1876-The Constitution confers upon Congress sovereign power over the Territories of the United States for their government, and in the exercise of this power it is the right and duty of Congress to prohibit and extirpate, in the Territories, that relic of barbarism, polygamy; and we demand such legisla tion as shall secure this end, and the supremacy of American institutions in all the Territories. 1880-We re-affirm the belief avowed in 1876, that... slavery having perished in the States, its twin barbarity, polygamy, must die in the Territories.... 1884-Resolved, That it is the duty of Congress to enact such laws as shall promptly and effectually suppress the system of polygamy within our territory, and divorce the political from the ecclesiastical power of the so-called Mormon Church, and that the law so enacted should be rigidly enforced by the civil authorities if possible, and by the military if need be. 1888-The political power of the Mormon Church in the Territories as exercised in the past is a menace to free institutions, a danger no longer to be suffered. 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. Republican. PART XVII. 1876-Under the Constitution the President and heads of Departments are to make nominations for office; the Senate is to advise and consent to appointments, and the House of Representatives to accuse and prosecute faithless officers. The best interest of the public service demands that these distinctions be respected; that Senators and Repre sentatives who may be judges and accusers should not dictate appointments to office. The invariable rule in appointments should have reference to the 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-The Republican Party, adhering 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, ascer tained by proper practical tests, shall admit to the public service. Democratic. 1872 The civil service of the Government has become a mere instrument of partisan tyranny and personal ambition and an object of selfish greed. It is a scandal and reproach upon free institutions and breeds a demoralization dangerous to the perpetuity of republican government. We therefore regard a thorough reform of the civil service as one of the most pressing necessities of the hour; that honesty, capacity, and fidelity constitute the only valid claim to public employment; that 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 civil service. Experience proves that efficient, economical conduct of Governmental business is not possible if the civil service be subject to change at every election, be a prize fought for at the ballot-box, be a brief reward of party zeal, instead of posts of honor assigned for proved competency, and held for fidelity in the pub. lic employ; that the dispensing of patronage should neither be a tax upon the time of all our public men, nor the instrument of their ambition. These are the only words in the Democratic platform that can be construed, by the utmost latitude of construction, as having the slightest bearing upon the odious system of polygamy - if any such bearing 1884- The reform of the civil service, auspiciously begun under 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 objects 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. 1888-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 or 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 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. PART XVIII. Government Moneys and Banks — The Currency — National Debt and InterestPublic Credit — Repudiation, etc. Republican. 1844-[The Whig National Platform declares for A well-regulated National Currency.] 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. *"To the victors belong the [Plank 10. Democratic. 1840 -That Congress has no power to charter a United States Bank, that we believe such an institution one of deadly hostility to the best interests of the country, dangerous to our republican institutions and the liberties of the people, and calculated to place the business of the country within the control of a concentrated money power, and above the laws and the will of the people. That the separation of the moneys of the Government from banking institutions is indispensable for the safety of the funds of the Government and the rights of the people. 1844-Reaffirmed. 1848-Reaffirmed; and the following additional plank adopted : "That the fruits of the great political triumph of 1844, which elected James K. Polk and George M. Dallas President and Vice-President of the United States, have fulfilled the hopes of the Democracy of the Union in defeating the declared purposes of their opponents, in creating a National Bank, in preventing the corrupt and unconstitutional distribution of the Land Proceeds from the common treasury of the Union for local purposes, in protecting the currency and labor of the country from ruinous fluctuations; and guarding the money of the country for the use of the people by the establishment of the Constitutional treasury; 1852-The above two planks of platform of 1840 reaffirmed. 1856-The two planks of 1840 reaffirmed; the only amendment to them being the insertion of the words "National Bank" in place of "United States Bank.' 1864 spoils" is the maxim which has controlled the Democracy in all its past history in the matter of appointments. Under President Cleveland's administration, "civil service" has been a delu 1868- We denounce all forms of repudiation as a national crime; and the national honor requires the payment of the public indebtedness in the uttermost good faith to all creditors at home and abroad, not only according to the letter, but the spirit of the laws under which it was contracted. [Plank 3. It is due to the labor of the nation that taxation should be equalized and reduced as rapidly as the national faith will permit. [Plank 4. The national debt, contracted as it has been for the preservation of the Union for all time to come, should be extended over a fair period for redemption and it is 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 sus. pected. [Plank 6. 1872-.. A uniform national currency has been provided, repudiation frowned down, the na tional credit sustained under the most extraordinary burdens, and new bonds negotiated at lower rates. [Plank 1. We denounce repudiation 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. [Plank 13. 1876-In the first act of Congress signed by President Grant, the National Government assumed to 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 continuous and steady prog. ress to specie payments. [Plank 4. 1880-It [the Republican Party] has raised the value of our paper currency from 38 per cent to the par of gold; it has restored upon a solid basis, payment in coin of all national obligations, and has given us a currency absolutely good and equal in every part of our extended country; it has lifted the credit of the nation from the point where 6 per 'cent bonds sold at 86, to that where 4 per cent bonds are eagerly sought at a premium. [Preamble. 1884-We have always recommended the best money known to the civilized world, and we urge that an effort be made to unite all commercial nations in the establishment of the international standard, which shall fix for all the relative value of gold and silver coinage. 1888-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 appropriations for [see various objects set forth in Part VIII., " Capital and Labor"]. 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." 1868-Payment of the public debt of the United States as rapidly as practicable; all moneys drawn from the people by taxation, except so much as is requisite for the necessities of the Government, economically administered, being honestly applied to such payment, and where the obligations of the Gov. ernment do not expressly state upon their face, or the law under which they were issued does not provide that they shall be paid in coin, they ought, in right and in justice, to be paid in the lawful money of the United States. [Plank 3. Equal taxation of every species of property accord. ing to its real value, including Government bonds and other public securities. [Plank 4. 1872-We demand a system of Federal taxation which shall not unnecessarily interfere with the industries of the people, and which shall provide the means necessary to pay the expenses of the Government, economically administered, the pensions, the interest on the public debt, and a moderate reduction annually of the principal thereof. The public credit must be sacredly maintained, and we denounce repudiation in every form and guise. [Plank 7. 1876 Reform is necessary to establish a sound currency, restore the public credit, and maintain the national honor. 1876-In the first act of Congress signed by Presi dent Grant, the National Government assumed to remove any doubts of its purpose to discharge all just Democratic. 1872-A speedy return to specie payment is de. manded alike by the highest considerations of commercial morality and honest government. [Plank 8. 1876 We denounce the financial imbecility and immorality of that party, which during eleven years of peace, has made no advance toward resumption, 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 continuous and steady progress to specie payment. 1880-... It [the Republican Party] has restored, upon a solid basis, payment in coin of all national obligations, and has given us a currency absolutely good and equal in every part of our extended country. 1888-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. CHAPTER III. The Tariff Question Its History, Legislation, Votes, etc., from 1789 to 1888 inclusive. "The fruits of the great political triumph of 1844. . . have fulfilled the hopes of the Democracy of the Union in the noble impulse given to the cause of Free Trade by the Democratic National Platform, 1848. repeal of the tariff of 1842.". 66 'No more revenue... than is required to defray the necessary expenses of the Government, and . . . extinction of the public debt." -Democratic National Platform, 1852. [Re-affirmed, 1856.] "The time has come for the people of the United States to declare themselves in favor of free seas and progressive Free Trade throughout the world."- Democratic National Platform 1856. [Re-affirmed, 1860.] "A tariff for revenue.' Democratic National Platform, 1868. "We remit the discussion of the subject to the people in their Congressional districts, and to the decision of the Congress thereon, wholly free from executive interference or dictation.” -Democratic National Platform, 1872. "Custom house taxation shall be only for revenue."-Democratic National Platform, 1876. 66 A tariff for revenue only." -Democratic National Platform, 1880. “Revenue to pay all the expenses of the Federal Government, economically administered reducing taxes to the end that these United States may compete with unhindered powers for the primacy among nations. - Democratic National Platform, 1884. [Re-affirmed, 1888, with indorsement of "the views expressed by President Cleveland in his last earnest message to Congress as to the correct interpretation of that platform upon the question of tariff reduction," and of "the efforts of our Democratic representatives in Congress to secure a reduction of excessive taxation," together with indorsement and recommendation of "the early passage of the bill for the reduction of the revenue now pending in the House of Representatives."-See Platform chapters.] 66 'We are uncompromisingly in favor of the American system of Protection; we protest against its destruction as proposed by the President and his party. They serve the interests of Europe; we will support the interests of America. We accept the issue, and confidently appeal to the people for their judgment. The Protective System must be maintained. Its abandonment has always been followed by general disaster to all interests, except those of the usurer and the sheriff." -Republican National Platform, 1888. -- PART I. The Republican American "Protective" "It seems the interest of all our farmers and owners of land to encourage our young manufactures in prefer. ence to foreign ones imported among us from distant countries." Alexander Hamilton, in 1779, wrote: "To maintain between the recent establishments of another country a competition on equal terms, both as one country and the long-matured establishments of to quality and price, is in most cares impracticable. must necessarily be so considerable as to forbid a suc The disparity in the one or in the other, or in both, cessful rivalship without extraordinary aid and pro tection from the Government." Alexander Hamilton, in 1790, in his celeBenjamin Franklin, as far back as 1771, brated Report on Manufactures, said: 1868- We denounce all forms of repudiation as a national crime; and the national honor requires the payment of the public indebtedness in the uttermost good faith to all creditors at home and abroad, not only according to the letter, but the spirit of the laws under which it was contracted. [Plank 3. It is due to the labor of the nation that taxation should be equalized and reduced as rapidly as the national faith will permit. [Plank 4. The national debt, contracted as it has been for the preservation of the Union for all time to come, should be extended over a fair period for redemption: and it is 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 sus pected. [Plank 6. 1872A uniform national currency has been provided, repudiation frowned down, the na tional credit sustained under the most extraordinary burdens, and new bonds negotiated at lower rates [Plank 1. We denounce repudiation 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. [Plank 13. 1876-In the first act of Congress signed by President Grant, the National Government assumed to 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 continuous and steady prog. ress to specie payments. [Plank 4. 1880-It [the Republican Party] has raised the value of our paper currency from 38 per cent to the par of gold; it has restored upon a solid basis, payment in coin of all national obligations, and has given us a currency absolutely good and equal in every part of our extended country; it has lifted the credit of the nation from the point where 6 per 'cent bonds sold at 86, to that where 4 per cent bonds are eagerly sought at a premium. [Preamble. 1884 We have always recommended the best money known to the civilized world, and we urge that an effort be made to unite all commercial nations in the establishment of the international standard, which shall fix for all the relative value of gold and silver coinage. 1888 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 appropriations for [see various objects set forth in Part VIII., " Capital and Labor "]. 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." 1868-Payment of the public debt of the United States as rapidly as practicable; all moneys drawn from the people by taxation, except so much as is requisite for the necessities of the Government, economically administered, being honestly applied to such payment, and where the obligations of the Government do not expressly state upon their face, or the law under which they were issued does not provide that they shall be paid in coin, they ought, in right and in justice, to be paid in the lawful money of the United States. [Plank 3. Equal taxation of every species of property accord. ing to its real value, including Government bonds and other public securities. [Plank 4. 1872- -We demand a system of Federal taxation which shall not unnecessarily interfere with the industries of the people, and which shall provide the means necessary to pay the expenses of the Government, economically administered, the pensions, the interest on the public debt, and a moderate reduction annually of the principal thereof. The public credit must be sacredly maintained, and we denounce repudiation in every form and guise. [Plank 7. 1876- Reform is necessary to establish a sound currency, restore the public credit, and maintain the national honor. 1876-In the first act of Congress signed by President Grant, the National Government assumed to remove any doubts of its purpose to discharge all just Democratic. 1872-A speedy return to specie payment is de. manded alike by the highest considerations of commercial morality and honest government. [Plank 8. 1876-We denounce the financial imbecility and immorality of that party, which during eleven years of peace, has made no advance toward resumption, |