The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-06-27
The Rad,cal-PIatf0rm.

.,..'~,e' The Radical-PIatform.
The Radical State platform contains
nothing novel or startling, and is just
about what every one who had thought
of it at all was expecting 1t affirms
with much emphasis such doctrines as no
one opposes, and skilfully covers up
under vague gcneralities and double
meaning phrases, or wholly ignores, all
questions in regard to which the party is
known to be divided, To this there is
a single exception, in the unqualified en-
dorsement of GRANT, OH which we have
commented elsewhere
The first resolution fairly slops over
with impudent self glorifcation. The
trainers of this doubtless acted on the
maxim that ''f 4 man blow not his own
trumpet the same shall not be blown."-
1t is sort of an appeal for lifr, such as
worthless old crow-hait of horse
might make: LET me live for the good
] have done"
In the next plank they firmly resolve
that they never, never will alter the re-
cent amendments to the Constitution
The "never" in this case meaning so
long as the negroes shall vote the Radi-
cal ticket. 1t is perhaps worth noticing
in this conneXion that while they are
resolutely determined that these amend
ments shall be ',jcalously defended and
enforced, now, henceforth and forever"
they carefully ref rain from promising to
pay the slightest regard to the remainder
OF the Constitution.
Resolution number three is upon the
tariff, but the copy now before US is so
jumbled that we can make nothing of it
whatever. When we receive correct
copy we will pay our respects to it.
The fourth resolution endorses GRANT
and wastes much paper in a frantic at
tempt to furnish excuses for doing 50.
Resolution number five condemns the
squandering OF public lands on corpora
tions and monopolies, and concludes
with a very transparent little falsehood.
Gentlemen Radicals, if you are oppos-
ed to squandering the peoples home
steads on corporations and monopolies,
please explain why it is that at every ses-
sion of Congress since you have had the
power to do so, you have lavished mil
lions upon millions of acres of the very
choicest of these lands upon the most
corrupt rings ever organized to plunder
the people? If you had been opposed
to this rascality-if you had not your
selves been the authors of it-all the
best homesteads would not now be in
the grasp of the monopolists.
They say in resolution six that they
are in favor of civil service reform.
Wonder if they are? If SO, why
didn't they inaugurate it long ago? Who
prevented it? They have had full and
exclusive power these many years to es-
tablish reform in the civil service, and
yet year after year they refuse to insti-
tute it, and year after year they resolve
in their platforms that they are ardently
in favor Of it.
They heartily endorse GRANT for ap-
pointing Commissioners under the So
called civil service act In the first place
GRANT couldn't we'll avoid appointing
them, and in the second place the COM
missioners have never done any thing of
consequence, and don't propose to.
Resolution number seven is simply
bosh. ...-,.
The platform concludes with an en-
dorsement of HAYES course as Cover
nor. The Commercial said some time
ago that Governor of Ohio has moth
ing to do but write q thanksgiving proc.
lamation once a year, and pardon his
friends out of the penitentiary. 1t is
very easy, therefore, to see what this
resolution sndorses-two proclamations
and the pardon Of a dozen or two horse
thieves,