The Portland daily press., 1864-07-25
From the Springfield republican.
Materials for a Platform.

At the present high price of lumber, it Is
found, by one party at least, exceedingly
difficult 10 obtain materials for political plat
form. Indeed, this party find ii so dificultt to
obtain those that are good for anything, that
they propose to defer building. Perhaps they
can be helped 10 something by those who ex-
perience no difficulty in getting all they want,
and who, having used all they want, are will
ing TO help their neighbors. We propose not
TO saw the planks, or suggest the manner oil
carpentering, but to furnish the logs, and let
those interested saw them out aud put them
together. They shall be facts, with the bark
on, and butted at both ends.
1st. The democratic party permitted the
government to go to pieces in its hands, hav
ing had control Of the government for many
years, and having been the chosen political
associates ofthe whole band of traitors, north
and south of Dixon's line.
I'd. The democratic party were aware of
the Vaccinations of treason, and. through the
mouths of some of its chosen leaders, had as
sured the plotters of their sympathy, and pro-
missed them their cooperation.
81. The only sympathizers with the rebel
lion, in Congress and among the people, have
been uniformly found in the democratic party !;
and all the northern opposition which the gov
eminent has met in its Efforts to suppress the
rebellion has come from those who proiessed
to be democrats.
4!h. The only men in the nation who have
proposed a compromise With states in armed
rebellion, or have called for peace at any price
Of honor or territory, have been democrats.
9th, The democratic party has for months
regarded the failure of the government to
crush the rebellion as It's only ground of hope
for recovering Its power in the nation; and to-
day there Is nothing it desires SO much 1--WE
speak of the leaders of the party, and those
who represent and act ior1it,l as the failure OF
Grants campaign.
9th. In general and particular, this party re-
/ cards the success OF the government as the
worst thing it has to fear, anu the defeat ofthe
government us necessary Tor the iuliiment of
Its highest hopes.
It'll. The rebels desire nothing so much as
re establishment oil democratic rule in the Tn
lied States, and have publicly encouraged
themselves aud their people with the prospect
of the aseenaancy OF peace party, under de-
mocratic leaders.
Sth. The democratic party, through its re-
/ representatives. in Congress, have just voted
I down, almost unanimously, the proposition
/ for the constitutional abolition of slavery,
/ system of wrong on behalf OF which this rebel
( lion was begun, and in consequence OF which
/ hundreds OF thousands OF brave men, embrac-
I ing hosts OF their own number, have been
called TO lay down their lives.
g. This party has just given welcome to
one who comes from banishment-a bitter foe
/ Of the government from the first, 10 its efforts
/ TO suppress the rebellion-a man convicted of
+ affording aid and comfort TO the enemy by a
competent court-crowned him with an ova-
Z ton. and stand ready To receive him into the
national couuciis OF the party, to which his
Democratic ielow-ciiizens have elected him.
We submit that here are materials for a
platform which ought TO satisfy the party
They are genuine. There is no humbug
about them: and such skilIul men as Fernan-
do Wood, aud Cox, and YaIlandigham, ought
to be able to make something out of them on
which their followers can stand. There would
possibly be refusal on the part of a portion
OF the party TO adopt the planks; but alrthe
traitors, all the compromise men, all who hate
the President of the United States more than
they do the President OF the Confederate
States, all who pray for the defeat of Grant,
all who prefer party success to the redemption
Of the government, all who think Vallandig-
nam is martyr, all who believe In human
slavery, all who are willing TO let all the blood
tina; has been shed and all the treasure that
has been expended 20 for nothing.-all these
would be satisfied.
1t is sin and a shame that the name OF a
party which once included the patriotic Jack
son should come into possession of as arrant
set Of political knayes as ever infested the
republic. The party, as party, with princi-
pies and living issues, is dead. 1t had some
good traits, for which history will give it
credit; but the party as il now exists is be-
coming a stencil and a by-word in the house
OF its old friends