The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-08-26

glory of the war and all similar subjects
of denunciation or of praise. AS for my
single self, glorying in. every word spoken,
every vote given, every act done, and every
wrong suffered by myself in behalf of right
and liberty throughout the war, I am yet
not now to be provoked by any taunt or
depunciation into discussion of anything
connected with it. 1t is upon trial, along
with all its actors and all its sufferers, be-
fore the dread tribunal of history, and by
the Judgment therein hel eater to be pro-
fnounced Lam content to abide. sWhere
was Vaflandigham during the war;" may
be very pretty and telling rhetorical con
nundrum in the mouths of "loyal'' orators;
but it neither restores the Union, main
tains the Constitution, upholds liberty,
pays taxes, reduces the debt. stops stealing,
talleyiates distress, nor in any way reaches
the. wants and necessities of the people, or
tends to bring them relief from burdens too
grevious now to be borne. o,.4a..i..
Then, gentlemen, / have no word of per.
sonal denunciation for the Republican can
didates. 10 would not detracti one jot or
title from the fullest measure of military
glory to which General Grant may be just
" entitled / have not a syllable to utter
as to his personal habits. I care not what
his name is or may have been, by baptism
or usage. / know Ulysses S. Grant only
as the candidate of the Revolutionary Re-
publican party, and the representative of its
principles, its policies and its. purposes.
We are not choosing the ring-master of a
circus, nor the magister of feast,
nor the, keeper of the royal horses or
hounds; nor even the commanding
general of our armies to wage war
but the Chief Executive officer Of great
Republic to restore peace and prosperity
through the arts of craftsmanship, and I
know Ulysses S. Grant only as the symbol
ofnegro supremacy, debt, hard times, high
prices, low wages, gold without taxation
for the bondholder, rags and taxes for the
people, andlan imperial military despotism
instead Of the simple but benefcient Fed
eral Republic of our fathers. Beyond
these, General Grant, represents. nothing
except the cold lava of the burnt out vol.
cano of civil war. 20 p sii'a -
So much then. gentlemen as to candi-
dates. And now, for moment, as to plat.
forms.
PLATFORMS COMPARED.
The Chicago Platform Of 1868 exults
in the labors and fruits of the last seven
years of Republican rule, and promises 0
continuance of its blessings, such as they
are. The Democratic Platform OF 1868
recurring to the original and fundamental
principles of our Government, and pro
claiming the ancient and sound politics
Of the Democratic party, under which 70,
sixty years the country prospered, flourish
ed, was happy and became truly great, de-
nounces the ideas, the wrongs, the burdens
and the expressions of the present, and de
mands a change. 1t buries the dead past
with all it's discords and its differences, and
goes forth to meet the living present and
the quickening future, full of the hope and
promise Of better times; and rallies to its
support on terms of perfect equality every
element of opposition to the revolutionary
doctrines and practices which threaten
i,ho o,nr@hroy, ~ 10Th 4bo ;dao1 owl thr
actual Government which our fathers es
I tablished. = a31 ;5lf'a -
It begins with the declaration that its
trust is in the intelligence, patriotism and
discriminating justice of the American
people; and however for time this people
or any other people, may err or run into
madness or folly, or do or permit deeds o
outrage or injustice, yet, under Providence
no trust is more sure and steadfast than in
the sober second thought of an intelligent
civilized and religious people.
It recognizes the Constitution as thu
foundation al the Government and of it,
powers, and the limitation ofthem, and th'
sole bond of Union, and the guaranty o
the liberties ofithe people; and it admits o
; no fountain Of power higher than that in
strument; of no military necessity :" o
political necessity, and Of no pretence o
public safety justifying usurpation of owe
and the doing of acts for partisan purpo
SEES, outside Of the Constitution.
1t accepts as the only fixed results o
consequences of the war, the indissolubili
ty of the Union, and the final abolition Q
slavery by the voluntary action of tn
Southern States in Constitutional conven
ton assembled; but proclaims that tile OF
iginal theory and fact and nature and prac
i tice of the Government as Federal Unio
and not an Imperial Republic or Legisa
tive Oligarchy. just as in the beginning.
/ It demands the immediate restoration O
all the States to their rights in the Uniol
under the Constitution, and denounces TIL
military despotism and negro government
which reduce zen States to territories o
4 provinces, and exclude them from tn
Union except upon terms dishonorable t.
them, and destructive of the Fundamental