The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-09-21
THE CALIFORNIA ELECTION.

ocratlc victory IN California does not
amount to much; that it was occa-
stoned by a division in the Radical
ranks; and that California will, with
out any doubt, go for radicalism at
the next election. All this effort is
perfectly natural. 1t is of piece
with the boy who whistled to keep
up his courage.
Our neighbor of the Journal is no
exception. He is full of excuses and
explanations, and prophecies, and
threatnings. He has no doubt that
to-day California is "soundly loyal"
alias soundly Radical, notwithstand-
ing the fact that every democratic
candidate on the State ticket is cleo
ted, and also majority of members
of the Legislature are Democrats.
One of the assertions which he makes
is, that the Democracy of California
were careful to say nothing in their
platform antagonistic to the princi-
pies of the republican party. Let US
examine this position a few moments.
The platform of the California Dem
Ocratic party, adopted the 10th of
June last, and on which every Demo
cratic candidate fairly and squarely
placed himself prior to the election,
contains sixteen Resolutions, embrac-
ing as many separate and distinct is
sues. The third resolution declares
that "we regard the course of Con-
gress in what are known as the recon-
struction measures of that body, as
harsh, iliberal and oppressive, and
more likely to result in hollow truce
than an enduring peace" Will the
Journal pretend that this plank is not
antagonistic to some of the pet meas
ures of the Radicals?
One of the principles or dogmas of
the Radical party is, that the seeded
or Southern States, having been com
pletely conquered, are now wholly at
the mercy of the conquerors that
they have no rights except the inesti-
mable one of being hung; that they
are now out of the Union, and that
hence it is the duty and right of Con
gress to regard them as Territories, or
conquered provinces, subject to be
dealt with in such manner as their
masters may see proper to adopt.
One of the resolutions in the platform
of the Democracy of California de-
clares that this scheme of reducing a
portion of the United States to Terri.
tories, and stripping them of the
rights enjoyed from the foundation OF
the Government, is absolutely opposed
to the dearest provisions of the feder
al Constitution, and to any sound idea
of practical craftsmanship; that it is
dangerous as precedent and thor
oughly antagonistic to those princi
pies of reserved rights and local self
government, which underlie our Re
publican system. Does the J0urnd
pretend that this plank is not antago
nistic to the reconstruction measures
of his party?
Again: The Radical party are now
boldly fayoring negro suffrage. and
indeed negro equality-legally, po
liticalIy and socially. Gorham advo
Gated this doctrine in his letters and
speeches during the late canvass So
did all the Radical candidates on The
State ticket. But, in direct antago
nism to this, the Democratic platform
declares that it is impracticabIe t.
maintain republican institutions baseC
upon the suffrages Of pegroes;" ant
that the doctrines avowed by the Rad
ica1 leaders, of indiscriminate suf
frage regardless of race, color or quail
ifcation, if carried into practice
would end in the degradation of the
white race, and the speedy destruc
tion of the Government.
Again The Radical party, no
only of California but of the Union
are against the taxing of the e. S
Bonds. They hold that about one
third of the entire taxable propert,
of the Union should be exempt from
taxation for county, town, municipa
or federal purposes. They beliey
that the bond-holder should renal
free from taxation; that the toiline
working millions should pay thei
own taxes and his, also. But the Ca
ifornia Democratic platform hold
this is all wrong and that all tax;
tion should be equal and uniform.
We might spin out this article il
definitely, showing conclusiyely tha
the California Democracy did enunc
ate principles, in their platform, ths
are antagonissic to those held by tn
Republican party but it is unnece
sary to pursue this subject longe