The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-10
The Democratic Platform


A CONTEMPORARY truthfully describes the new
Democratic platform as "a strange mixture
of fact and fustan, of courage and duplicity,
of propositions that are lucid, and proposi-
tiOns that are muddy. 1t is bold to the verge
Of rashness in regard to finances, equivOcal in
its illusions to reconstruction, confused in its
exposition of fiscal and administrative reforms,
difiuse and turgid in its arraignment of the
ruling party" 1t was evidently framed to
admit of varied interpretations. At the out
set it recognizes "the questions of slavery aud
secession as having been settled for all time
to come by the war or the voluntary
action Of the Southern States, in constitutional
conventions assembled, and never to be
renewed or reagitated;" yet later
declaration, in another portion of this
platform denounces the reconstruc-
tion acts $50 called) of Congress, as such, as
usurpations and unconstitutional, revOlu-
tionary, and void" 1t is not difficult to see
that Democratic speakers and writers who ad-
dress audiences disposed to approve the wise
sentiment of General Grant, "LEr Us HAVE
PEACE" will dwell upon the opening clause of
the Democratic platform; while those who wish
to pander to existing discomfort, and to revive
the smouldering fires of the Rebellion, will
need no better text than the declaration that
the Iolicy of Congress is unconstitutional,
revolutionary, and void" Ii license could
be thus given to readjustment
no man can foretell what issues may be re-
opened, nor what may be the character of the
fnt1 o.,,fS ~ ba
cratic party evidently desire to place them as
thoroughly as possible under the control OF
unrepentant Rebels, and to continue an angry
and dangerous agitation until this purpose is
accomplished. The financial planks of the
Democratic platform are obnoxious not only
on account of the dishonest propositions they
openly advocate, but on account of the still
more dishonest purpose they indicate. 1t must
be remembered that the sentiment which
evoked the public declaration in favor of tax
ing bonds, and of redeeming them with green
backs, will really be content with nothing less
than downright repudiation, and that if any
party which numbers in it's ranks so many
persons who are openly antagonistio to
maintenance of the public credit should ever
behests of its repudiating adherents. The
sixth resolution makes confused
allusion to the industrial interests
of the country by the declaration that the
Democracy demand ga tariff for revenue upon
foreign imports, and such equal taxation under
the internal revenue laws as will afford Incl
dental protection to domestic manufactures" ;"
Heretofore even the Democrats have acknow-
lodged the wisdom and justice of so regulating
the tariff as to afford incidental protection to
American manufacturers, but the new resolu-
tion favors the only practicable form Of flee
trade by advocating a tariff exclusively
for recenue, and American manufacturers
are notified that they are to receive only such
incidental protection as may be afforded by
"equal taxation under the internal revenue
laws" If this platform should be approved
by the American people, it would justify the
free-traders in demanding such a revision of
the tariff as would destroy every branch of
American industry that is not entirely beyond
the reach of foreign competition.