Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-09-07
THE PHILADEEPHlA PLATFORM.

The New York Times amused itself day
or two ago with drawing a fancied parallel
between the Philadelphia platform of last
week and that of the Union party In 1864.
The comparison does credit to the ingenuity
of the writer. Itrests upon such coinciden-
ceS as the resolutions in both platforms that
gratitude is due 10 the army and navy,-the
resolution of the Baltimore platform that
slavery must be extirpated and the Phila-
delphia affirmation that slavery has been
abolished the declaration of both that the
national debt is iuviolable, and the profess
ions of devotion made by both to the ad-
ministration for the time being. All things
considered, the points of resemblance are
not of remarkable significance, perhaps, but
to have discovered them at all is doing very
well for journal which undertakes TO fight
the battle for the rebellion under the Union
flag. Certainly nobody else would have
thought OF hunting for such parallel.
But there are two parties interested who
are not to be deceived by any such ingenious
fetch as this comparison. Nobody need ex-
pect that by any process the resolutions of
The Philadelphia convention can be made
palatable to the Southern wing of Mr.
Johnson's party. They repudiate and
spurn the declaration of principles, with
more energy than elegance. They resent
the demand that they should bind themsel-
YES to hold sacred the national debt and TO
declare. that the war has sustained the au-
thOrity of the Constitution and the like: and
they think in incredible that their delegates
should have agreed to such terms Nor is
the platform likely to be recommended to
them any more strongly by the Times 8
notable discovery that in substance it follows
the Baltimore resolution of 1864. Isitnot
adding insult to injury toexpect high strung
Southern gentlemen not only to rejoice in
their own defeat but to do it in almost the
words ofthe mud sill party which defeated
them? That is ordering them not only to
eat their leek, but to eat it from the point
of the enemy's sword. They will simply
kick the resolutions out of doors altogether,
wisely contenting themselves with the prae-
teal results Of the convention, which were
certainly all In their favor
And on the other hand, the Northern
people will not be blinded by any nonsense
of platforms to the vital mischief of these
practical results Even if the professions
of the resolutions were fairer than they are,
they could not conceal the fact that the con-
yention proposed as itssole object to restore
the Southern States with increased political
power, and without guarantees OF good
behavior, as the reward for rebellion, and
that as "a means to this end the convention
and the President whom it supports threat
en- civil war in language which is incapable
Of misconstruction. Although the conyen
ton had taken fhe Beatitudes for its plat
form, Its sinister purpose would still have
been clear; and it would stillhaye been found
impossible to cheat people who are IN
earnest and who know how to penetrate
cheap disguisas, by affecting TO point to
mere general profess ions of pure intention as
evidence of character. Boston Adratiser.