The union Democrat., 1870-07-16

one of these State-prison wretches, whom the
Prison Commission are supplying with food
and clothing are good men for goodness
sake, and not for the selfgair that goodness
brings. have been, to use popular phrase,
through the mill few times, and round 1t
often and have taken advantage of these cir
cumambulations to frequently look in at the
window. I'll give you scme ofmy experience
in the mandatory of platforms. | was a
member of committee once to draw mp u
platform-I'll not give you the time or place
because sufficient interval has not elapsed
T to go into details. We assembled-three
present out of the FIVE. was ordered to 60
to work, for the young man, you know, has
always to do the work. The Col. called the
Major out to Misunderstanding politicians are
always Majors or Colonels, or some such
grand thing, and also regular imbibers-
stating that they would return about the
time had furnished. Oppressed with the
responsibility of the task before me | went
to work with great solemnity. In due time
the awful document was produced. / was
unsophisticated then, and its plain truth
stood forth in bold and positive language.
The Col. and Maj. returned. / read, they
laughed "Well,n said /, gentlemen what
do YOU think of it." replied The COL, "why,
it would be a millstone on the Party 'sneckl'
"But,o responded | with little warmth,
for nv pride was somewhat wounded, "are
not these the true principles of the party ?"
/ shall never forget the answer of the Col.
1t contains in language more remarkable for
brevity than elegance the whole policy of
platform making. / must give it to you
emphatic acords and all, the omission of q
syllable would ruin its force principles be
damnedn-the ladies must pardon me-''we
want to win." Gentlemen, twin" is the
leading iGea, principles and platforms must
be subseryient to it.
WE SHOULD NOT PUT OUR FAITH IN PLATFORMS.
Considering then the way platforms are
manrfactured-the end kept in view-we
should not pnt our faith in them. Thistruth
is forcing itself upon the public. There is a
growing disregard for platforms. in fact peo-
pie seldom allude to them. The majority l
will venture TO assert do not read the platform
of their respective party; those by whom
they are principally read are opponents,
whose only object is to obtain weapons of at
tack. Experience has taught the truth to
the people, that platforms, as now gotten up,
are not to be relied upon. They are begin
ming to look more 20 the record of the party
and the character of the men put mp for Of
fice In order to do this impartially they
must not only disregard platforms, but also
have very little respect for the work of
NOMINATING CONVENTIONS.
Ny friends, don't for a moment imagine
that in referring to these matters | have in
view, what may have occurred in any parti-
cular county, of the State. No, no. | am
speaking in general. If had, would in
deed appear to be kissing the rod, that
| smote myself. / repeat sgain my remarks
are intended to apply generally.
will now give you some very good rea-
sons why we should not have full faith in the
work of nominating conventions; onei is, that
presuming upon the strength of the party,
they will place upon the ticket men both un-
worthy and unfit. and with the cry of "Stick
to the nominees" hope to carry them success
fully through the election. Gentlemen | do
not mean to say that every time the nominees
of party are defeated they are bad men.
That would be administering to myself rath-
er severe blow, but what mean is this, that
everytime thev are bad men they should
be defeated. You cannot have pure water
conveyed through an unclean pipe, you can
not administer the laws of Heaven with de-
wills for officers, aud so you cannot conduct a
good government with bad rulers. You will
hear the cry of measures not men" l tell
you we want
MEN NOT MEASURES.
We are not at loss for good laws. We
have an abundance of them. What we stand
in need of is good men to administer them.
Suppose we were reduced to the alternative
of choosing between good laws with bad ad-
mnistrators, and bad laws with good admin
istrators, which should we select? Don
YOU think it would be more prudent to pre-
fer the bad laws with good men. than the
good laws with bad men? There are not
grounds for two opinions upon this point.
think we would all select the good rulers with
bad laws. Look at the history of the world
and see if the fiourishing periods of kingdoms
and empires is not to be attributed rather to
wise rulers than to good laws? Upon the
other hand see if the decaying times in these
same governments is not due rather to NAL
administration than to pernicious laws? But
that this is so patent a fact hundreds of iilus-
trations from history might be cited. Another
thing is to be born in minds, that where you
have good rulers you will soon have good
laws. 1t is becoming notorious shame
HOW NOMINATIONS ARE MADE.
IF the party is in the minority then there
little or no contest for the nomination. The
mighty medicine-men of the party meet,
and their first object is to eonjure up an
available candidate. Availability is the
standard when the party is in the minority
The literal meaning of the word, availability
conveys but faint idea of what it signifies
in this connection. Availability in candi
dates means one, against whom there car
be brought the least objection. He is never
prominent man in the party. He is never
man that has been positively noted for any
thing. He is rather an individual with some
little notoriety, that has never been guilty o
doing or saying anything. to which any class
of people might object. His notoriety is o
the kind, that might arise from his having
acted as figure-head for the party in the ca
pacity of chairman of some Of its conventions
or meetings. Or his availability may run il
another direction. He may be the represen
tative Of certain body or clique, which th'
party in the minority wish to capture. Thii
body of which he is the representative may
have been badly treated by the opposite party
at the preceding election, and now the policy
of the minority party is to throw them tins
bait and endeavor to draw them into theil
4 A.. u t. - Al l l,-