A partly platform worth reading...

Given the current disparity between those who "have" and those who "have not" and the Conservative elements of the Republican party's refusal to support any type of assistance to the working class, I thought these excerpts from a party platform might be of interest.

         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...institutions; and that the Federal Constitution, the Rights of the States, and the Union of the States, must and shall be preserved....

         ...we hold in abhorrence all schemes for Disunion, come from whatever source they may...and we denounce those threats of Disunion, in case of a popular overthrow of their ascendency, as denying the vital principles of a free government, and as an avowal of contemplated treason, which it is the imperative duty of an indignant People sternly to rebuke and forever silence.

         ...we commend that policy of national exchanges which secures... liberal wages, to agriculture renumerative prices, to mechanics and manufactures an adequate reward for their skill, labor, and enterprise, and to the nation commercial prosperity and independence.

         ...The party is opposed to any change in our Naturalization Laws or any State legislation by which the rights of citizenship hitherto accorded to immigrants from foreign lands shall be abridged or impaired; and in favor of giving a full and efficient protection to the rights of all classes of citizens, whether native or naturalized, both at home and abroad.

         ... Finally, having thus set forth our distinctive principles and views, we invite the coöperation of all citizens, however differing on other questions, who substantially agree with us in their affirmance and support.

         These excerpts are from the 1860 Republican Party Platform.  This is a platform which supports the working class and refuses to give in to anti-immigration voices.  This certainly does not reflect the positions of the current Republican Party platform.