New-York tribune., 1870-08-26
TILE LESSON or DEFEAT.


The World admonishes its party against the
candor of its last two National Platforms, and
urges it to be more discreet and sinister here
after That our readers may see that we do
not exaggerate, we quote from its last leader
as follows:
"Withn the ensuing month, many state and more Con
gressiOna district conventions will be held by Demo
Gratis; and each in accordance with usage, will promu
gate declaration of principles. 1t the welfare
and success Of the party that these platforms be wisely
drawn and it may not be amss for Democrats to bestow
some reflection beforehand the points ii Is proper TO
introduce in such declaration.
"In the two last Presidential elections, the Democratic
party has been defeated by maadrot platforms In its
aim and purpose political platform eiectioneering
manfeso-a document intended first. to hold the party
together on a basis which all its members can accept
and secondly, TO furnish easy bridge on which cltl
zens outside of the organization can come over and
strengthen by renforcemens The tune should there
fore be pitched in low key. The declaration should
contain nothing which the whole party cannot readily
assent otherwise it Obstructs the first OF these Objects
and it should attempt to drive the wedge blunt end
foremost will repel instead Of winning proselytes
The Democratic National platforms of 1864 and 1868 IA
tally erred in both these particulars. They were not
broad enough for the party and contained no room
| for proselytes. The antWar plank OF the platform
of 1864 was felt damaging that the candidate vr
tually abured it in his letter accepting the nomination
There was a sefstufying incongruity in nominating
distinguished and popular general on an antWar plat
FORM In 1863 the platform and the candidate were also
out Of harmony Gov Seymour had, within the preced
ing three months made vigorous speeches against the
Greenback theory, and yet he was placed on platform
ndorsing it. The platform in direct collision with
the avowed opinions of the candidate But more fun
daenal objection to it that 1t was too narrow for
any party stand that expected within the ensuing
five months to be majority There was at that time no
Mo and Ohalhil "
that such majority could be created previous to the
election"
Comments by The Tribune.
We ask every discerning reader to judge
whether the above means other than this
"Do MT tell the People what you really be-
"lieve and mean to do; for this will insure
"your defeat and overthrow. In order to sue
"ceed, you must prevaricate and deceive"
The Democratic party was defeated in 1868,
says The World, because its platform was obi
ous to majority of the voters of the Union.
But did not that Platform embody that party's
convictions and purposes If not, why was it
adopted2 If it did, why not say frankly that
the party was defeated because it was found
out
That party is now hesitating between it's in
tincts and its apprehensiOns 1t would like to
insist on virtual reputation of the National
Debt: but that would insure its defeat; so it
snarls at the bondholders, fayors every pro-
ject calculated to diminish the Revenue, urges
State taxation of Federal loans in defiance OF
the National faith, and in every way shows Its
teeth without daring actually to bite. 1t wants
to preach a new anti-negro crusade and re-
insist that "This is White mans Government
but that is to render most of the late Slave
States invincibly Republican: So The World,
in its underhand fashion, opposes it. That
journal is for success at any price, and it
knows that success and frankness are for that
party incompatible. So it seeks to push its
candid brethren to the wall by warning them,
"If you tell the TRUTH we cannot win" Their
proper response would be, If we cannot win
"by telling the truth, then we ought not to
"win at alln