The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-09-22
The Treason Platform.
MEssRs EDITORS /:

1t is sad fact, but none the less true, that
great majority of the Democratic party
who exercise the right of elective frsnchise,
little know the intent and purposes of the
leaders of the party they follow, adhere to,
and vote for. Many, by their self will and in
tense party prejudice, will not attempt to
inform themselves or allow others to show
to them the duty they owe to their country
in this great crisis In the name Democrat
they believe they see all the virtue of par
ties concentrated. ua ae..
After months of preparation and deliber
alive discussions, and consultations, the
Democratic Convention met at Chicago, and
adopted a platform in which is promulgated
doctrine which, even that leader of the
Western Democracy the Chicago Times re-
pudiates. We refer to the doctrine of State
Sovereignty. .a-
This monster of the Dark Ages Gf we may
be allowed the expression) strikes at the
very foundation of our form of popular gov
eminent In fact if we admit of the truth
of this heresy, we have no longer united
government, the union is Dissolved and each
and every person owes allegiance to no one
but his individual self The Democracy
would confne this new doctrine to the State
in its application. A little reflection will
show that when once admitted as princi.
pie of action, this new doctrine by its own
power divides all confinement short Of the
individual self or person. Let Democrats
note what the Chicago Times says on this
subject. 1t tells them not to 'torqet thai
the constitution itself is q protest AGAINST dis
union. In the sublime words of it's pream-
BILE it was originated in order to form q
MORE PERFECT UNION 1t did not leave each
State an entirely independent sovereignty
nor did it give to the consolidated govern
ment any more powers than were imperative
| ~ needed to answer the end for which thai
government was formed. Any government
is in fact simply the concentration of Ger.
tain powers surrendered by the people, an(
hence it is an absurdity to argue the colnplet,
sovereignty of the individual or the State
which has thus yielded up a portion of it,
powers.
In the abstract this principle of State anc
Individual sovereignty may perhaps be ad
misslble, but it never can be made practica
bic, at least not until the worlds politica
millennium shall have come If before th,
arrival of such time, ignorant and design
ing politicians essay to put in practice thi
principle, such attempts become the rank
est of treason. But the trainers of the Chi
cago platform, true to the principle fo
which they were noted, and following the
example and teachings of their rebel allie
at the South, shave presented for ratification
by the people this reasonable doctrine O
State and individual sovereignty.
Will the people, particularly those VIII
call themselves Democrats by supporting
this platform and the candidates who repre-
sent its principles, thus barter away all the
rights the constitution gives to them. 1t is
doing less than this when they vote for the
Chicago platform and the candidates of tina
Convention. s.r
1t is the imperative duty, therefore in this
crisis, when such tremendous issues are al
stake, when the very existence of Republi
can government is threatened with annihila
ton, that each and every voter should thor
oughly understand the principles of the par
ties and men who crave their suffrage in the
coming Presidential election.
The true patriot and lover of his country
needs 10 Argus eyes, to discover the treason
which permeates every pore and seam of the
Chicago platform. But as we said before,
there are those who through party prejudice
or ignorance, will be induced to support that
platform, and assist thereby in the elevation
to power of a party who are precisely ident-
ical in their designs and purposes with the
leaders CT the Rebellion men who are seek
ing to set up a government Of such it may
be called ot aristocracies, under whose sway
the poor man would be reduced to worse
conollon than that Of any despotism of Eu-
rope We therefore warn every man, par
ticularly the laboring classes to be wary of
these reasonable doctrins and platforms that
are held up for their support. Do not be de-
celved or misIead by insidious and desinging
politicians OF any party, but inform your
selves In all ways possible, on the questions
at issue in the present contest you will
thus, if unprejudiced by old party names
and considerations, come to know the duty
you owe to the government, your family,