The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-07-03

was setticu tttihS. In the NatlOna
Convention of 1864 the abolition O
slavery was IndOrsed, but not wor,
was said about the enfranchisemen
of the emancipated class. But Ion;
before the expiration of the secon,
Republican Administration coloret
suffrage was introduced in all of th,
late rebel States. 1t can not be sale
that those two Conventions had pur
posely held back part of the design,
they intended to carry out. Boil
times they were perfectly honest il
confining their platform to certain
things upon which they we're agreed
But both times the Republican party
was, by the necessities of the si,ua
ton, by the logic OF things, carried
beyond its original programme, and
il the Republican party has anything
to be proud of il is the great fact thai
1t promptly and resolutely obeYad
that logic as soon ss it clearly man,
Tested itself, And so 1t will be now
NEEDED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT =
AS the total abolition of slavery
presented itself as a necessity when
We struggled to conquer the rebellion
as the entranchisement Of the eman-
eipated CLASS presented itself "a Q
necessity foy the development of free
labor aud the protection of the loyal
element in the South, so before long
the necessity will appear of withdraw
ing from the ever changeable action
of Congressional and State legisla-
ton, those political rights which form
the basis of Democratic Govarlment,
and Of placing tnnem under the i'm
mediate safeguard of our fnndamen-
tai law. An authoritative definition
is wanted of what is meant by the
term "a Republican form Of Govern
ment," which, according to the Con
stitutiOn, is to lie guaranteed TO every
State of this Union, aud this deflni-
tion will have to be furnished by q
constitutional Amendment restrs,a-
ing tue several States irom surround
ing the right of suffrage. with un-
reasonable and un- democratic re.
strictions, and, perhaps, making il
obligatory for every State to intro
duce and maintain an efficient sy stan
of public instruction.
Such a Constitutional Amendment
will most certsinly be brought for
ward before long, and only its pass
age will finally sat at rest the ques
tons which now are causing our bit
terest controversies. Although ap
parently limiting the powers OF thi
States, this measure will be necessary
for the salvation of our system o.
local self government, for only then
will self-government be safe agai.
from dangerous infr4ctiOns by tle
central power, when it can no Ion,
ger be perverted into machinery fol
the promotion Of CLASS government
and tue subversiOn Of individua
rights.
such Constitutional Amendment
we shall have, whether it be in til.
platform or not. And we shall have
it soon, unless .he country falls int(
the hands OF the enemies Of progres:
and true Democracy, which HEAVIER
forbid. And even then we shall pom,
to 1t at last, hut only after years o
new strife aud confusion.
For this reason, the omission in Oul
platform does not disturb me, for
do not belong to that class of Radi
Gals who deem 1t more important t6
have a principle ostentatiously as
serted i'm words than to have it wei
carried out in practice.
Such is the Republican platform o
1858. 1t might have gone further
without becoming too extreme; i
could not be more moderate withOu
falling short of the demands of jus
tice, and yet, with all its moderation
it is still the most liberal platform
ever presented to the American peopl,
by great party organization. Jus
tice to the soldier, who fought on
battles justice to the national cred
itor, who staked his money upon thu
good faith of the American people
Justice TO the Southern Union man Il
whom we owe protection for his iidel
| ity justice to the negro, to whom w
have promised true liberty forever
more than Justice, magnanimOus for
giyeness, to the defeated rebel, VIII
merely will consent TO be just t.
others, justice, finally, to this great
brave and noble nation, which ha
sacrificed half million of lives AM
untold millions of money that tn
republic might live and enjoy tn
blessings of peace which can be ST
cure only where the rights of ever
citizen are secure in the keeping O
all. With this programme OF prln
ciples and policy we stand before th
world, and for it we solicit the sui
frages of our patriotic countrymen.
DEMOCRATIC DISHONESTY.
After discussing the characters Q
Grant and COlfax, and showing thei
remarkable qualifications for the pc
sitions to which they have been nom
mated, Gen. Schurz continued a
follows
Here, then, is our platform, an
here are our candidates. What hay
our opponents to offer TO the peopl
instead 2 In a few weeks they wi
have their National Convention. i
there a Democrat here who can te
me what their platform will be o
the most important issues before tn
country, whether it will declare 70
the "white mans government or fO
negro suffrage, for the payment {
the bonds in gold, or in depreeial
cd greenbacks, for a recognition {
the Southern State organizations a
they now are, or for repudiatin
them2 Can any Democrat here te
line whether their candidate for til
Presidency will be an old COppeI
head or an old AbOlitiOnistf I Is thel
a sooth sayer in this broad land VIII
can look deep enough in the myste
les of the Democratic conscience
give us iightp How is this? VIII.
are the principles of the Democrat
party to -day3 The answer is; The
Twill be made to order on the 4th {
July. A majority of one, yes, a sill
gle one from the enlightened del
gates from the Five Points may the
be called upon to decide between tV
Iopposite extremes.
: This is the first time in the histol
, of this Republic, nay, perhaps Il
t first time in the history of partie
: that the leaders of political orga