Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-05-08

President has been outragcously malgned by
them, and Mr.. Greeley himself has been
guilty of this sin. The Tribune has been
scurrilous, as all its readers know and lis
followers at Cincinnati every man who has
been turned out Of office for rascaE,y, or in.
competency, or in the necessary reduction Of
officials, or in the changes which Justice to
others required these and others united
in the cry" Down with Grant! ANYBODY
but Grant," To the praise Of Carl Schurz
be it said that he rebuked this spirit 10 his
address to the Convention and thus he rec.
ognized its prevalence in that body We be.
lieve that President Grant is not to be Ii.
belcd or lied out of the Presidential chair.
Abuse of him will but create sympathy and
friendship for him in the breasts of honest
and generous men, and bis reelection will in
their judgment be the only way to do him
Justice. The man who defeated the traitors
to the country will defeat the traitors to the
Republican party. Our FIRST impression Of
the nomination of Greeley and Gratz Brown
was, that il was a burlesque, in contempt Of
Adams aud Trumbull and Davis, aud Chase
of all statesmen and jurists. And in fact
so it is. Greeley, OF all men ever named
seriously for the office, is the least fitted for
IT, His good qualities are not in the line Of
craftsmanship; and his temperament, his er.
ratio and bad qualities, unfit him for any pub
p lie position excepting that of newspaper
writer n,ider strict guardianship. He failed
as member Of Congress he failed in cour.
age aud patriotism when the rebellion kas
seriously threatened, tamely proposing to have
the Union dissolved he has failed to secure
enough of the confidence Of the Republican
party in his own State to trust him as Gov
ernor or Senator he has Of late bedraggled
himself in the mire Of Tammany, aud dared
not wash himself clean even when the public
sentiment of New York City was demanding
justice for the men who have robbed and dis.
graced IT, With all the weakness and timid.
ity Of Buchanan, aud without his skill in d.
plomacy, his learning in matters of law and
craftsmanship, and his experience in public
affairs, Greeley would make even a more I'M
safe President than Buchanan. But he was
not nominated FOR an election only as
cats-paw; and he will simply show his weak
nese and lack both of principle and fidelity
to all former protested principles, by accept
ing the nomination.
The Platform was intended to be a subor.
dinato part in the game, and is bait only for
those who are simple enough to be hooked
and put on to the Democratic string. The
Democratic Platform is the one which is to
be enforced, if the Cincinnati Convention
shall not be abortive. The Cincinnati Plat
form is as follows;
We. the liberal republicans Of the United States
G in the national convention assembled at Cincn-
natl, proclaim the following principals as essenti-
al TO Just government
g list. We recognize the equality of all men be-
fore the law and hold that it is the duty of the
government in its dealings with the people to
5 mete out equal and exact justice to all Of what
ever nationality, race, color or persuasion, re!ig
Gus or political.
$ %. We pledge ourselves to maintain the union
Oithese States, emancipation and entranchisement
and to oppose any reopenng of the questions set
tied by the 18th, 18th and 18th amendments of
r. the Constitution.
81 We demand the immediate and absolute re-
moyal of all disabilities imposed on account Oft the
rebellion, which was finally subdued seven years
ago, believing that universal amnesty will re-
D suit in a complete pacihcation in all sections of
the country.
ith Local self.government with IMPARTIAL suf
: irnu will Uuord the rohfa IF oil eff
i, securely than any centralized power. The public
welfare requires the supremacy Of the civil over
the military authority, and freedom of person un-
A der the protection of the habeas corpus We de-
mand for the individuals the largest liberty con
sstent with public order for State sci f. government
and for the nation return to the methods OF
peace and the constitutional limitation of
I power.
4 9Th The civil service Of the government has be-
come mere instrument of partisan tyranny and
Q personal ambition, and an object of selfishness
4 1t lisa scandal and reproach upon free institutions
and breathes Generalization dangerous to the
n perpetuity Of republican government We
n therefore regard through reform of the civil
service as one OF the most pressing necessities of
e the hour that honesty. capacity and fidelity con-
# sttute the only valid claims to public employment;
that the Offices Of the government cease to be a
n matter OF arbitrary fay0ritism and patronage, and
n that public station may again become n post Of
honor, and 1t IS impemtiyey required that no
~ iTeSluent snail ne candidate Tor reelection.
q 9th. We demand system of federal taxation
which shall not unnecessarily interfere with the
II industry of the people, and which shall provide
l. the means necessary TO pay the expenses of the
government economically administered, the pen
T. sions' the interest on the public debt and mod
crate reduction annually Of the principal thereof
And recognizing that there are in our midst hon.
i est but irreconcilable differences of opinion with
l. regard % the respective systems of protection and
free trade, we remit the discussion of the subject
: to the people in their congressional districts
and to the decision of Congress thereon whplly
free from executive interference or dicaton.
y 9TH The public credit must be saeredly main
n tanned, and we denounce reputation in every
form
y eth. A speedy return to specie payments is de-
manded alike by the highest consideration of com
mercal morality and honest government.
I 9th We remember with gratitude the hero
ism and sacrifices Of the soldiers and sailors Of
the republic, and no act of shall ever detract
from their justly earned fame or the full records
q of their patriotism.
10th. We are opposed to all further grants of
lands TO railroads or other corporations. The
G public domain should be held sacred to actual
settlers.
= llth. We hold that it is the duty Of the gov
eminent in its intercourse with foreign nations to
cultivate their friendship BY treating them on fair
and equal terms, regarding it alike dishonorable
D either to demand what is not right or to submit
TO what is wrong.
l9th. For the promotion and success Of these
vital principles and the support Of the candidates
nominated by this convention, we invite and cor
daily welcome the cooperation of all patriotic
( citizens, without regard to previous political
affiliations.
As the best evidence of the wortblessness
of the Platform aud the foolishness Of Gree.
ley, we now give Greeleys Interpretation
from the Tribune of May 4th Al
We make no comments on the ticket presented
yesterday at Cincinnati. The people, without
distinction Of party, arc considering H. and xils
, in due time indicate their Judgment thereof The
platform has been TO us throughout an object Of
much greater solieitude than the nominations,
and our interest has been centered in what should
be said bearing on protection and fee trade
There Is an honest and serious difference among