The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-07-10
mo Democrntie Platform,

Ine principles OF the Democrauc par
" are eternali bat this platform differs
materially from that OF the last Demo-
cratic Presidential Convention. That
declared the war to restore the Union
a failure, and that the only way was to
disband our armies, and try what viz
tue there was in submission. This re-
cogntZes 1t as a complete success. This
Is well. Their opponents have now
recognized that the Republican, party
has accomplished that which four years
ago they pronounced impossible, name-
ly, the preservation OF the nation.
Another striking acknowledgment Is
that the war has forever settled the pre-
tended right of secession. Before, they
denied that the war could settle any
principle.
The platform also declares that the
war has abolished the right of slavery
forever. This Is progress. Before they
declared that this was a perversion OF
the war to unconstitutional purposes,
and that slavery was the corner stone
of our free Institutions. In short, in its
main features the platform Is a repu-
diation of the things which the Demo
cratic party held most sacred before.
1t Is confession of past sins, and hum
BILE petition to be taken on trial.
| The platform declares for immediate
restoration of all the States. Nearly
| all of them are restored; and nothing
but Democratic resistance keeps out
| the remainder.
| Il declares for amnesty for all past
political offenses. They are already
amnestied by the Limitation of time in
the law. Also for the regulation ofthe
franchise by the States. That is what
the Republicans resolved.
1t declares for the payment of the
public debt as fast as possible by taxa
II 4ecIs [es rha. such nj the bonds as
are not by their face or by the law @, OF
their issue payable in coini shall pc
paid in lawful money. Another reso-
| luton declares that the credit OF the
Government and OF the currency shali
be made good, Good currency is real
money, or currency payable on de-
mand in coin. So this declaration
taken with the other, means that the
bonds shall be paid in currency the
equivalent OF coin. It declares Tor
equal taxation on all property In
Guiding Government bonds and other
10 prevent people from lodging taxa
ton by putting their means into green
backs at taxing time.
It declares for one currency for all.
So say we, and good currency. The
platform did not dare to say a debased
currency for all. 1tdeclares for econo'
my. Striking coincidence! the Repub"
Iican platform declares the same. 1t
goes for the abolition of the Freedmen's
Bureau. So do we. Its days are
already numbered. For the abolition
of ali political instrumentalities de-
signed TO secure negro supremacy. II
did not dare to declare against negro
suffrage. For the discontinuRnce OF IN
qutsitorial modes OF assessing ana col
iecling internal revenue. This, we sup
pose, is to give the whisky ring free
course.
Il declares this last for the wonder
fully inconsequent reason, THAT the
burden OF taxation may be equalized
and lessened." To abandon Inquisi-
whichis stealing hundred millions OF
the taxes, would be a Democratic
method of equalizing and lessening
taxation.
II goes AGAINST militia laws. That is
u new Democratic Doctrine. The Con-
stiLution says that well trained mill
| Tia is necessary 10 the national security.
1t goes for a tariff upon imports for
revenue and protection, with proper
1 adjustment OF Internal taxes to secure
this protection TO manufactures, and to
encourage the great Industrial inter-
ests. Indeed, the Convention has
| crammed all sorts OF new physic down
the Democratic threats.
The rest consists of few gltttertng
generalities, and then long stump
speech against the interests of the Re-
publican party, made up after the
style OF Seymour's speech. In conclu-
sion the thing invites all Conservatives
to join them.
But number of the things declared
by this platform are what the Demo.
cratic party, no longer ago than last
year, denounced as Radicalism and the
i overthrow of the Constitution.
The stump speech declares all the re-
construction acts void. II this were in
the platform 1t would incapacitate
those States from taking any part in
the Presidential election, and 1t would
| throw out their votes, If taken under
these void Governments. Is that the
way to get Southern help for their can
didRtes?
Old Democrats will miss the doctrines
they used to find inDemocratic plat
forms.s They Will find State sovereign
| ty abandoned, the right of coercion re-
cogniZed, the recognition that the war
has settled disputed Constitutional
questions, the admission of the rightful
and legal abolition of slavery by the
act of the National Government, the
recognition of the war debt, and OF the
legality of the law making paper a
legal tender, the recognition of negro
suffrage, and several othel things which
Democracy has hitherto assailed as
Radicalism and the overthrow OF the
Constitution.
A prominent feature in the stump
speech part of the platform, is a fierce
arraignment OF Congress for its inquis-
ttorfal course in the Woolley case. In
fact, the platform in this and in it's tax
feature, recognizes the whisky ring as
a Democratic interest which is to be
encouraged and protected.