, 1864-05-20
THE WASHINGTON STATESMAN
FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 20, 1854.
Read the eastern war news. II is inter. 9

Read the eastern war news. 1t is inter-
esting and contains the welcome intelligence
of great successes to the Federal forces
Under the management of General Grant
the army of the Potomac has covered itself
with glory. Our last advices indicate that
Lees army will be cut 10 pieces and that
Grant will march victoriously into the rebel
Capitol. So mote it be-and the Confede-
racy bagged.
The DEMOCRATIC PLATFoRM.-It will
be seen by comparing the Platform adopted
by the Convention on Wednesday, with that
of the Platform adopted by the Democratic
Territorial Convention held at Vancouver
last year, that there is but little difference
in them. Some slight alterations appear to
have been made in the old platform by stri
king out portions that gave it no essential
force We may say the old platform has
been pruned and partially stripped of its
verbiage, and is again presented to the people
of the county for approval or rejection. Not
withstanding the old platform comes out
this time with new suit of clothes,
which gives it, as all admit, more respecta-
BILE appearance, we think it might be
made to look still better by little judicious
trimming up in places and "toneing down"
in others. For instance, that grand -four
ish in the resolution next to the bottom one
where it says, ''we pledge ourselves that
come veal or woe Ii life or death to stand
by the flag" etc, might be fixed up little
better. We can see no objection to persons
pledging themselves to stand by the old flag
during their earthly career, but it seems alb
surd to promise to stand by any particular
thing in or after death. The Democratic
party, to our knowledge, has never been
charged with being superstitious organi-
zation, but the words quoted above would
seem to imply that portion at least of that
venerable party are imbued with supersti-
tious notions; that they expect after death
to rally round the flag from the realms of
illimitable space and with watchful care
help to shield it from the blows of
foreign foes and domestic rebels. But if
any Democrat or any other man seriously
entertains the thought that he is going to
enlist to fight in the battles of this country
when once beyond the confines of this
warlike world, it should be taken as pretty
conclusive evidence that the fellow is tine
tured with "war on the BRAIN" Most per-
sons entertain the idea that when they leave
this world they are to go to better one,
where the chief pursuits of life will be peace,
harmony and happiness, and the man who
leaves this squabbling world with the ex-
pectation of returning from the next one to
--o~oO UIoUuy UdUUIe scenes, must nave
indeed strange notions Of the future state
But we are unwilling to believe that the
original trainers of the platform entertained
any such absurd ideas, and incline to the
to round up the sentence, to give it euphony
or to make show of great patriotism. Any
way it goes too far in asking men to pledge
themselves to line of action after DEATH
1t should be enough to ask men to stand by
the flag during earthly existence and it can
not be expected that Democrats will carry
the flag or the Democratic party into an
unknown world with them, however much
they may he attached to them. AS this is
usually considered to be a progressive age,
it is but fair supposition to infer that as
time rolls on great Improvements and chan
ges will be made around us for the better, and
as the Vancouver platform has been changed
and improved this year, so the Democratic
platform of Walla Walla county may in turn
be taken up next year and amended, and the
year following amended again, and so on
until it will finally be made so perfect that
no one will be wise enough to discover
in it any imperfectious. Yet after all, our
Government was improved step by step un-
til it was thought by the wise men of the
nation to be. almost perfect. Still, other
men with new theories sought to make it
more perfect and it is quite uncertain
whether the securing it is now getting
will be help to it or a damage If it comes
out in damaged condition our platform the
ory will be overturned, and practicable sense
will take the place of doubtful theories, and |
only such innovations made upon established |
matter, creeds and things as the dictates of
plain reason and the exigencies of the times
demand. Of course, political platforms
are not intended by their trainers to endure
forever. They are frequently gotten up
hastily and pass away with the hour, yet
many of them contain truths and principles
that mankind will cherish for all time to
come
Nrxu Hncr NJ e.