The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-11-07
Carl scLurz's Platform.

lion of the Republican party Of which
he is the recognized representative This
platform is drawn up in forRb and is as
follows: :
/. The protection of thctight of ev-
cry citizen, in accordance with the Con
stitution as it is.
2 The di>countenance of useless agi-
alton Of past issues
;. The restoration of fraternal feel
ngs and relations with the people of
he North.
4. The dissemination of constitution
Il principles, and the medication OF an
abiding raith in the genius OF
free institutions, and their eventual sue
cess in all quarters of the globe
5. The maintenance of law and or
der.
6. The promotion. ard encourage
ment cf immigration. 80
Z. The establishment OF an efficient
system Of general education.
g. The exposition of and strict adhe-
renee to the principles of local selfgov-
ernment and the promotion among the
people of those feelings and convictions
which will cause them, through the op-
Grafton of local self, government, to es-
tablish state OF things which will no
longer furnish reason or pretext for
the interference of the central govern
ment in local affairs.
8 General amnesty.
TO- Opposition TO repudiation in cv-
cry form. .rs->,.--t'e
IL, The modification of the present
tariif system to revenue basis.
l2 Reduction of taxation.
13 Civil service REFORM and
Lastly, we pledge ourselves, from this
time forward, to give our support to-
men,of epriehtness, merit, and liberal
ity, regardless of,palitical ;,anteeedents,
believing that the tine has come for all
men of progress to turn their backs up
on the past and to grasp manfully the
duties and possibilities Of ue future.
Now of these thirteen propositions
{ for the 'lastly" is simply the authors
method of carrying the others QUIT
there is not one which is not in substan-
tial harmony with all the Democratic
State platforms made within the last
year. What, therefore, can be the ne
cesity or propriety of organizing, as
Mr.. ScHURz wishes to, new party to
incorporate these measures into our
government?
The Democratic party is now vigor-
ously laboring to accomplish the very
results so powerfully advocated by MIR.
ScHURz, and, with or without his aid,
will shortly accomplish them. They are
not only in accordance. with justice and
right but they are deeidwlly, to the in
terest of the people at large, even il
viewed from no higher sstand point than
that of pecuniary advantage. Voters
may he slow to perceive and slower to
acknowledge anything good outside of
their { wn party organization, but event
ually right will prevail over prejudice,
and justice will be done.
There are hundreds Of Republicans
in Monroe county, there are tens" of
thousands in the State of Ohio, there
are hundreds of thousands in the Union,
who if questioned upon Mr.. ScHURz' S
measures will cordially assent to every
one; and the more candid of them will
just as cordially agree that. the Demo
cratic party seeks power for the purpose
of carrying them out; and further cor
daily concede that the Radical .'tparty
organization, by its professions and its
practices, is opposed to at least two
thirds Of them.
Why then do rot Mr.. ScHuRz and
those who believe with him unite with
the Democratic party at. once, and thus
secure the immediate success of their
favorite measures Not because of the
anteeedents of the Democratic party
which they do not approve; because
they efectually preclude themselves
from urging this objection by "discoun-
tenancing the useless agitation of past
issues, aud by pledging their support
to men regardless of political antece-
dents"
What then is their reason for not
adopting the most obvious and direct
means of establishing their measures
MIR. ScnuRz: in a speech made else
where,gave what is doabtless the reason
which SO far las kept him back.
liz an address to the Senate, wher
closely pressed upon this point, he sta
ted that if he should go over to the
Democratic party, he feared that but g
small portion ofatlose, who believed
with him would follow him
He thinks it would be much easier tc
carry his followers into new party thar
TO induce them to unite with ain old par
ty advocating the same principles, This
is a virtual confession that partisan pref
udice,s and thate 'aisfie, prevents the
friends of these measures from uniting
But there is no possible room between
the two leading parties fora formidable
third party. Tie ProFiibitionists ant
Working Mems organizations concla
sively prove this. And if the advo
Gates OF seiorm are to triumph through
a union of the Democrats. and libera
Republicans, it is no disrespect to tht
latter to say that they must come to The
Democratic party-that it is more reas
enable that the one tenth should sacr;
flee their prcjudiccs than that the nine
tenths should sacrifice iheirs-that Ma