Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-11-30
Platforms and Candidates.

being discussed by the press. and which
forms the principal theme of conversation in
all grades and classes of society, is who is
to be the candidate of the Republican
party for President in 1868 :" The cleo
ton of Chief Magistrate to preside
over the destinies of this republic for four
years, even when no great questions affecting
our national progress and prosperity are to
be settled by the result Of the canvass is an
event in which the people take deep inter-
est. and which creates the greatest excite
ment in political circles. But. however i'm
portant former Presidential campaigns may
have appeared at the time Of their transpira-
ton, they sink into belittled insignifcance in
comparison with the one which will deter
mine Cuhnson's successor. Never, since the
days of Washington, have matters of such
vital importance to our well being as ma
ton, been submitted to the consideration of
the people as will be placed before them for
solution next year. The rebellion, itself,
was decided by an appeal to the arbitrament
Of the sword; but the series Of vexatious
questions which have arisen from it, have
been renamed to the ballot-box for final
settlement. The rebellion, Invested of its
minor attributes, was a conflict between
freedom and slavery. That party which was
formed to support the Government in the
hour of It's peril, and which had inscribed
upon its banners. The Union must and
shall be preserved" was triumphant upon
the battle field as it had previously been at
the ballot box, and the hydra headed mon
ster, treason. and its parent, slavery, were
crushed by the patriotism of loyal people.
Generally speaking, the sword is considered
the highest Court Of Appeal, and its decisions
final; but in the present instance, no5with-
standing the fIighliul cost at which a verdict
in favor of liberty, Justice and equal rights be-
fore the law, WAS obtained, there is imminent
danger that t will be set aside and the dear
bought fruits Of victory sacrificed upon the
altar Of policy. The seeded States have not
yet resumed their former position i'll the
Union, and so far from exhibiting wiling
ness to do so, the strong arm of military
power Is required to keep in check the re-
bellious spirit which is constantly being
manifested in that direction. They have
scornfully rejected and bitterly opposed
every plan of reconstruction proposed by
Congress for their rehabilitation, until at
last they have forced negro suffrage upon
themselves. No one can deny but that the
prime object of the Republican party is the
restoration of the Union. To keep the party
in power until this deSideratuns is accom-
plished, is the duty of every loyal citizen.
No questions of minor Importance should be
allowed to interfere in the accomplishment
of this end. The recent defeats which the
party has sustained in consequence of med
ding with matters foreign to the purpose for
which it was formed. should be a sufficient
warning to those who have the management
of its affairs in their hands. While the NOM
nation of a popular man will undoubtedly
conduce much towards his election, the prin-
ciples embodied in the platforms OF both
parties will be closely scanned by the people.
and victory will perch upon the standard Of
the organization which constructs its platform
in conformity with the bent of the popular
mind. Public attention, next Fall, will be
much more closely directed to the principles
which the candidates represent, than to the
men themselves. The result of the recent
elections in the Eastern States, as well as on
this coast, ought certainly TO be sufficient to
convince the most obstinate that there has
been change in public sentiment in regard
to some of the measures proposed by the
Union party, which if not ignored in the flu
ture will elect Democratic President. Acts
which the people applauded, as war measures,
and doctrines which they supported while
traitors were striking at the life of the nation,
are not demanded by the exigencies of the
times since peace has again smiled upon US,
and the people have so declared. Negro
suffrage has been submitted to a popular
vote in three of the most radical States in
the Union-Ohio, Kansas and Minnesota
and defeated, by large majority, in each.
Is more evidence required to prove its I'M
popularity In our humble opinion the
national platform of the Union party, in
addition to others, should contain the follow
ing planks: First, the reconstruction of the
seeded States in conformity wit h the plan
adopted by Congress; secondly, equal rights
to all before the law; third, opposition to
negro suffrage in the loyal States; fourth,
reduction of taxation fifth, non-interferance
with what people shall eat or drink on the
Sabbath, or any other day. Political plat
forms should never interfere with the relig-
ious belief, habits or morals of the people.
Attempts to do so are unpopular, and their
legitimate result is defeat
In connection with the Presidency, on the
but three are now spoken-a trio whose
names are surrounded by halo of glory so
effulgent that lesser lights are totally eclipsed
by their splendor-Grant, Sherman and
Sheridan. Chase, the idol of the ultra
radicals, is as dead, politically, as if every
ballot cast against negro suffrage had been a
bullet and pierced his brain. Of the three
from whom the candidate will probably be
chosen, we have no hesitation in expressing
our preference for Sherman. The Chief
Magistrate Of the United States should pos
sess qualifications for the position other than
those of military character. He should at
least be enough of statesman and under
stand GinlOun L.;