The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-06-06
Our State Platform.


We publish elsewhere the platform
adopted by the Democratic State Cons
vention, n,held at Columbus, on last Thurs
da& The. Copyention WAS the largest
ever held IN sthe State, by any party,4and
was especially remarkable for the great
number of distinguished Democrats who
took part in its deliberations.
The platform was the chief topic of
discussion from the arrival Of the first
delegates, serera, days before the Con
vention met, up to the time of its adnp
ton. 1t is the joint product of nearly
all the foremost men in cur party, and
has had more thought employed upon it
than any platform ever before adopted
in our State
1t is not unusual in State Conventions
for platforms to be adopted unanimous
ly, but this fact, instead Of Icing an evil
derce t!at the platform is universally
accepted, is more frequently an evidence
that nobody cared much what was in it.
But this platform hal to undergo the
keencst criticisms and after an exhaustive
discussion it WIS atl'hpted, on call of
counties, by a vote of about three to
one.
1t will he seen that the leading fea-
ture Of these resolutions lis a clean ept-.
ting loose from dead issues. While the
principles of the party are fully main
tanned and firmly adhered to, there is a
we'll defined purpose to cease threshing
old straw which yiel,ls nothing. We
want square contest with the Radicals
on the living issues of the hour, uncn-
numbered by the debris of measures
which belong to the past.
That the recent amendments are re
cognized by every department Of the
general government, and by every State,
whether Republican or Democratic, as a
! part OF the Constitution of the country,
is fact which is disputed by nobody
The Democrats denouncing the means
by which two at least of these amend
ments were ratified, agree to accept them
as part and parcel Of the Constitution,
to be subject, Of course, to the Demo-
cratic principle of strict construction
1t is not to be understood from this that
the Democracy agree that the two latter
amendments should ever have been iii
corporated into the Constitution, even
by the most uhcxceptionable means but
they ae part of the Constitution, and
the party true to its devotion to that in
strument, will repudiate no part Of it.
1t will be perceived,l too, in readins
the platform that it expressly commits
the party to the repeal of the obnoxious
legislation which Congress has foisted
upon the country upon pretcnsc Of car
rying out the amendments The Demo-
Gratis expressly deny that those amend
ments authorize any such outrageous
and villainous laws But on the contra.
ry, that under proper construction of
those amendments, they will become
wholly powerlcss for evil.
Upon this subject the platform is sub
stantially in harmony with the address
signed by all the Democratic Congress
men, and endorsed by the Democracy of
several of the foremost States in the
Union. 1t undoubtedly stands squarely
upon the ground on which will be fought
the Presidential election of 1872.
As to the remainder of the platform
we have not at present room for COM
ment. 1t will be found to present the
well-known views of the party.
Taken as whole We are fully con-
vinced that the more the platform is read
and reflected upon, the more it will COM
mend itself to the Democracy and the
people generally. If there are a few ex-
treme men whose first impulses are un-
favorable, comprehensive survey of all
the circumstances and surroundings can
not fail to remove their objections