The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-04-15
The Need Of II National Platform.

policy which has been content with
! simple opposition to the mischicNous
schemes Of fRadic,lis,n, without vcntur-
ing upon a positive, aggressive dScl;,-
ration of principles, has already endured
too long. The enemy has been permit
ted to wage his internal wartarcs and
split himself into factions. without So
curing to the Democracy that material
reinforcement ofStrcngti, which would
inevitably attend their wise, practical
use Of the opportunity. The disordrred
and disatfectcd hosts have been rather
disposed to strike for some new, third
party organization, than to merge them
selves, or enter into any alliance with Il
political minority that has simply an
nonnccd hostility 10 Rcpuhiic"nism and
its administration as their platform.
So will it continue to be until some
national authoritative exposition be
| made OF Democratic policy for The
future, to which all men, of whatever
antcccdentS, shall be urged to subscribe,
and thus, with unanimity Of accord, en-
ter upon the forthcoming struggle. 70
prevent such a coalition of political Gle
ments and restore if practicable the har-
mony ofthc Republican party, is one Of
the main motives that inspire the South
ern legislation of Congress. 1t is con-
st;ntly asserted that the Democracy of
the South are still at cnmity with the
constituted authorities of the Govern
! mcnt; that the Democracy elsewhere
are i'll full sympathy with their disioy-
atty and that Democratic success
would only result III :, restoration of
Southern supremacy dangerous to the
peace and welfare of the country. The
! influence of these false and ,m;Oun,lcd
arguments are felt far and wide, and de-
tcrs even those who have lost faith in
tho administration and its congressional
instruments, from following out their
liberalism to it's legitimate conclusion
i, union with the Democratic party as
the only hope of our future prosperity.
! Many of these truant Republicans have
been accustomed SO long toa-,sociatc the
! very name OF Democracy with all that
is evil under the sun. that they still hug
the delUsiVc expectation Of rcg;lilling
power to themselves by defeating the
denomination of General Grant and
healing with some compromise c;,ndi-
date the widening rupture OF their party.
1t is high time that men were dis
abused of these errors and nliulc to un-
dcrst;lnd that in all the attributes of
| natiOnalism, the Democratic PARTY of
| to-day stands alone aud prc-eminent-
the party Of the UniOn--of law and Or
| der-Of equal ri ghts-of constitutional
inviolability; and the sooner this posi-
| ton is assumed, the better shall We be
armed for the contest before us. We
must abandon Il merely negativ" atti-
tudc, content with simply denying the
justice or dcnouncing the follies of Rad
ical legislation, and adopt That broad
sharply defined policy upon all public
questions, that shall command the at
tention of the people, and gather the
multitude to its support.
1t is understood that the Democrats
at Washington, approaching at last the
| Importance of Il forward movement,
arc rapidly maturing their plans, and
| that the platform embodied in tho form
| of a resolution of instruction TO Con-
gross, will embrace the following lead
| ing features, rs dccluratory Of the na-
tiOnal principles and purposes of the
party: TO provide for the Immediate
reduction of the public expenditures in
all the departments OfthC Government ::
| To abolish all sinccurc offices and the
system of collecting the revenue by IN
| formers, and spies: To restore to the
| people OF the States and their local Gov
| rrnn,cnts the rights originally possessed
I by them under the constitution: TO
| abolish governmental paper money and
| restore the only constitutional currency
gold and silver: TO reduce the army
to !, peace footing and abolish y system
| recently established Of employing mill
| tary officers in the discharge Of civil
| duties: To provide against the tccu-
| mutation and retention Of large sums
| Of money in the puhlic treasury, by
| which the interests Of the people arc
tsubOrtinatcd to government intlucnc"
| and made dependent upon the caprice
| and personal views of the head of that
department: To prevent the purchase
and sale of the public credit by the Soc
| rotary of the Treasury, at his own OPP
ton, with no other control than his in
diViduaf and personal will: 70 bring
the President and his cabinet advisers
under the authority Of law, making
them Ohcdicnt to its provisions and
alike with others subject to its penal
tics: 10 restore to the Southern State
and people, peace, prosperity and con
tcntmcnt, which can only he accom-
pfishcd by II cessation of VindictiVt
legislation and military interference
f and II recognition of their equal rights
including Scif~ONcrnmcnt and pOiitica
equality with the other States of Tho
Union: TO Orcvivc American commerce
To restore American credit: 70 re
inauguratc American Republican sim
plicity in the administration of public
affairs, and to aid, by aii proper iCg;i
and constitutional authority, in tho fut
development of the agricultural, min
crai and commercial resources OF tn
country.
There is no doubt but that these prin
cipiC' are now entertained by three
fOurtliS of the American pcOpic; bV al