The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-15

We have been frequently requested of late
to take up our ground" for the Presidential
contest. We have been asked by politicians
with some earnestness where we stand, and
under whose flag we shall be found in the day
Of battle. It seems only right that some an
swer should be made to these inquiries though
we have no reason to believe they were in
general prompted by any higher motive than
desire to secure the support of the HERALD for
this or that party. We have therefore taken
the trouble to write out at some length the
HERALD it will be found, in fair legible type
in another column. That is the platform on
which this journal will stand during the coming
contest. Those are the principles it will make
it its duty to defend. They are no new disco
very. We are not, like some Of our neighbors
ardent neophytes, or deserters bitter with the
memory of our recent treachery. Before per-
sons now in manhood were born, the HERALD
stood on that platform it has never during
these twenty-one years abandoned it for a mo-
ment And now the candidate whose profess
sions, as interpreted by the light Of his past
conduct, seem to us to harmonise most natu-
rally with that creed shall have the support Of
the HERALD.
We think this wiser, safer plan than to
wait for the decision OF the Cincinnati Conven.
ton. Every grown person is prepared to see
q swindle palmed off on the country at that con-
clave of politicians. Every one knows that not
patriotic thought will illumine the assem-
blage. The members will not own to an
idea beyond the spells. They will cheat,
and bargain, and trade principle off against
principle, and honor against honor-if such
ware be still hawked in their market-and the
end of it will be that some unknown man, like
Pierce, will be chosen on condition that he
stultify himself, and hand over the country
and the treasury to the political jugglers. We
see no advantage in waiting for the decision of
such body. 1t has happened heretofore that,
owing to the Encouragement of their rivals.
the regular democratic nominees have CON-
manded universal support as the only safe
candidates in the field. But this time no such
good fortune must be expected by the friends
OF the Convention.
Nor have we been warned by the former
practice of political parties to bide our time in
publishing our platform. Platforms forced
from factions by the exigencies of immediate
danger and pressing hope are rarely durable.
Last lustrum, the whig platform was openly
repudiated and spit upon by the working poll
ticians of the whig body in this State before
the canvass fairly began. And directly after
the election, Mr.. Pierce found nothing better
to do than to confess, in his newspaper organ,
that the platform had done its work, and
should now be quietly dropped. In view of
such fate, we prefer that our platform should
see the light before mems blood has been heat
ed, and before anything is to be made by
changing it, or introducing lie or swindle
here or there.
We are, in a word, for the constitution, with
all its compromises, but not for those geogra-
phical or temporary innovations by which
towards have tried to stave of danger for the
moment, since we support the repeal of the
Missouri compromise, because it's authors had
no right to make it, no right to strip the pre-
sent citizens of Kansas of the right of choosing
their own institutions; and we would also sup
port any measure of legislation which tended
to obliterate that other foolish geographical
line-Nason q Dixon'e. The rest is in the
platform. Candidates can read and Judge for
themselves; and we warn them to read we'll,
for, unless signs gravely belle the people, that
is their platform too.