The Portland daily press., 1868-05-23

The Best Platform of the Century.
1t is with unusual satisfaction that we print
the Republican platform, adopted by the Ma
tional Convention at Chicago. The first reso-
luton naturally refers to reconstruction, that
being the specific work which the party is
now doing in pursuance ofits general purpose
to make the United States a genuine republic.
Itpresents, too, very strong point in the par
ty's favor. 1t has been work of incalculable
labor to carry reconstruction in eight States
against an alliance of the federal executive.
Northern Copperheads and Southern Rebels;
yet it has been done, and-only Texas and Vir-
ginia remain uuredeemed.
The second resolution, wisely supplemented
by that introduced by Carl Schurz, is the foun-
dation upon which the whole platform is built
The principles embodied in these two resolu-
tions, which for obvious reasons we class to-
gether, are these: Impartial suffrage in the
aohote country is theoretically just and expedi-
ent;in the Southern States Congress has au-
thority to establish it and secure it's perpetui-
ty;in the Northern States Congress has no
such authority, and, until the constitution is
amended, each of these States must be left to
regulate the franchise as it will, though an
observance of the principles of the Declara-
tion of Independence places upon them
moral obligation to give the ballot to all class
es and races upon equal conditions. fs
The chief merit of this is that it represents
with uncommon accuracy the feeling of the
great majority of the Rdpublican party. 1t is
true that some of our most thoughtful and en-
inent statesmen are of the opinion that no con-
stltutional amendment is necessary in order to
give the national legislature authority to estab-
lish impartial suffrage everywhere within the
limits of the United States. They hold that
under the guaranty clause of the constitution
as it stands Congress is clothed with ample au-
thority in the premises. But the individuals who
hold these views are unquestionably in the mi
nority The difference of opinion is not with |
reference to the usefulness and Justice of the |
end to be attained, but the means to be used in |
n reaching it. Hence there is great propriety |
in the language of the resolutions, which ex- |
press the views of the whole party on the vi |
tai part of the question, and those of an over
whelming majority on the secondary question
OF means concerning which there is not inten-
sity fleeing enough to create even an appre-
henson of a scbism. The Democrats in |
Connecticut and New Hampshire during the |
campaigns of this spring appealed to gnor-
ance and prejudice with great effect by de- |
ciaring that the Radicals contemplate an in
vasion OF the reserved rights of the States-
These resolutions will silence them hereafter. |
The hve resolutions next in order relate to |
matters OF finance, and in an equal degree |
with the second are admirable for the precis-
Ion with which they express the opinions of |
the great mass of the party. The beginning |
is integrity, the middle is prudence, and the |
end is combination of the two. 1t may ap-
pear to our Democratic friends that it is haz-
ardous to denounce with so much warmth ev-
cry phase of the reputation mania, but the |
heartiness of the enthusiasm with which the |
resolutions We're received proves that the dele |
gates at Chicago did not think So. No honest |
man can will think so. The fifth resolution |
declaring that the debt must be paid not only
according to the letter, but to the spirit of the
law under which it was contracted, :" is merely
declaration that the United States is a civil
lzed country and has not fallen into the heath
enlsh barbarism of Pendletonianism. The four |
following resolutions point out the Republi- |
can method of relieving the people from their
burdens, pre- esented in lieu of the Democratic |
method of gaining such relief by the commits |
sion of crime. Economy in the administra- |
ton of the government, the reduction and |
equalization of taxes and the reduction of the |
interest on the national debt by inspiring cap-
ltalIsts with confidence in our integrity. are |
the sources from which the Republican party |
expects financial prosperity to flow.
The eighth resolution touches the matter of |
impeachment in the only appropriate manner.
boldly declaring the peoples profound conyic- |
ton of the Presidents guilt, but abstainine
from any prescription of individuals who |
think him not guilty on the charges preferred |
by the House of Representatives. The point |
ed and repeated refusal of the Convention to |
entertain or listen to any proposition making |
impeachment party issue is especially graf
ifying. The party through its delegates ex-
presses its appreciation of the proceedings be.
Tore the Senate bnt does not assert any en- |
pre- over the consciences of judges. Gen. |
amer declaration that he stood there not |
" " inu,ce men but to appeal nevertheless from
','oii u9os.oh 70 the whole people, and the ap-
p'ause wilcn followed showed that he spoke
the feeilng OF the whole assembly.
The remaining resolutions, esnecialIv that
part OF the one introduced by Cen .Sobr,z
which we have not considered in connoot;on
with the second, are declaratory Of nr;no;,.,az
the correctness OF which will hardly be disnrt-
ed by any party in this country, though thew
are inconsistent with the cardinal ideas of sim
cere Copperheads.
AS whole the platform cannot fail to be re-
ceived with enthusiasm only second to that |
excited by the men who have been selected to |
s'and upon it. We have assurances that both |
1rart and Colfax adopt its views as their
own, ana IT only awaits the formal approval of |
.l'e 1huier'can people which is sure to be given
- enioer' we can proudly say to the |
Democrats in relation to botb tbo nor,inoos
and the platform, snatch thema - - ~
How GRANT RECEIVED THE No,,,,., ,,,.-
Grants first inquiry, when informed of h;s
nomination at Chicago, was about the nlot
form, remarking after he had read it carefpIlv
through, THAT is good" He afterwards said
that he was particularly pleased with the de-