The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-09-23
From the GAINESVILLE Gazette.
The Democratic Platform.

uuered the rebellion they at the same
time captured the whole Democratic par
ty, and 1T seems that the Democratic State
Convention which met recently in AIilWau
kee, was disposed to confess judgment
upon number of issues that have been
in dispute between the two great parties
of the country for some time. It is a
pleasant thing for party who goes into
court to have the witnesses on the other
side, testify in his behalf and this is just
What the Democratic platform does in sew
eral particular instances. For example,
the Republican party has for years been
trying to abolish slavery, and the scheme
has been opposed even to the shedding of
blood, the plunging of the nation into
fearful civil war, and the creation of an
almost incalculable debt, by the Demo
eatic party which now in Wisconsin re-
solves g that the Democratic party of
Wisconsin rejoices in the extinction of
slavery in the prompt and general ac-
quiesence of the southern people in the
results of the war; in every well-direct
ed eff ,rt for the enlightenment and ele
vation Of oppressed humanity at home
Iani2abroad, and n every measure com
pafibic with good government and good
order
Here is practical, and humble surren-
der of one Of the cardinal points in the
old iemocrtic creed. The question of the
perpetuety offthe institution of slavery
nsed to be one of the compromises of
the constitution" guaranteed by the wis
dom Of our fathers and was the refrain
of every democratic song from the days
of Calhoun to the rebellion of JET. Davis.
For fifty years the creed of every sound
and reliable democract told him that ne
gro slavery, as it existed in the south, was
not only constitutional, legal and had the
sanction of Holy Writ, but that it was
condition infinitely the best for the magger!
and no member of that party could be
trusted to be elected to the office of seal
er of weights and measures IN country
town in the North, who was, not sound on
the African goose. Noec, the times have
changed and men nave changed with
them, and "the Democratic party of Wis
consin rejoices in the extinction of slave
ry!" Yes, it "rejoices" in the consumma-
ton of q work that it zealously and
blindly fought for fifty years-summon-
| ing to its help every accessory on earth or
| in hell, and as last resort to save it's
black idol, lighted the terrible torch of
civil war and deluged the land with fra
ternal blood Let US hope that in this
penitent fit of rejoicing" it will shed a
| few tears of regret over the obduracy and
fndishness Of spirit with which it has
alwas opposed the abolition of slavery.
We thank the Democracy of Wisconsin,
| in behalf of the anti-slavery men of the
country, for this tardy acknowledgement
of their valuable services in the greatest
and noblest of causes.
But the Democratic platform does not
stop with rejoicing overthe extinction
of an institution that the party gave its
/ life long energiee to perpotuatc, until 1r
declares its anxiety to broaden the basis
of suffrage and extend the blessings of free
institutions to all classes of people" Here
is another mighty stride forward. All re-
member what q fight was made by the
Democracy against the extention OF the
right of suffrage to men of color in this
State, and now, while the Ethiopian has
not changed his skin, the Democratic
party has changed its spot, by leaving its
old spot and broadening the basis of stuff
rage, so much as to come over and take
q seat beside the niger" thus acknowl-
lodging at last that. the colored individu-.
tai is "a man and brother Will wonders
ever cease, or can any good come out of
| Nazareth? The next step will be to in
corporate into their platform the startling
declaration that miscegenation is not so
bad a thing after all, and hereafter no col
ored man need refuse to vote the Demo
cratic ticket in w isconsin for fear that
the party will go back on him if it gets
and take the ballot from him,
because they are pledged to broa den not
contract, the basis of suffrage AsEE
This is the second admission in the
platform thst the Republicans have been
right and the Democracy wrong There
are.others as marked and apparent that
will pass in review as the canvass pro-
crosses, the most notable Of which is the
resolve, That we believe the honor and
welfare OF the nation alike require the
rapid and complete extinction of the ma
tlonal debt by full payment of the prin.
clpal and interest thereof in exact accor-
dance with the term of the contract be-
tween the government and It's creditors"
Here they agree with the fanatical Re-
/ publicans again, and the whole platform
IS decidedly progressive one for that
party to put forth It was framed espe-
cially for this latitude and would be IN
tremendously kicked out of a Democrat
ic Convention in any State where that
party is not in a hopeless minority. Ma
ny things in this platform go TO corrobo.
rate and justify the wisdom, prudence
and craftsmanship of the Republican
party and stand as witnesses, unwilling
though they be, to the truth
es------ saer
Death of Prominent Men.
Last week witnessed the death of three