The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-09
PAUL.
The New York Times ON the Demo.
cratic Platform.


The New York Times ON the Demo.
cratic Platform.
We have been waiting for some author.
itative expression of opinion from the Re-
publican press in relation to the platform
adopted by the Chicago Convention, and
we have finally got it. The New York
Times, which is understood to foreshad.
ow and reflect the opinions and the policy
of the President, and which may be de-
nominated par excellence the Administers
ton organ, sounds the Keynote of strate-
gy to be adopted in the warfare upon the
Democratic Platform. The second resolu-
ton of the Platform reads as follows:
2. That this Convention does explicitly
declare, as the sense of the American peo-
pie that after four years of failure to restore the
Union blythe experiments of wal, during which
under the pretense Of military necessity. or
! war power higher than the Constitution, the
Constitution itself has been disregarded IN
alike trodden down and the material prosperity
of the country essentially impaired Justice,
| humanity. liberty and the public welfare
/ demand that immediate efforts be made Tor
cessation of hostilities with view to an nlti-
| mate Convention of the States or other peac-
able means to the end that at tne earliest prac-
ticable moment peace may be restored on the
basis of the Federal Union of the States.
The Times, in an editorial upon the
platform containing much unimportant
matter, reserves its artillery fire especially
for this plank, and opens the ball in the
following manner:
Should this convention fail should the re-
bel delegates refuse to join it; or should the
basis Of their agreement to enter 1t be-as
authorities from Jefferson Davis dOwnwards,
proves it would be-absolute independence of
the South, what then? Does this Chicago
Convention or those for whom it speaks, offer
us no alternative before agreeing to hopeless
and helpless surrender of the Union? In all
this wordy declaration of principles, where is
there the first sign Of resolution to make the
the ground and justification for enforcing by
arms the supremacy Of the Constitution"
It is only few weeks since the country
was alarmed and astonished by letter
from President LINCOLN addressed "to
whom it may concern" laying down in
advance an impossible condition, upon
which, and upon which alone, he would
agree to enter into negotiations with the
Southern authorities. The sense Of the
country was so shocked by this action
upon the part of the President, that uni-
versal revolution of public sentiment took
place, condemning Mr.. LINCOLN and his
suicidal policy. While the public mind
was in this condition of indignant revolt
against an administration that obstinately
closed up the gates of peace, and opened
up to the country the terrible prospect of
a prolonged and exterminating war, the
Chicago Convention met. We suppose no
political body of men ever met in this
country, inspired by deeper sense of the
responsibility resting upon them, or more
completely animated by views which re-
fected the alarmed condition of a majority
of the popular mind. 1t was in the high
est, deepest and broadest sense of the term,
a convention of patriots, representing the
real intelligence and patriotism Of the
American people. Mr.. LINCOLN had clos
ed up the avenue to peace-the Conven-
ton opened it again. Mr.. LINCOLN had
rendered it absolutely impossible for the
Southern authorities to negotiate with
him the Convention cleared the way
for future negotiations under President
more directly representing the feelings of
the people. Was the Convention to &C
company its resolution with threat
Would it have been wise, would it have
been patriotic, to stultify its own action
by saying to JEFFERSON DAVIS, eve are
prepared to negotiate with you when we
accede to power, but you can only nego-
tate with us with the sword of Damocles
suspended over your head. We are will
ing to treat for terms of peace, but if you
don't come to our terms then the alterna-
tive Is war;? To do this would have been
to follow directly in the footsteps of Mr..
LINCOLN. 1t would have been adopting q
policy making it absolutely impossible fol
the Southern authorities to negotiate. The
Convention refused to do it and refused
wisely. If it had accompanied policy o
peace with policy of war, it would hav'
drawn upon itself the universal condemna
ton of Republicans and Radicals.
cit will be interesting" the Times pro
ceeds to say, "to see how MCCLELLAN
opinions can be made to dovetail with
party creed which is Handicapped.
and deliberately framed-for the purpos
Of accepting degrading peace"
We will not stop to reply to the asser
ton contained in the above, that the plat
form was expressly framed for the purpos
of accepting a degrading peace. 1t
enough to say that it is the platform of tn
Democracy, and that the Democracy {