Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-08-22
THE pEMoCRATIC PLATFORm.


his prudence; but as we wish every reader
of ours to study the Democratic Platform,
plank by plank, we shall not initiate his
example. VIII our readers study this ex-
pose of modern democracy as we accompa-
ny it with a running comment.
The first two resolutions express un-
bounded confidence in "the intelligence,
patriotism and discriminating justice of the
American people" Every knaye who has
victim to pluck begins with dose of 1attery.
When men of real honesty and intelligence
address others, they don't begin by tickling
the vanity of their hearers. Such begin
ming would raise the suspicion of an inten-
ton to cheat.
The third resolution, very naturally, pass
es to praise the delegates to the Cincinnati
convention, as men coming together in
spirit of concord, of devotion to the doc
trrines and faith of a free representative
government" Of this same convention
Thomas H. Benton said it was composed of
government hirelings, and set of political
eunuchs and tide-waters. Think of the men,
many Of whom were actively concerned in
the invasion of Kansas, and all of whom
were upholding that invasion, and justifying
the utter prostration of the elective fran
chise by horde OF Missouri rufians; think
of such men boasting of their devotion to
the doctrines and faith of a representative
government! Oh Shame, where is thy
blush
Then follows recapitulation of the prin-
ciples which the democratic party "has
avowed when on former ocasions, in gener-
al convention. they have presented their
candidates for the popular sufrages.
We suppose this review of old issues is
intended for that portion of the democracy
who still believe that at every presidential
election they are voting for General Jack
son. Most of the issues here referred to
are as dead as Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Such are the following, that the government
cannot assume the debts of the states; that
it cannot foster one branch of industry to the
detriment of another; that there can be no
national bank, &c. Other principles here
spoken of we're never disputed. Such are
the following; that the federal government
is founded on the constitution, and can ex-
ercise no powers not granted in that instru-
ment; that rigid economy ought to be prac-
ticed in public affairs; that persons and
property ought to be protected from do
mestic violence and foreign aggression, DC.
We suppose if it had been desirable to en-
large the platform, other principles might
have been added:-for example, that men
ought to pay their just debts that no man
ought to assert that two and two make
three when he is receiving money, or five
when he IS paying it, DC.
Next the platform pitches into the know
nothings, and declares it to be intolerable
that, in the nineteenth century, men should
be prosecuted because they are Catholics,
&c. The knownothings can answer fol
themselves. We are republicans. But we
should like to know what the Messenger
means by abusing Col. Fremont for being,
as it lyingly asserts, a Catholic. Does the
Messenger stand on the democratic plat
form?
Next the platform lays down the demo
cratic doctrine on the slavery question. Il
deprecates in most moving terms all further
"agitation." Do our readers know wha
this dreadful term means? 1t means oppo
sition to the slavery extending schemes o
the democracy. If you oppose them yor
are an agitator, a disunionist, and whatever
else is naughty and wicked. But why die
not the democracy. which so breads agita.
ton, think of this awful evil when it re
pealed the Missouri Compromise, and thu
threw the whole country into the vortex o
agitation? But what is the Democrats
doctrine on slavery? 1t is this, that nejthe
Acongress, nor the people Of any territOr!
shall take any step to keep slarery OFT Q
the territories whae they remain sUeh.-
Read those parts of. the platform which re
late to this matter, and see the proof. Th'
shareholders demand and democracy grant
that they may go aoith their slares into al
ithc territories of the United States Suel
as they wish to make slave states they viii
make such. if not by fair means, then by vi
olenee, robbery, murder and rape, as Kan
sas can testify; and democratic admins
tration will sustain the southern marauder
f and pirates, as Pierce has sustained Atch
son and Stringfellow. If any man want
to see the Kansas tragedies re-enacted i
| other territories, if he wishes to sec othe
t Shannons and Lecomptes doing the traitor
GUS work of the slave drivers, let him vot
, for Platform Buchanan; if he wants to sc