Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-01
Our Platform.

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Our Platform.
In the first number of our daily issue we laid
down, briefly, but distinctly, our platform Of
principles. 1t was transferred to our weekly,
and not again re-published in our daily for
few days, when we had it inserted on the out
side Of our daily form, whore it has since stood
and now stands. A few days after our first
issue, we copied from the Annapolis Gazette, a
letter from Surgeon Pinckney, laying down has
platform Of principles, and we commented
thereon at the time, approving his views, so.far
as thsy aoent, but stating that, in our judgment,
Surgeon Pinckney did not go Ear enough in his
doctrines. We were glad, however, to find
that he favored change in our laws Of natural
ization.
We were utterly this morning to
receive the Annapolis Gazette Of yesterday,
containing tho following article touching our
platform and that of Surgeon Pinckney, to
wit
"THE AMERICAN ORoAN. "-This is the title Of
an able daily and weekly paper published at Wash
ington, ID. G.. 1t advocates the doctrines Of the
Know-Nothings or American party and, judging
from its conservative tone, II must prove to be an
invaluable champion Of American rights.
We are pleased to see that the Organ has copied
from our paper DR.. Ninian Pinckneys American
Party Platform and explanations, and that 1t has
cordially endorsed them SO far as they go. But
we are panied to see that the Organ, in subse-
ouent issue, has imbodied DR.. Pinckney's platform
in one Of its own, and apparently, claims it its
own.
"This may have been done accidentally We
hope ii was so done But we claim to belong to
that class of journalists which renders honor to
whom honor is due; and we are, therefore, UNI
willing to see laurels snatched from Dr. Pinckneys
brow to grace anothers. We are decidedly Of
opinion that all the honor to be derived from DIR.
Ps platform belongs to Dr.. p, and TO one else.
And we therefore place upon record the fact that
said platform was written in the month of July,
1884 before any other such solid platform was
erected; that it had been in private circulation
from that date until Il was first put in print in the
Annapolis Gazette of the 10th of November, 1854.
And we hereby formally protest against the usurpa,
ton by any other person Of the honor which will
necessarily attach TO the author Of it. should 1t be-
come the adopted platform Of the American
party.
We hope our friends, the editors of the Or
gan will not look upon this protest with any un-
kind spirit. We do not, In the slightest degree,
impcach their motive or manner. We know that
DIR. Pinckncy's platform isnow public property, and
therefore liable to be used may please the peo
ple But our only object is TO reserve for. its dis
tinguished author any honor that may hereafter
accrue therefrom. And we feel sure that no one
viii be moro ready, at the proper time, TO award
what is due in the premises than win be the talent
ed editors Of the Organ.
Thanking the Gazette for tho compliments
he Is pleased to pay US, we may be permitted
TO protest that we have not adopted Doctor
Pinckney's platform. nor imbodied II in our
own Our platform was adopted before we
ever read his platform, or even heard Of his
name. The Gazette says that DIR. Pinckney's
platform was put in print on the 18th Novem-
Der, 1854. Ours was published in the Ameri-
can Organ on the 18th Of November, 1854, as
win be seen by reference to our first number,
at which time, we repeat we had never heard
of Surgeon Pinckney, nor Of his platform.
And not only was our platform published in
the Organ before Surgeon Pinckncy's was given
10 the world, but we had in speech, delivered
at the City Hall, on the 27th day of Septcm-
Der, 1864, distinctly announced the same doc
trincs in almost the same language, as win be
seen by tho published proceedings Of that
meeting, from pages 81 to % inclusive.
But We 20 yet further back than September,
1854. In the years 1919, we published
the Native American Bulletin" at St Louis
Missouri, in which we advocated almost identi-
cally the same doctrines contained in our pres
ent platform, and we now add that on no oc-
casioa did zoe erer borrou the language or the
sentiments Of any man whercwith to lay down
our platforms
But we now proceed TO show that there is
scarcely any affinity between our doctrines
and those promulgated by DIR. Pinckney, and
that the idea Of our borrowing our doctrines or
platform from that gentleman Is, (if our friends
Of the Gazette win pardon us for saying IT'D
simply ridiculous
LIST DIR. Pinckney advocates the re-enact-
ment Of the old naturalization laws, requiring
fourteen years probation. We, on the contra
nv, advocate a total exclusion Of foreigners
from suffrage, and ifthat be not practicable,
thon trenty-on6 years probation.
I'd. DIR. Pinckney's doctrine is that no for
cigner shall hold Office under the federal gov
eminent till he has been screen years citizen.
We, on the contrary, maintain total erctu-
sion Of foreigners from Office.
Sd. DR.. Pinckney wishes that these foreign
srs, who may have made declaration Of an
Intention, before the rule Of naturalization
shall be changed, may become naturalized I'M
der the present loDs We hold no such doc
Iine. The right must have become Vestcd, or