The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-01


OF Our Politicians and Political Par
ties.
The democracy of New Jersey have held
their convention, proclaimed their platform
and nominated General Runyon as their candi-
date for Governor, for their approaching State
election. Their platform is poor concern, as
a brief recapitulation of its Cardinal princi-
pies" will serve to show.
It declares, frst-That the democracy of New
Jersey "reassert the cardinal principles of the
party" which may mean anything or nothing,
as the same was said Of the shent-per-sbent
Chicago platform Secondly-They charge the
war upon the abOlitionists of the North and the
secessionists of the South which is correct; but
they say the war came because these agitators
refused "to heed the wise counsel Of the de-
mocracy, who long ago predicted that the cleo
ton of a sectional candidate upon sectional
principles" would result in civil war; forget
ting the fact that the success of the Chicago
candidate Of 1860 was secured by the demo-
cratic Charleston aud Baltimore conventions Of
that year, which divided the democracy upon
two tickets and two platforms. Which Of those
two platforms represented the cardinal prin-
ciples" of the party we have never learned and
care not now to know. But this Jersey con-
vention, in it's second resolution, sums up the
deplorable results Of the war, including
generations yet unborn to pay" while
it has not word to say Of the good re-
suits achieved in the overthrow Of the South
Carolina State rights doctrine of secession. in
the abolition of African slavery, in the grand
struggle and triumph of the Union, which have
tary Power of the earth. Can it be that the
New Jersey democracy are disappointed and
sorry that the war has not turned out "a
failure?" They seem to be so. Thirdly
They are in favor of the old system OF
gold and silver currency. So are we all. But
day or tomorrow And how do they propose to
bring it about That's what we want to know.
Their fourth resolution il rehash on State
rights from the Chicago republican platform Of
l860-which was before the deluge. fit means
anything it means that as "a domestic institu-
y
in the late rebellious States Fourthly-The
Jersey democracy are "emphatically opposed
to negro suffrage" which is plain sailing, and
agree with President johnson "that this thing
must be left to the States;" and so far so good
But in the fifth OF these resolutions there is q
government bonds from taxation"-a protest
which is blunder, inasmuch as the Supreme
Court Of the United States, Judge Marshall de-
livering its opinion, decided Tin the case Of
Weston vs.. the City Of Cbarleston) that "the
tax on government stock is thought by the
power to borrow money on the credit Of the
United States, and consequently to be repug
nant to the constitution"
| Next, after number Of resolutions for bun.
combe on retrenchment, the valor OF our SOL
diers and sailors, and on soldiers bountes, DC.
the Jersey democrats come out boldly for the
Monroe doctrine to the extent Of reinforcing I
| by arms II necessary" and they "denounce The
seeming acquiescence Of the administration II
the attempted subjugation of Mexico" But in
this denunciation against Andrew johnson they
are like the wise boy who undertook to show
his grandmother how TO suck eggs. Next
these cxacting Jerseymen "deprecate the weak
ness of the administration in permitting illega
arrests Of citizens by military power In States
where the courts are open, the suspension o
the writ Of habeas corpus in time OF peace
&C.; but they are still disposed to aid the Pre-
sident ain any constitutional efforts to restor
TO the Southern States the exercise Of thei
original rights"-an offer which is very kind o
them as far as it goes.
This is the best that we can make Of the New
Jersey democratic platform Of 1866. 1t
made up chiefly Of old party claptrap AM
vague generalities which do not even glitter
II falls long way behind the shorter an
clearer catechism of the democracy Of Maine
and may be ranked yith the recens resolution