effected nor proposed any others in their stead. Professing adherence to the Monroe doctrine, it has seen with idle complacency the extension of foreign influence in Central America and of foreign trade everywhere among our neighbors. It has refused to charter, sanction or encourage any American organization for constructing the Nicaragua canal, a work of vital importance to the maintenance of the Monroe doctrine and of our national influence in Central and South America, and necessary for the development of trade with our Pacific territory, with South America and with the islands and further coasts of the Pacific Ocean.

We arraign the present Democratic administration for its weak and unpatriotic treatment of the fisheries question, and its pusillanimous surrender of the essential privileges to which our fishing vessels are entitled in Canadian ports under the treaty of 1818, the reciprocal maritime legislation of 1830, and the comity of nations, and which Canadian fishing vessels receive in ports of the United States.

We condemn the policy of the present administration and the Democratic majority in Congress towards our fisheries as unfriendly and conspicuously unpatriotic, and as tending to destroy a valuable national industry and an indispensable resource of defense against a foreign enemy.

The name of American applies alike to all citizens of the Republic, and imposes upon all alike the same obligation to obedience to the laws. At the same time that citizenship is and must be the panoply and safeguard of him who wears it, and protect him, whether high or low, rich or poor, in all his civil rights, it should and must afford him protection at home and follow and protect him abroad in whatever land he may be on a lawful errand.

The men who abandoned the Republican party in 1884 and continue to adhere to the Democratic party have deserted not only the cause of honest government, of sound finance, of freedom and purity of the ballot, but especially have deserted the cause of reform in the civil service. We will not fail to keep our pledges because they have broken theirs or because their candidate has broken his. We therefore repeat our declaration of 1884, to wit: “The reform of the Civil Service, auspiciously begun under the Republican administration should be completed by the further extension of the reform system already established by law to all grades of the service to which it is applicable. The spirit and purpose of the reform should be observed in all executive appointments, and all laws at variance with the object of existing reform legislation should be repealed, to the end that the dangers to free institutions which lurk in the power of official patronage may be wisely and effectively avoided.”

The gratitude of the nation to the defenders of the Union cannot be measured by laws. The legislation of Congress should conform to the pledge made by a loyal people, and be so enlarged and extended as to provide against the possibility that any man who honorably wore the Federal uniform shall become an inmate of an almshouse, or dependent upon private charity. In the presence of an overflowing treasury it would be a public scandal to do less for those whose valorous service preserved the Government. We denounce the hostile spirit shown by President Cleveland in his numerous vetoes of measures for pension relief, and the action of the Democratic House of Representatives in refusing even a consideration of general pension legislation.

In support of the principles herewith enunciated we invite the co-operation of patriotic men of all parties, and especially of all workingmen, whose prosperity is seriously threatened by the free trade policy of the present administration.

On motion of Hon. Chas. A. Boutelle of Maine, the following was also adopted:

“The first concern of all good government is the virtue and sobriety of the people and the purity of the home. The Republican party cordially sympathizes with all wise and well-directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and morality.”

COMPARISON OF PLATFORM PLANKS ON GREAT POLITICAL QUESTIONS.

General Party Doctrines.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1856—That the liberal principles 1856—That the maintenance of the embodied by Jefferson in the principles promulgated in the Declaration of Independence, and Declaration of Independence and sanctioned in the Constitution, embodied in the Federal which makes ours the land of Constitution, is essential to the liberty and the _asylum of the preservation of our Republican oppressed_ of every nation, have institutions, and that the Federal ever been cardinal principles in Constitution, the rights of the the Democratic faith; and every States, and the union of the States attempt to abridge the present shall be preserved; that with our privilege of becoming citizens and Republican fathers, we hold it to the owners of soil among us ought be a self-evident truth that all to be resisted with the same spirit men are endowed with the which swept the alien and sedition inalienable rights to life, laws from our statute books. liberty, and the pursuit of [Plank 8. happiness, and that the primary object and ulterior design of our Federal Government were to secure these rights to all persons within its exclusive jurisdiction. [Plank 1.

1860—Reaffirmed. 1860—That the maintenance of the
principles promulgated in the
Declaration of Independence and
embodied in the Federal
Constitution, “That all men are
created equal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable 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.
[Plank 2.

1864— 1864—

1868— 1868—

1872—We recognize the equality of 1872—Complete liberty and exact all men before the law, and hold equality in the enjoyment of all that it is the duty of Government civil, political and public rights in its dealings with the people to should be established and mete out equal and exact justice to effectually maintained throughout all, of whatever nativity, race, the Union by efficient and color, or persuasion, religious or appropriate State and Federal political. Legislation. Neither the law nor [Plank 1. its administration should admit any discrimination in respect of citizens by reasons of race, creed, color or previous condition of servitude. [Plank 3.

1876— 1876—_The United States of America
is a Nation not a league._ By the
combined workings of the National
and State Governments, under their
respective constitutions, the
rights of every citizen are secured
at home or abroad, and the common
welfare promoted.

1880—Opposition to 1880—_The constitution of the centralizationism, and to that United States is a supreme law and dangerous spirit of encroachment not a mere contract._ Out of which tends to consolidate the confederate States it made a powers of all the departments in sovereign nation. Some powers are one, and thus to create, whatever denied to the nation, while others be the form of Government, a real are denied to the States, but the despotism. boundary between the powers [Plank 2. delegated and those reserved is to be determined by the National, and not by the State tribunal. [Cheers. [Plank 2.

The Rebellion.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1864—That this convention does 1864—That it is the highest duty of _explicitly declare_, as the sense every American citizen to maintain of the American people, that _after against all their enemies the four years of failure to restore integrity of the Union and the the Union by the experiment of paramount authority of the war_, during which, under the Constitution and laws of the United pretense of a military necessity or States; and that laying aside all war power higher than the differences of political opinions, Constitution, the Constitution we pledge ourselves as Union men, itself has been disregarded in animated by a common sentiment, and every part, and public liberty and aiming at a common object, to do private right alike trodden down, everything in our power to aid the and the material prosperity of the Government, in quelling by force of country essentially impaired, arms the rebellion now raging justice, humanity, liberty, and the against its authority, and in public welfare demand that bringing to the punishment due to _immediate efforts be made for a their crimes the rebels and cessation of hostilities_, with a traitors arrayed against it. view to the ultimate convention of the States, or other peaceable That we approve the determination means to the end that, at the of the Government of the United earliest practicable moment peace States not to compromise with may be restored on the basis of the rebels, or to offer them any terms Federal Union of the States. of peace, except such as may be [1st resolution. based upon an unconditional surrender of their hostility and a return to their just allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the United States; and that we call upon the Government to maintain this position and to prosecute the war with the utmost possible vigor to the complete suppression of the rebellion, in full reliance upon the self-sacrificing patriotism, the heroic valor, and the undying devotion of the American people to the country and its free institutions. [1st and 2d resolutions.

Home Rule.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1856—That we recognize the right of 1856— * * * The dearest
the people in all the Territories, constitutional rights of the people
including Kansas and Nebraska, of Kansas have been fraudulently
acting through the legally and and violently taken from them;
fairly expressed will of a majority their territory has been invaded by
of actual residents, and wherever an armed force; spurious and
the number of their inhabitants pretended legislative, judicial,
justifies it, to form a and executive officers have been
constitution * * * and be admitted set over them, by whose usurped
into the Union upon terms of authority, sustained by the
perfect equality with the other military power of the Government,
States. tyrannical and unconstitutional
laws have been enacted and
enforced; the right of the people
to keep and bear arms has been
infringed; test oaths of an
extraordinary and entangling nature
have been imposed as a condition of
exercising the right of suffrage
and holding office; the right of an
accused person to a speedy and
public trial by an impartial jury
has been denied; the right of the
people to be secure in their
persons, houses, papers, and
effects against unreasonable
searches and seizures, has been
violated; they have been deprived
of life, liberty, and property
without due process of law; that
the freedom of speech and of the
press has been abridged; the right
to choose their representatives has
been made of no effect; murders,
robberies, and arsons have been
instigated and encouraged, and the
offenders have been allowed to go
unpunished; that all these things
have been done with the knowledge,
sanction, and procurement of the
present Administration, and that
for this high crime against the
Constitution, the Union, and
humanity, we arraign the
Administration, the President, his
advisers, agents, supporters,
apologists, and accessories, either
_before_ or _after_ the fact,
before the country and before the
world; and that it is our fixed
purpose to bring the actual
perpetrators of these atrocious
outrages and their accomplices to a
sure and condign punishment.
[Plank 3.

1860—That when the settlers in a 1860—That the maintenance inviolate Territory, having an adequate of the rights of the States, and population, form a State especially the right of each State Constitution, the right of to order and control its own sovereignty commences, and, being domestic institutions according to consummated by admission into the its own judgment exclusively, is Union, they stand on an equal essential to that balance of power footing with the people of other on which the perfection and States; and the State thus endurance of our political fabric organized ought to be admitted into depends; and we denounce the the Federal Union, whether its lawless invasion by armed force of constitution prohibits or the soil of any State or Territory, recognizes the institution of no matter under what pretext, as slavery. among the gravest of crimes. [Plank 3, Breckinridge, Dem. [Plank 4.

1864— 1864—

1868—After the most solemn and 1868—We congratulate the country on unanimous pledge of both Houses of the assured success of the Congress to prosecute the war reconstruction policy of Congress, exclusively for the maintenance of as evinced by the adoption, in the the Government and the preservation majority of the States lately in of the Union under the rebellion, of constitutions Constitution, it [the Republican securing equal civil and political party] has repeatedly violated that rights to all; and it is the duty most sacred pledge under which of the Government to sustain those alone was rallied that noble institutions and prevent the people volunteer army which carried our of such States from being remitted flag to victory. Instead of to a state of anarchy. restoring the Union, it has, so far as in its power, dissolved it, and subjected ten States, in time of profound peace, to military despotism and negro supremacy. It has nullified there the right of trial by jury; it has abolished the _habeas corpus_, that most sacred writ of liberty; it has overthrown the freedom of speech and the press; it has substituted arbitrary seizures and arrests, and military trials and secret star-chamber inquisitions for the constitutional tribunals; it has disregarded in time of peace the right of the people to be free from searches and seizures; it has entered the post and telegraph offices, and even the private rooms of individuals, and seized their private papers and letters without any specific charge or notice of affidavit, as required by the organic law; it has converted the American Capitol into a bastile; it has established a system of spies and official espionage to which no constitutional monarchy of Europe would now dare to resort; it has abolished the right of appeal on important constitutional questions to the supreme judicial tribunals, and threatens to curtail or destroy its original jurisdiction, which is irrevocably vested by the Constitution, while the learned Chief Justice has been subjected to the most atrocious calumnies, merely because he would not prostitute his high office to the support of the false and partisan charges preferred against the President. * * * Under its repeated assaults the pillars of the Government are rocking on their base, and should it succeed in November next and inaugurate its President, we will meet as a subjected and conquered people, amid the ruins of liberty and the scattered fragments of the Constitution.

1872—Local self-government, with 1872—We hold that Congress and the impartial suffrage, will guard the President have only fulfilled an rights of all citizens more imperative duty in their measures securely than any centralized for the suppression of violent and power. The public welfare requires treasonable organizations in the supremacy of the civil over the certain lately rebellious regions, military authority, and freedom of and for the protection of the persons under the protection of the ballot-box; and, therefore, they _habeas corpus_. We demand for the are entitled to the thanks of the individual the largest liberty nation. consistent with public order; for [Plank 12. the State self-government, and for the nation a return to the methods of peace and the constitutional limitations of power. [Plank 4.

1880—* * “Home Rule.” 1880— [Plank 3.

Internal Improvements.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1856—That the Constitution does not 1856—That appropriations by confer upon the general Government congress for the improvement of the power to commence and carry on rivers and harbors of a national a general system of internal character, required for the improvements. accommodation and security of our [Plank 2. existing commerce, are authorized by the Constitution and justified by the obligation of Government to protect the lives and property of its citizens. [Plank 7.

1860—Reaffirmed. 1860—That appropriations by
Congress for river and harbor
improvements of a national
character, required for the
accommodation and security of an
existing commerce, are authorized
by the Constitution and justified
by the obligation of Government to
protect the lives and property of
its citizens.
[Plank 15.

1864— 1864—

1868— 1868—

1872— 1872—

1876— 1876—

1880—Plank 2 of 1856 reaffirmed. 1880– * * * That we deem it the
duty of Congress to develop and
improve our seacoast and harbors,
but insist that further subsidies
to private persons or corporations
must cease.

The National Debt and Interest, the Public Credit, Repudiation, etc.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1864— 1864—That the National faith,
pledged for the redemption of the
public debt, must be kept
inviolate, and that for this
purpose we recommend economy and
rigid responsibility in the public
expenditures, and a vigorous and
just system of taxation; and that
it is the duty of every loyal State
to sustain the credit and promote
the use of the National currency.
[Plank 10.

1868—Payment of the public debt of 1868—We denounce all forms of the United States as rapidly as repudiation as a National crime; practicable; all moneys drawn from and the National honor requires the the people by taxation, except so payment of the public indebtedness much as is requisite for the in the uttermost good faith to all necessities of the Government, creditors at home and abroad, not economically administered, being only according to the letter, but honestly applied to such payment, the spirit of the laws under which and where the obligations of the it was contracted. Government do not expressly state [Plank 3. upon their face, or the law under which they were issued does not It is due to the labor of the provide that they shall be paid in nation that taxation should be coin, they ought, in right and in equalized and reduced as rapidly as justice, to be paid in the _lawful the national faith will permit. money_ of the United States. [Plank 4. [Plank 3. The national debt, contracted as it Equal taxation of every species of has been for the preservation of property according to its real the Union for all time to come, value, including Government bonds should be extended over a fair and other public securities. period for redemption; and it is [Plank 4. the duty of Congress to reduce the rate of interest thereon whenever it can be honestly done. [Plank 5.

That the best policy to diminish
our burden of debt is to so improve
our credit that capitalists will
seek to loan us money at lower
rates of interest than we now pay
and must continue to pay so long as
repudiation, partial or total, open
or covert, is threatened or
suspected.
[Plank 6.

1872—We demand a system of Federal 1872—* * * A uniform national taxation which shall not currency has been provided, unnecessarily interfere with the repudiation frowned down, the industries of the people, and which national credit sustained under the shall provide the means necessary most extraordinary burdens, and new to pay the expenses of the bonds negotiated at lower Government, economically rates. * * * administered, the pensions, the [Plank 1. interest on the public debt, and a moderate reduction annually of the We denounce repudiation of the principal thereof. * * * public debt, in any form of disguise, as a national crime. We The public credit must be sacredly witness with pride the reduction of maintained, and we denounce the principal of the debt, and of repudiation in every form and the rates of interest upon the guise. balance. [Plank 7. [Plank 13.

1876—Reform is necessary to 1876—In the first act of Congress
establish a sound currency, restore signed by President Grant, the
the public credit, and maintain the National Government assumed to
national honor. remove any doubts of its purpose to
discharge all just obligations to
the public creditors, and “solemnly
pledged its faith to make provision
at the earliest practicable period
for the redemption of the United
States notes in coin.” Commercial
prosperity, public morals, and
national credit demand that this
promise be fulfilled by a
continuance and steady progress to
specie payment.
[Plank 4.

1880—* * * Honest money—the strict 1880—It [the Republican party] has
maintenance of the public raised the value of our paper
faith—consisting of gold and currency from 38 per cent. to the
silver, and paper convertible into par of gold [applause]; it has
coin on demand; the strict restored, upon a solid basis,
maintenance of the public faith, payment in coin of all national
State and national. obligations, and has given us a
[Plank 3. currency absolutely good and equal
in every part or our extended
country [applause]; it has lifted
the credit of the nation from the
point of where 6 per cent. bonds
sold at 86, to that where 4 per
cent. bonds are eagerly sought at a
premium.
[Preamble.

Resumption.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1872—A speedy return to specie 1872—* * * Our excellent national payment is demanded alike by the currency will be perfected by a highest considerations of speedy resumption of specie commercial morality and honest payment. government. [Plank 13. [Plank 8.

1876—We denounce the financial 1876—In the first act of Congress imbecility and immorality of that signed by President Grant, the party, which, during eleven years National Government assumed to of peace, has made no advance remove any doubts of its purpose to toward resumption, no preparation discharge all just obligations to for resumption, but instead has the public creditors, and solemnly obstructed resumption, by wasting pledged its faith to make provision our resources and exhausting all at the “earliest practicable period our surplus income; and, while for the redemption of the United annually professing to intend a States notes in coin.” Commercial speedy return to specie payments, prosperity, public morals and has annually enacted fresh national credit demand that this hindrances thereto. As such promise be fulfilled _by a hindrance _we denounce the continuous and steady progress to resumption clause of the act of specie payment_. 1875, and we here demand its repeal_.

1880—* * * Honest money, * * * 1880—* * * It [the Republican consisting of gold, and silver, and party] has restored, upon a solid paper convertible into coin on basis, payment in coin of all demand. National obligations, and has given us a currency absolutely good and equal in every part of our extended country.

Capital and Labor.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1868—_Resolved_, That this 1868— convention sympathize cordially with the working men of the United States in their efforts to protect the rights and interests of the laboring classes of the country.

1872— 1872—Among the questions which
press for attention is that which
concerns the relations of capital
and labor, and the Republican party
recognizes the duty of so shaping
legislation as to secure full
protection and the amplest field
for capital, and for labor, the
creator of capital the largest
opportunities and a just share of
the mutual profits of these two
great servants of civilization.
[Plank 11.

1880—The Democratic party is the 1880— friend of labor and the laboring man, and pledges itself to protect him alike against the cormorant and the commune. [Plank 13.

Tariff.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1856—The time has come for the 1856— people of the United States to declare themselves in favor of * * * progressive free trade throughout the world, by solemn manifestations, to place their moral influence at the side of their successful example. [Resolve 1.

That justice and sound policy forbid the Federal Government to foster one branch of industry to the detriment of any other, or to cherish the interests of one portion to the injury of another portion of our common country. [Plank 4.

1860—Reaffirmed. 1860—That, while providing revenue
for the support of the general
Government by duties upon imports,
sound policy requires such an
adjustment of these imposts as to
encourage the development of the
industrial interests of the whole
country; and we commend that policy
of national exchanges which secures
to the workingmen liberal wages, to
agriculture remunerative prices, to
mechanics and manufacturers an
adequate reward for their skill,
labor, and enterprise, and to the
nation commercial prosperity and
independence.
[Plank 12.

1864— 1864—

1868—* * * A tariff for revenue 1868— upon foreign imports, and such equal taxation under the Internal Revenue laws as will afford incidental protection to domestic manufactures, and as will, without impairing the revenue, impose the least burden upon and best promote and encourage the great industrial interests of the country. [Plank 6.

1872—* * * Recognizing that there 1872—* * * Revenue except so much are in our midst honest but as may be derived from a tax upon irreconcilable differences of tobacco and liquors, should be opinion with regard to the raised by duties upon importations, respective systems of protection the details of which should be so and free trade, we remit the adjusted as to aid in securing discussion of the subject to the remunerative wages to labor, and people in their Congressional promote the industries, prosperity, districts, and to the decision of and growth of the whole country. the Congress thereon, wholly free [Plank 7. from executive interference or dictation. [Plank 6.

1876—* * * _We demand that all 1876—The revenue necessary for
custom-house taxation shall be only current expenditures and the
for revenue._ obligations of the public debt must
[Plank 11. be largely derived from duties upon
importations, which so far as
possible, should be adjusted to
promote the interests of American
labor and advance the prosperity of
the whole country.
[Plank 8.

1880—* * * A tariff for revenue 1880—Reaffirmed. only. [Plank 3.

Education.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1876—The false issue with which 1876—The public school system of they [the Republicans] would the several States is the bulwark enkindle sectarian strife in of the American Republic, and with respect to the public schools, of a view to its security and which the establishment and support permanence we recommend an belong exclusively to the several Amendment to the Constitution of States, and which _the Democratic the United States, forbidding the party has cherished from their application of any public funds or foundation_, and is resolved to property for the benefit of any maintain without prejudice or schools or institutions under preference for any class, sect, or sectarian control. creed, and without largesses from [Plank 4. the Treasury to any.

1880—* * * Common Schools fostered 1880—The work of popular education
and protected. is one left to the care of the
[Plank 2. several States, but it is the duty
of the National Government to aid
that work to the extent of its
constitutional ability. The
intelligence of the nation is but
the aggregate of the intelligence
in the several States, and the
destiny of the Nation must be
guided, not by the genius of any
one State, but by the average
genius of all.
[Plank 3.

Duty to Union Soldiers and Sailors.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1864—That the sympathy of the 1864—That the thanks of the Democratic party is heartily and American people are due to the earnestly extended to the soldiery soldiers and sailors of the army of our army and sailors of our and navy, who have periled their navy, who are and have been in the lives in defense of the country and field and on the sea under the flag in vindication of the honor of its of our country, and, in the event flag; that the nation owes to them of its attaining power, they will some permanent recognition of their receive all the care, protection, patriotism and their valor, and and regard that the brave soldiers ample and permanent provision for and sailors of the Republic so those of their survivors who have nobly earned. received disabling and honorable [Plank 6. wounds in the service of the country; and that the memories of those who have fallen in its defence shall be held in grateful and everlasting remembrance. [Plank 4.

1868—* * * That our soldiers and 1868—Of all who were faithful in
sailors, who carried the flag of the trials of the late war, there
our country to victory, against a were none entitled to more especial
most gallant and determined foe, honor than the brave soldiers and
must ever be gratefully remembered, seamen who endured the hardships of
and all the guarantees given in campaign and cruise and imperiled
their favor must be faithfully their lives in the service of their
carried into execution. country; the bounties and pensions
provided by the laws for these
brave defenders of the nation are
obligations never to be forgotten;
the widows and orphans of the
gallant dead are the wards of the
people—a sacred legacy bequeathed
to the nation’s care.
[Plank 10.

1872—* * * We remember with 1872—We hold in undying honor the
gratitude the heroism and soldiers and sailors whose valor
sacrifices of the soldiers and saved the Union. Their pensions are
sailors of the Republic, and no act a sacred debt of the nation, and
of ours shall ever detract from the widows and orphans of those who
their justly earned fame for the died for their country are entitled
full reward of their patriotism. to the care of a generous and
[Plank 9. grateful 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 the line of duty became
disabled, without regard to the
length of service or the cause of
such discharge.
[Plank 8.

1876—* * * The soldiers and sailors 1876—The pledges which the nation of the Republic, and the widows and has given to her soldiers and orphans of those who have fallen in sailors must be fulfilled, and a battle, have a just claim upon the grateful people will always hold care, protection, and gratitude of those who imperiled their lives for their fellow-citizens. the country’s preservation, in the [Last resolution. kindest remembrance. [Plank 14.

1880— 1880—That the obligations of the
Republic to the men who preserved
its integrity in the day of battle
are undiminished by the lapse of
fifteen years since their final
victory. To do them honor is and
shall forever be the grateful
privilege and sacred duty of the
American people.

Naturalization and Allegiance.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1860—That the Democracy of the 1860—The Republican party is United States recognize it as the opposed to any change in our imperative of this Government to naturalization laws, or any State protect the naturalized citizen in legislation by which the rights of all his rights, whether at home or citizenship hitherto accorded to in foreign lands, to the same immigrants from foreign lands shall extent as its native-born citizens. be abridged or impaired; and in [Plank 6. favor of giving a full and efficient protection to the right of all classes of citizens, whether native or naturalized, both home and abroad. [Plank 14.

1864— 1864—

1868—Equal rights and protection 1868—The doctrine of Great Britain for naturalized and native-born and other European Powers, that citizens at home and abroad, the because a man is once a subject he assertion of American nationality is always so, must be resisted at which shall command the respect of every hazard by the United States, foreign powers, and furnish an as a relic of feudal times, not example and encouragement to people authorized by the laws of nations, struggling for national integrity, and at war with our national honor constitutional liberty, and and independence. Naturalized individual rights and the citizens are entitled to protection maintenance of the rights of in all their rights of citizenship naturalized citizens against the as though they were native-born; absolute doctrine of immutable and no citizen of the United allegiance, and the claims of States, native or naturalized, must foreign powers to punish them for be liable to arrest and alleged crime committed beyond imprisonment by any foreign power their jurisdiction. for acts done or words spoken in [Plank 8. this country; and, if so arrested and imprisoned, it is the duty of the Government to interfere in his behalf. [Plank 9.

1872— 1872—The doctrine of Great Britain
and other European Powers
concerning allegiance—“once a
subject always a subject”—_having
at last, through the efforts of the
Republican party, been abandoned_,
and the American idea of the
individual’s right to transfer
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
unauthorised claims by their former
Governments, and we urge continued
careful encouragement and
protection of voluntary
immigration.
[Plank 9.

1876— 1876—It is the imperative duty of
the Government so to modify
existing treaties with European
governments, that the same
protection shall be afforded to the
adopted American citizen that is
given to the native-born, and that
all necessary laws should be passed
to protect emigrants in the absence
of power in the State for that
purpose.
[Plank 10.

1880— 1880—* * * Everywhere the
protection accorded to a citizen of
American birth must be secured to
citizens by American adoption.
[Plank 5.

The Chinese.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1876—Reform is necessary to correct 1876—It is the immediate duty of the omissions of a Republican Congress to fully investigate the Congress, and the errors of our effect of the immigration and treaties and our diplomacy, which importation of Mongolians upon the have stripped our fellow-citizens moral and material interests of the of foreign birth and kindred race country. recrossing the Atlantic, of the [Plank 11. shield of American citizenship, and have exposed our brethren of the Pacific coast to the incursions of a race not sprung from the same great parent stock, and in fact now by law denied citizenship through naturalization as being neither accustomed to the traditions of a progressive civilization nor exercised in liberty under equal laws. We denounce the policy which thus discards the liberty-loving German and tolerates a revival of the coolie trade in Mongolian women imported for immoral purposes, and Mongolian men held to perform servile labor contracts, and demand such modification of the treaty with the Chinese Empire, or such legislation within constitutional limitations, as shall prevent further importation or immigration of the Mongolian race.

1880—Amendment of the Burlingame 1880—Since the authority to
Treaty. No more Chinese regulate immigration and
immigration, except for travel, intercourse between the United
education, and foreign commerce, States and foreign nations rests
and therein carefully guarded. with the Congress of the United
[Plank 11. States and the treaty-making power,
the Republican party, regarding the
unrestricted immigration of Chinese
as a matter of grave concernment
under the exercise of both these
powers, would limit and restrict
that immigration by the enactment
of such just, humane, and
reasonable laws and treaties as
will produce that result.
[Plank 6.

Civil Service.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

1872—The civil service of the 1872—Any system of the civil government has become a mere service, under which the instrument of partisan tyranny and subordinate positions of the personal ambition and an object of Government are considered rewards selfish greed. It is a scandal and for mere party zeal is fatally reproach upon free institutions and demoralizing, and we therefore breeds a demoralization dangerous favor a reform of the system by to the perpetuity of Republican laws which shall abolish the evils Government. We therefore regard a of patronage and make honesty, thorough reform of the civil efficiency and fidelity the service as one of the most pressing essential qualifications for public necessities of the hour; that positions, without practically honesty, capacity and fidelity creating a life tenure of office. constitute the only valid claim to [Plank 5. public employment; and the offices of the Government cease to be a matter of arbitrary favoritism and patronage, and public station become again a post of honor. To this end it is imperatively required that no President shall be a candidate for re-election.

1876—Reform is necessary in the 1876—Under the Constitution the civil service. Experience that President and heads of Departments proves efficient, economical are to make nominations for office; conduct of Governmental business is the Senate is to advise and consent not possible if the civil service to appointments, and the House of be subject to change at every Representatives to accuse and election, be a prize fought for at prosecute faithless officers. The the ballot-box, be a brief reward best interest of the public service of party zeal, instead of posts of demands that these distinctions be honor assigned for proved respected; that Senators and competency, and held for fidelity Representatives who may be judges in the public employ; that the and accusers should not dictate dispensing of patronage should appointments to office. The neither be a tax upon the time of invariable rule in appointments all our public men, nor the should have reference to the instrument of their ambition. honesty, fidelity and capacity of the appointees, giving to the party in power those places where harmony and vigor of administration require its policy to be represented, but permitting all others to be filled by persons selected with sole reference to the efficiency of the public service, and the right of all citizens to share in the honor of rendering faithful service to the country. [Plank 5.

1880—* * * Thorough reform in the 1880—The Republican party, adhering
civil service. to the principles affirmed by its
last National Convention of respect
for the Constitutional rules
governing appointments to office,
adopts the declaration of President
Hayes, that the reform of the civil
service should be thorough, radical
and complete. To this end it
demands the co-operation of the
legislative with the executive
departments of the Government, and
that Congress shall so legislate
that fitness, ascertained by proper
practical tests, shall admit to the
public service.

The Tariff Issue of 1884.

REPUBLICAN. DEMOCRATIC.

We therefore demand that the The Democracy pledges itself to imposition of duties on foreign purify the administration from imports shall be made not for corruption, to restore economy, to “revenue only,” but that in raising revive respect for law and to the requisite revenues for the reduce taxation to the lowest limit government such duties shall be so consistent with due regard to the levied as to afford security to our preservation of the faith of the diversified industries and nation to its creditors and protection to the rights and wages pensioners. Knowing full well, of the laborer, to the end that however, that legislation affecting active and intelligent labor, as the occupations of the people well as capital, may have its just should be cautious and conservative award and the laboring man his full in method, not in advance of public share in the national prosperity. opinion, but responsive to its Against the so-called economical demands, the Democratic party is system of the Democratic party, pledged to revise the tariff in a which would degrade our labor to spirit of fairness to all the foreign standard, we enter our interests. But in making reduction earnest protest. The Democratic in taxes it is not proposed to party has failed completely to injure any domestic industries, but relieve the people of the burden of rather to promote their healthy unnecessary taxation by a wise growth. From the foundation of this reduction of the surplus. government taxes collected at the Custom House have been the chief The Republican party pledges itself source of Federal revenue; such to correct the inequalities of the they must continue to be. Moreover, tariff and to reduce the surplus, many industries have come to rely not by the vicious and upon legislation for successful indiscriminate process of continuance, so that any change of horizontal reduction, but by such law must be at every step regardful methods as will relieve the of the labor and capital thus taxpayer without injuring the involved. The process of reform laborer or the great productive must be subject in the execution to interests of the country. this plain dictate of justice.

We recognize the importance of All taxation shall be limited to sheep husbandry in the United the requirements of economical States, the serious depression government. The necessary reduction which it is now experiencing and in taxation can and must be the danger threatening its future effected without depriving American prosperity, and we therefore labor of the ability to compete respect the demands of the successfully with foreign labor and representatives of this important without imposing lower rates of agricultural interest for a duty than will be ample to cover readjustment of duty upon foreign any increased cost of production wool, in order that such industry which may exist in consequence of shall have full and adequate the higher rate of wages prevailing protection. in this country. Sufficient revenue to pay all the expenses of the We have always recommended the best Federal government economically money known to the civilized world administered, including pensions, and we urge that an effort be made interest and principal of the to unite all commercial nations in public debt, can be got under our the establishment of the present system of taxation from international standard which shall Custom House taxes on fewer fix for all the relative value of imported articles, bearing heaviest gold and silver coinage. on articles of luxury and bearing lightest on articles of necessity.

We therefore denounce the abuses of
the existing tariff and subject to
the preceding limitations we demand
that Federal taxation shall be
exclusively for public purposes and
shall not exceed the needs of the
government economically
administered.

The Tariff and Revenue, 1888.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

The Democratic party of the United We are uncompromisingly in favor of States, in National Convention the American system of protection. assembled, renews the pledge of its We protest against its destruction fidelity to Democratic faith, and as proposed by the President and reaffirms the platform adopted by his party. They serve the interests its representatives in the of Europe; we will support the Convention of 1884, and endorses interests of America. We accept the the views expressed by President issue and confidently appeal to the Cleveland in his last annual people for their judgment. The message to Congress as the correct protective system must be interpretation of that platform maintained. Its abandonment has upon the question of tariff always been followed by general reduction; and also endorses the disaster to all interests except efforts of our Democratic those of the usurer and the representatives in Congress to sheriff. We denounce the Mills bill secure a reduction of excessive as destructive to the general taxation. Chief among its business, the labor and the farming principles of party faith are the interests of the country, and we maintenance of an indissoluble heartily endorse the consistent and union of free and indestructible patriotic action of the Republican States, now about to enter upon its Representatives in Congress in second century of unexampled opposing its passage. progress and renown; devotion to a plan of government regulated by a We condemn the proposition of the written constitution strictly Democratic party to place wool on specifying every granted power and the free list, and we insist that expressly reserving to the States the duties thereon shall be or people the entire ungranted adjusted and maintained so as to residue of power; the encouragement furnish full and adequate of a jealous popular vigilance, protection to that industry. directed to all who have been chosen for brief terms to enact and The Republican party would effect execute the laws, and are charged all needed reduction of the with the duty of preserving peace, national revenue by repealing the ensuring equality, and establishing taxes upon tobacco, which are an justice. annoyance and burden to * * * * * agriculture, and the tax upon It is repugnant to the creed of spirits used in the arts and for Democracy that by such taxation the mechanical purposes, and by such cost of the necessaries of life revision of the tariff laws as will should be unjustifiably increased tend to check imports of such to all our people. Judged by articles as are produced by our Democratic principles the interest people, the production of which of the people are betrayed when, by gives employment to our labor, and unnecessary taxation, trusts and release from import duties those combinations are permitted to articles of foreign production exist, which, while unduly (except luxuries) the like of which enriching the few that combine, rob cannot be produced at home. If the body of the citizens by there shall still remain a larger depriving them of the benefits of revenue than is requisite for the natural competition. Every wants of the Government, we favor Democratic rule of governmental the entire repeal of internal taxes action is violated when, through rather than the surrender of any unnecessary taxation, a vast sum of part of our protective system at money, far beyond the needs of an the joint behest of the whisky economical administration, is drawn trusts and the agents of foreign from the people and the channels of manufacturers. trade and accumulated as a demoralizing surplus in the National Treasury.

The money now lying idle in the Federal Treasury, resulting from superfluous taxation, amounts to more than one hundred and twenty-five millions, and the surplus collected is reaching the sum of more than sixty millions annually. Debauched by this immense temptation, the remedy of the Republican party is to meet and exhaust by extravagant appropriations and expenses, whether constitutional or not, the accumulation of extravagant taxations. The Democratic policy is to enforce frugality in public expense and abolish unnecessary taxation. Our established domestic industries and enterprises should not and need not be endangered by the reduction and correction of the burdens of taxation. On the contrary, a fair and careful revision of our tax laws, with due allowance for the difference between the wages of America and foreign labor, must promote and encourage every branch of such industries and enterprises by giving them assurances of an extended market and steady and continuous operations. In the interests of American labor, which should in no event be neglected, revision of our tax laws, contemplated by the Democratic party, should promote the advantage of such labor by cheapening the cost of necessaries of life in the home of every working man, and at the same time securing to him steady and remunerative employment. Upon this question of tariff reform, so closely concerning every phase of our national life, and upon every question involved in the problem of good government, the Democratic party submits its principles and professions to the intelligent suffrages of the American people.

_Resolved_, That this Convention hereby endorses and recommends the early passage of the bill for the reduction of the revenue now pending in the House of Representatives.

_Resolved_, That we express our cordial sympathy with struggling people of all nations in their efforts to secure for themselves the inestimable blessings of self-government and civil and religious liberty; and we especially declare our sympathy with the efforts of those noble patriots who, led by Gladstone and Parnell, have conducted their grand and peaceful contest for Home rule in Ireland.

Civil Service Reform, 1888.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

Honest reform in the Civil Service The men who abandoned the
has been inaugurated and maintained Republican party in 1884 and
by President Cleveland, and he has continue to adhere to the
brought the public service to the Democratic party have deserted not
highest standard of efficiency, not only the cause of honest
only by rule and precept, but by government, of sound finance, of
the example of his own untiring and freedom and purity of the ballot,
unselfish administration of public but especially have deserted the
affairs. cause of reform in the civil
service. We will not fail to keep
our pledges because they have
broken theirs or because their
candidate has broken his. We
therefore repeat our declaration of
1884, to wit: “The reform of the
Civil Service, auspiciously begun
under the Republican administration
should be completed by the further
extension of the reform system
already established by law to all
the grades of the service to which
it is applicable. The spirit and
purpose of the reform should be
observed in all executive
appointments, and all laws at
variance with the object of
existing reform legislation should
be repealed, to the end that the
dangers to free institutions which
lurk in the power of official
patronage may be wisely and
effectively avoided.”

Pensions, Etc., 1888.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

While carefully guarding the The gratitude of the nation to the
interest to the principles of defenders of the Union cannot be
justice and equity, it has paid out measured by laws. The legislation
more for pensions and bounties to of Congress should conform to the
the soldiers and sailors of the pledge made by a loyal people, and
Republic than was ever paid out be so enlarged and extended as to
during an equal period. provide against the possibility
that any man who honorably wore the
Federal uniform shall become an
inmate of an almshouse, or
dependent upon private charity. In
the presence of an overflowing
treasury it would be a public
scandal to do less for those whose
valorous service preserved the
Government. We denounce the hostile
spirit shown by President Cleveland
in his numerous vetoes of measures
for pension relief, and the action
of the Democratic House of
Representatives in refusing even a
consideration of general pension
legislation.

The Republican party is in favor of
the use of both gold and silver as
money, and condemns the policy of
the Democratic Administration in
its efforts to demonetize silver.

We demand the reduction of letter
postage to one cent per ounce.

Pauper Labor.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.

The exclusion from our shores of We declare our hostility to the Chinese laborers has been introduction into this country of effectually secured under the foreign contract labor, and of provision of a treaty, the Chinese labor, alien to our operation of which has been civilization and our Constitution, postponed by the action of a and we demand the rigid enforcement Republican majority in the Senate. of the existing laws against it, and favor such immediate legislation as will exclude such labor from our shores.

Foreign Policy, 1888.

DEMOCRATIC. REPUBLICAN.