Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-07-15
Their Platform.

ton, with the exception of the financial
planks, is tissue of fustian and glittering
generalities, meaning nothing Its pream-
ble, awkwardly enough confesses Judgment
on the issues of the war, saying that the
questions of slavery and secession have been
settled for all time to come by the war
They have been settled it is true, but no
thanks to Democracy What humiliating
confession this must have been tor the same
men who in 1864 solemnly resolved that the
war was failure, and recommended an i'm
mediate cessation of hostilities Yes, the
questions of secession and slavery have been
settled for all time to come, and with them
the fate Of the party that upheld, adyoca-
ted and fought for them. They can only
remain settled by the Democratic party re-
naming out of power.
The platform denounces military rule, at
the very time the department commanders
are turning over their authority to the Gov
ernors and Legislatures chosen by the peo-
pie, and announcing their power at an end.
1t calls for the suspension Of the Freedmen S
Bureau at the very time when Congress is
providing for closing the Bureau in each
State as soon as its governmental machinery
is fairly in motion. 1t demands the restora-
ton of the State Governments, at the very
time when the States are resuming their re-
lations with the Union, and six of the ten,
have been received and restored. 1t simp
ly beats the air, revels in the dead past, and
is afraid to grapple with the stern realities
of the living present.
The single thing of importance, that
stands out in bold relief, amidst this mass
of verbiage and demagoguery, is the fnan-
cial policy, which, if adopted, would be ma
tional disgrace and lasting dishonor. Three
of the national obligations-either by the
taxing of bonds which the Government
pledged its faith should not be taxed. or
their payment in currency when the Gov
ernment covenanted to pay them in con
The stupidity and knavery of such policy,
is so plain and so repulsive to the American
people, that their party organs are already
endeavoring to explain it away, or labori-
ously writing to defend it in adyan Its
downright scoundrelism-a bold proposition
to swindle the creditors of the Government
and piliory the nation in the gaze of an
astonished and indignant world 1t is vir-
tually proclaiming to the amazed peoples
that we are confederacy of rascals-that
on our own terms we have borrowed twenty
five hundred millions of dollars, by pledging
the public faith that the bonds should not be
taxed and that they should be paid in coin,
and that having used the money, VIC delib-
erately repudiate the debts, and laugh to
scorn those who reposed confidence in the
national pledge! Such proposition could
have emanated from no other source than
party which has become familiar with trea-
son, whose chief argument is assassination,
and the mass of whose adherents are habit
ues of the slams of vice, crime and iniauity.
Who are these creditors of the Govern
ment that are to be thus swindled? Not
Copperheads it is true. They were very
careful not TO assist the Government with
any of their money. They followed the ex-
ample of James Buchanan, among whose
assets Virginia and Tennessee bonds were
found, but not a ten-forty or fve-twenty.
These creditors are the hard working, frugal,
honest people of moderate means, all over
the land, who, with iaith in their Govern
ment and reliance on its financial honor, in
vested their hard earnings in It's securities.
Horatio Seymour himself recently said So
100000 persons are interested in Govern
ment bonds who are not capitalists, and who
arc compulsory owners at present prices un-
der the operation of our laws" Let these
$500, 900 people who are not capitalists be
on their guard against this barefaced and
deliberate proposition to rob them of their
honest earnings, 1t is the frugal, the indus
trious, and the provnent who are to suffer
by the reputation of national obligations
and the violation of national faith. But,
thank God this gigantic fraud can never
be consummated. 1t is too.ransparent, too
iniquitous, too unmittigatedly vile to obtain
adherents even among respectable rebels.
The wretched platform which contains it,
will be repudiated with loathing and scorn
by the American people, and the faith, hon.
or and credit of the nation will be amply
vlndicated by the triumphant election of
GRANT and CoLFAx.
On Monday gold went up to 1ilainN.Y.