Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-29
PLATFORMS.

\
1t may be remembered by our readers that, in
advance of the meeting of the Chicago Conven.
ton, we took occasion to say that whatever might
be contained in the "plattorm" or omitted from
it would be little reason among sensible persons
for either supporting OF opposing the man who
should be nominated by the Convention. The
people, we added, would look to the man him
SELF, not to the declarations of those who nominated
him, when they search for the grounds of their
confidence as to the principles on which he will
administer the Government"
The recent experience of the country, as wit
messed in the open apestacy of the Republican
party from the principles it propounded four years
ago. and still more recently witnessed in the pub.
lie detection of President Lincoln from the plat
form on which he was re-nominated hardly more
than two months ago, and whose resolutions" he
protested cordially to approve, has sufficiently
taught all observing that little reliance is to
be placed in the paper declarations of political Con-
ventions.
1t is quite possible that the trainers of the Chi
cage Democratic platform may have been more
skilled in political architecture than the builders Of
the dismantled structure on which President Lin
coin was mounted by the Baltimore Republican
Convention. 1t is certain that they could not sur
pass in clumsiness the builders who have placed Mr.
Lincoln in the painful predicament Of " cordially
endorsing" certain resolutions" one of which in
his practical administration he has already ignored
another Of which he has explained away in his let
ter of acceptance, and still another of which he
allows to be explained by one class of his sup
porters in one way and by another class in
another.
In this view We presume there will not be much
dissent among the adherents Of any party from the
pertinency of the following observations, made by
the Springfield MASS Republican, under the head
Of q A General Crush of Platforms"
Party platforms are very shaky structures IN these
days. The planks in them that something definite
likely to be displaced wholly broken up by the ire
sbe pressure of events and the panks that arc meant
to of double Interpretation to suit diverse opinions are
pretty to disgust and repe more than they The
has made the people too much in to entertain
shams and party frauds with any tolerance. When poll
tics was only game for success and the rpos honesty
and principle were OF less moment Now that the loyal
people pouring out life and property for the nation
and its destiny may be determined for aQes TO come BY the
decision at the polls in November they in mood to
be tred with and paye upon by false party erica Yet
strange to say OF the party leaders to compre
bend the terrible earnestness the people, but TO
keep up their old mssqueradng.
at is curious fact that not only did the three cand
dates for the Presidency repudae outset important
planks in their respective party platforms but the two
leading candidates running the strength Of open
dsavowa OF just those ideas in the platforms which were
held of supreme Importance by the most radical wings of
the parties Gen Fremont first 10 the field refused to
stand the confcson doctrine of the Convention that
nominated him, and Interpreted the whole platform freely
to suit himself Mr. Lincoln took open issue with the
Mexican resolution adopted at Baltimore and has silently
ignored and dlsregarded the demand of his Convention
change of Cabinet in favor of the radicals And still
to the Dissatisfaction of the extreme wing of the
party, Mr. Seward has publicly withdrawn the Baltimore
plank OF the utter and complete extirpaon of slavery
the essential condition of peace and union and
this notwithstanding the recent and strong rearma-
ton Of that doctrine in the Presidents to whom it may
concern letter hat the act Of MT Seward endorsed
by the President made manifest by the declarations of
the Administration papers at Washington the resolutions
of the New York Republican State Convention making
submission to the Constitution and laws the sole condition
of peace and the careful ignoring Of the whole subject in
the Pennsylvania Republican address to the voters writ
by Simon Cameron Acting 10 the line of these high
precedents Gen Mcclellan ignores the peace plank Of the
Chicago Convention, and declares for till the rebellion
is put down and the Union re-esabshed Thus each Pre-.
sidentsl candidate rejects the most important and dstn
gushing plank of his party PLATFORM and is running
upon his own opinions and purposes.
In this confusion, conflict and uncertainty TO party
creed satisfactory to the true patriot that each
candidate rests bis claims chiefly his devotion to
Unon and there is yet no man put forward who ayors
peace with disunon 1t remains be whether the
copperheads who threaten to bolt the Democratic
minaton, will dare put to that rotten and discarded
plank If they should it Is clear they cannot survive the
first onset OF the breakers ahead he agreement Of the
candidates of the leading parties for the perpetuson Of
the Union at all hazards and at any also
vince the rebels that they have little to hope for in the
way OF Northern reaction in their behalf and that they
must eventually succumb unless they roll back the
tide of war now strongly setting towards complete
U MON success SO far it is we'll"