The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-09-10
The Platforms-rhe Issues.

We keep the platforms of the Ohio
State, and National Democratic Con-
fentions standing i'm our columns from
week to week, and will continue to do
81 until the several elections are over.
And to-day we publish the platform
adopted by the Republican National
Convection at Chicago. Wecomlnend
these documents to the careful reading
and comparison of each and every
one of our readers. These are the
authoritative exponents of the princi-
pies and policy of the two parties in
this contest, and to them should the
voters appeal to know what are the
issues involved. e..5;.,,l ~ t;.7e
A careful perusal of these docu-l
ments will show that the points in
controversy are few, yet that the gulf
that separates the parties is wide
and deep ;. thatthe principles that tiI--
videthe two contending parties are
as antagonistic as light and darkness,
heat and cold or good and evil
We said the differences were few.
They may be said to be but two that
are of great Importance. LIST, Re-
construction I'd, Finance. .89 4
The Democratic party claim that the
Union has never, in law, been dis
solved that while the Southern
States passed ordinances of secession,
to support which ordinances they re-
sorted to military force, and thereby
temporarily suspended the relations
that had heretofore existed between
those States and the Federal Govern
ment; that still, all such ordinances
were illegal, unconstitutional and void,
and that all that was needed on the
part of the Federal Government in
order to preserve the integrity of the
Union, was to destroy the military
eorce by which the usurpation of au-
'hority was sought to be upheld. This
being accomplished, and the authority
IF the Government having been en-
iorced, the power of the Government
over the States, as political organiza-
ions, was at an end, whatever may
nave been its authority over the indi-
engaged in the insurrection-
lry movement; That the reconstruc-
ion acts of Congress, by which they
assume the right to blot out State Gov
and the very existence of
States; to control the subject of suf-
rage, comforting the elective franchise
1pon ignorant negroes and denying
he ballot to Intelligent white men,
md the other manifold wrongs attend |
mt upon the reconstruction schemes
If Congress, are base usurpations, |
wholly unwarranted by the Constitu-! | |
ion, and revolutionary and tyrannical |
n their tendency and purpose That |
he assumption of the right of Con-
:ress to control the suffrage in part of
he States while the right of other
states to control it for themselves is /
'ntirely inconsistent with the true
heory of our Government, which
ests upon the equality of the States |
nd the equality of the citizens before
he law.
Upon the subject of Finance the diff
erence between the parties is quite as
Republicans claiming
hat the $40 bonds are payable in coin,
Thile the Democrats assert that nei-
1er the spirit nor the letter of the
wv, nor the terms of the bonds them
elves, require that they shall be paid
any other manner than any other
litigation of the Government. Wei
re not wanting in good Republican
lthority for saying that the assump-t
on of the Republicans in their Ma
latform, and by most of their leading
oliticians, is entirely without war;
mt. But the B0nd-holders have the i
epublican party in their control, and j
is compelled to do their bidding. T.
While this burthea of debt ia press
g heavily upon the necks of the peo- fe
e, while the people are required, in
ne Of peace, to resp0nd to the tune of {
DIM four to five hnndred millions of n
liars q year to the demands of. the s