Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-12-19
THE cHlcAGo fLA7FoRM Of '6s.


The time and place Of holding the Ma
iional Convention which will nominate our
next President have been fixed, and fixed
satisfactorily. 1t proper now to indicate,
If anything remains to be said, the prefer
ences, which, as members of the great party
of the Union, we may feel, concerning the
candidates.
s'We are for Grant," was said in these
columns, away last juno, before anybody
was scared-if anybody has been-into the
support of the General, by the result of the
fall elections. We nominated him because
he was, and is, entitled to the nomination.
The Republican party, as the organization
charged with the control of the nation. put
the armies into the field, fed them, paid
them, and against all the Vaccinations of
the cruel but cowardly foes at home, de-
Tended them The Republican party said
then, and has always repeated Its promise,
that the reward of gallant and faithful SER
vice in the field, should be civil preferment
II was principle of the party, and part
of its policy, as well. And whether the
promise has been kept, the principle sup
ported, the policy carried out, let the records
| of the nominations and elections in every
loyal State tell. We have been the friends
of the National soldiers always, and we
propose to continue so. With the record of
the grandcst successes eyer achieved by any
American General, with no blot upon it of
incapacity like Mcclellan, of treachery like
Fitz John Porter, of political weakness, like
many others, GRANT stands, to-day, before
the nation, ITS CHOICE, because he was a
great soldier, successful leader and a true
patriot. With these qualities, shall we ask
more? What more does the welfare of the
nation require in its Presidents
ave are for Grant"-upon pronounced
Republican platform. What is that plat
form 1t cannot be the re iteration of the
principles set forth at Chicago in 1860, or at
Baltimore in Ca. The keynote OF the former
was opposition to the extension of slavery,
and of tie latter, the vigorous prosecution Of
the war for the suppression of the rebellion,
with the consequent adjustment of slavery
Those issues are dead The desires there
expressed are fully realized. How now
What is Republicanism Great as are tho
Finance and Labor questions, they are no
{ party issues, and party lines cannot ant
: ought not, in most instances, to be drawn
upon them. Bnt the great work of the err
n since 1861 is Reconstruction, and the grant
S feature Of Reconstruction, upon which it
$ success and the nations welfare depend, /
g COLOR. No longer in favor of slavery, o
J. armed rebellion, do our opponents openl
q plead, but against the right of the colore
! Unionists of the South, and of colored cit
g zcns everywhere, TO vote. And this, becans
of their color.
&c The distinct affirmation that the right
ii the American citizen to vote, does not d,
l. pend upon his color, and the resolution
lie adhere to this, as q National 2)rincipi,
III must be the key note Of Republicanism,
lie the Chicago Convention, of 1865. vii
h. that cardinal principle, the party will Ri
ne again, united, enthusiastic, and go forwal
v to glorious success. Without t-but wi
st discuss reputation of duty and honor? I'll
of Republican party, as party, thank Go
MS does not know such shame.
it. Here, then, is Grants platform. Will
cd stand upon it, Certainly! Why not?
re- And with such cardinal principle, II
II cessary as the corollary of Reconstruction
Iot necessary in good faith, and in compuls
to logic; and with other great principles
he firmed, the Chicago platform of 1865 will
ge inyincible, Impeachment is now decide
aw Ii no longer distracts US. The action Of I
~ majority in Congress- may not have be
ot, wiscst and best, but we acquesce. W
My an honest declaration of principles, a
Grant TO lead, we shall "move upon
to enemy's works" and repeat the result
Sc Fort Donelson.