The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-09-01

A Good Platform.
Under the above caption the Richmond>
D;spatch alludes to the platform of the
STANDARD as follows:
eff there has been paper in the United States,
for four years past, more thoroughly Radical
than the Raleigh Standard we have not been ac--
uuaipted with it. its loyalty was never doubt
ed, we suppose, by any man calling himself Re-
publican and If any of that persuasion desired to
20 further than the Standard in the line of Re-
publicanism he would have failed many attempt
to do so.
Now here is the platform presented In the last
1--WE are opposed to the test oath and to all
DISTINGUISHING laws. ~ s
"The war is past.
eff the Government had wished to punish
those who rebelcd against it, it should have done
so Immediately that the rebellion was subdued.
at should have punished the leaders-the men
who inaugurated the rebellion. -. g.. ~.
"This the Government did not 90.
"Itpunished no one for the crime OF treason.
-Four years have elapsed since the close OF
the war The majority of the States lately IN re-
bellion have been admitted to the Union. Their
citizens have the same rights as the citizens OF
other States.
at is now too late to inaugurate punishment
for crimes committed so long ago.
"Then there should be no test oaths, no dis
Embellishments; for the Government, by its own
action, has virtually declared that treason shall
not be punished.
That's good enough for us; and as it is good
enough for Governor HOLDEN, i'll the name OF
all that is just and wise who can object to it?
That platform generally adopted, by people and
spnpo iof olv fore harmony
and peace to this country. We believe it is
adopted by yfussiztAs of the people. The party
who opposes 1t must be doomed" tFi
This is the opinion Of one of the leading
WALKER papers, and paper that was
formerly leading Democratic journal. The
STANDARD, the leading Republican paper of
North Carolina, offers platform so liberal
that the Dispatch can see nothing to
object to.
Yet this platform is Republican in its
strictest and truest sense 1t is Universal
Suffrage and Universal Amnesty. ha7.a
We earnestly believe with the Dispatch
that the general adoption of this platform
l by the entire country will restore peace and
harmony. We also believe that the Dispatch
speaks truly when it says that this platform
is favored by five-sixths of the people.
We wish to see those measures prevail
which will soonest heal the wounds caused
by the war, and reunite the people.
In advocating these measures of peace
and Justice we are not abandoning one jot
or title of Republicanism. On the con-
trary we are pursuing that course which we
believe to be just and right, and for the
best interests of the Republican party.
We wish to see the Union Union of good
feeling-not Union of hate. We wish to
see no citizen disfranchised.
If one man is DISTINGUISHED all should be.
There should be no partiality. The govern
ment has refused to punish-it should then
forgive.
We are not, however, in favor of putting
into Office the men who before misled the
people. We are notin favor of trusting them
to that extent until they prove themselves
worthy of trust But we wish to see them
have every right possessed by any Other
citizen.
| If they opposed the party to which we
belong we should oppose them for Office
| just as we should have done before the war
No party can be expected to favor men hos.
tile to it. Hence when these men shall
have their rights as citizens of the country
| if they do not do what we believe to b.
right we will oppose them to the best Of
our ability, for we shall not believe them fl
to hold office.
Their right to every privilege enjoyed by
any citizen we advocate, purely upon prin
ciples of justice without the slightest ad
mixture OF politics.
| We say enfranchise these men because
1t is JUSTICE to do so.
| When they are enfranchised and have thu
same rights as other citizens we have moth
ing more do with them, except politically.
| If they are of our party we will support
them when they prove themselves worthy O
support.
If they oppose us we will do our best t.
beat them.
This is our position upon the amnesty
question, and we leave it to the peopie-Re
publicans and Democrats-to say if it il
not perfectly fair. /.