Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1866-05-23
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PARTIES AND PLATFORMS.

I About the mos. remarkable proposition
connected with the present political crisis
is tina: VIC should 20 back to the Balti-
more platform of 1864, and base upon it
our reconstruction policy, When we
sustain the action Of Congress, We are
told that the President is more in accord
with the Republican policy than We are,
because he fouuds his action upon the
national platform Of the Republican party
We wonder why these adroit special plead
ers stop at 1864, instead Of carrying US
back to 1860. If they must need take
the southern side of every question, the
Chicago Republican national platform of
1860 would conserve their purposes q
great deal better, for that respected State
rights SO much as even to leave slavery
alone.
How long did that platform last us
We strove manfully to get along upon it
But it embarrassed the progress of the
war so much, that in less than two years
it was nuliifed, and in three years We
had advanced SO far as to proclaim liberty
to the slave La 1861 we made our tie hit
ON a platform of which the anti slavery
amendment to the national Constitution
was the main feature, aud now President
Johnson's immediate irieuds urge that
adherence to tha; is all that We have
right to ask. Nine tenths of the party
think otherwise, and demand such action
of Congress as shall deprive the southern
oligarchy Of the means Of stirring up fu-
ture rebellions, and we are eravcly told
by few timid conservatives that We
have no right to make this the policy OF
the Republican party, because it was no:
in the Baltimore platform Of 1864.
When that platform was made, the
war was not yet ended, and the need of
reconstruction policy was not felt
That the party should therefore abandon
all right to make my policy on the sub
ject is what we are coolly asked to believe.
The men who say these things seem to
ignore the fact that the successful close
of the war has developed necessities for
new platforms, that the Republicans are
the progressive men Of the country that
there is no positive prosperity that is not
identified with their policy or measures
So tar as we can now make out, We un-
derstaHd the Presidents frierds, both !
Democrats and conservatives, to dlsclaim !
their intention of basng their antagonism
to the Republican party On opposition to
the Civil Rights bill. They appear dis
posed to accept tacitly that every meas
ure, against which they raised such
,lamor, as fnality. But whilst SO as
,enting to it, they deny to Congress the
credit due it Cor passing that measure,
md still 60 on asking US 20 restore unan-
mlty In the Republican ranks by acknowl-
'dgng the Baltimore platform Of 1861
IS the sole guide to our action.
Now we beg leave here to say distinctly .
bat the Civil Rights bill does constitute !
ur platform. The essential element Of ;
hat great measure is equality before the {
aw. We regard that principle as too
lear to the hearts Of all lovers Of consti- '
utional liberty aud popular rights to be q
vaded, or left open to jeopardy hereafter.
We, therefore, most heartily rejoice to c
ee that the Reconstruction Committee
aade it the initial step of all its 6ual
,has he principle e. efuai.y