Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-03
What tho Chicago Platform does not

what the Chicago Platform does not
Say.
The character of political party is Of
ten more clearly indicated by what it
leaves unsald, than by what it afirms.
By cOncealment, it leaves in doubt what
it nay be most important to know. Sneh
is the Democratic platform.
1t is basely reticent upon points, which
every citizen has right to understand.
It evades the most important issues of the
hour, and contents itself with generalities
and denunciations.
For the first time in many years, we
have Democratic platform without the
words share or slavery in it. The whole
subject is utterly ignored and covered up
under ambiguous phrases about Rights of
States, and the people are left in the dark
as to what the Democratic leaders would
de in case the Government were confded
to their hands. Privately many of them
said at Chicago we are ready to remand
back into Slavery every man that has been
freed during the rebellion, if the South
will consent to Peace; we are
ready to tear off the uniform from
every black soldier and put him
under the lash of the slavedriver again for
having been guilty of the crime of obtain
ing his freedom and enlisting in the army
Of the Union" While meanly and braEen-
ly saying this privately, the hideOus enor-
nifty and ineffable meanness Of their pro-
posed plan of restoring the Nnion, is kept
entirely out of sight. They had not the
boldness or the manliness to say a word
about slaves or slavery, only intimating in
cunningly conceived words that they are
ready to pe7petrate the AOrrid crime of en-
Starring hundreds of thousands of men, lOO-
men and children lOho are made free By the
progress Of Oar armies, and vhOp no polOer
in the universe haze rightto e1lsIage. Such
is the legitimate Interpretation of their ST.
lence on the question of slavery
H-It did not have the courage to reaf-
firm the resolutions of 90 concerning State
Rights with the right of Secession. A
logical conclusion, although Democratic
National Conventions have reiterated them
for twenty years Why then this silence 4?
Why is Long of Ohio gagged down imme-
diately on offering resolution embodying
what Democracy has been affirming for q
score and more of years2 Because they
have given up the doctrine that State has
the right to secede7 Not at albany
number of brswling Copperheads could be
heard at Chicago boldly justifying the re-
bellion and affirming the right of State
to secede. Why then this unmanly 81
lence7 Simply that they might the better
conceal their purposes. Simply that they.
might the better achieve their purposes
without alarming the people as to their ul-
innate objects. Nine tenths of the crowd
at Chicago believe in the right of secession.
The leaders did not dare to affirm it.
IIL-Why is the Chicago Platform 81
lent in regard to French usurpatiOns in
Mexico f
For more than quarter of century
the Monroe Doctrine has been pillar in
the Democratic Temple. It had its origin
in question growing out of our diplomatic
relations with Mexico-and now when, it
is being trampled under foot by French
legions on the soil of that very Republic,
when for six months the whole sway of
Democratic Congressmen and editors have
been loud in their denunciation of the Ad-
ministratiOn for not repelling theaggression
of NapOleon-the great Convention of this
"histOric party" uttered not word of pro
test. So heavily are these meek-eyed pa
triots laden with olive branches that they
seem to be incapable of bearing additional
burdens save the white feathers with which
the boughs are decorated.
". The platform contains no word of
disapproval for that large majority of the
Democratic party whose hands have been
red with the blood of our soldiers who have
borne the banner of the Union. To have
done so would have been equally unkind
and inconsistent. Who are the leaders of
the great conspiracy? Who divided
the Charleston Convention of 1860 for the
nyowed purpose of throwing the election
into the hands ofthe Republican party, so
as to make a pretext for secession? Who
stole forts and armaments, mints and Gus
tom Houses-disarming and robbing the
Republic, that they might deliver it over,
bound hand and foot to Southern assassins2
They are Democrats alllI How then could !
it be expected that they should speak un-
kindly or severely of their brethren in the |
South.
V. Bot in addition to this criminal s.
lsnee, they have not uttered one word of |
manly avowal that the Union must and |
shall be preserved. There will be an effort |
made by Mcclellan men to put the
party on a Union basis. But why
was Vallandigham satisfied with
both platform and man, if not from the un-
derstanding that at heart the Democratic
party cherished doctrines in sympathy with
bis own.
This silence of the Democratic party is
therefore very suspicious and criminal. Tt
,onvicts party usually bold in avowing
its sentiments of most craven suppTanee.
It shows disposition to crawl upon the
lust under the feet of traitors, assassins and
such as JEFF. Davis.