The Portland daily press., 1872-06-13
Do Platforms Amount to Anything

Do Platforms Amount to Anything?
The other day the PRESS congratulated its
readers on the bold, decisive stand taken by
the Philadelphia Convention in favor of la
Dor. 1t seemed to us to mark new era in
history. Afterwards, however, our enthusi-
asm was little dashed by noticing in con-
temporary the expression of a doubt as to
whether platforms amount to anything any
way" If platforms do not amount to ''any-
thing anyway" the four or five distinct recog-
nitons of the rights of labor in the Philadel-
phia resolutions are of no more consequence
than if they had appeared in one of George
Francis Trains curiously comprehensive man
ifestoes. But don't platforms amount to some
thing, after all? Sometimes it appears as if
they did not. 1t used to be thought in this
State that the annual renewal by the
Republican party of its devotion to ''the
great principle of prohibition was fine
piece Of humor, or, at best, mere matter of
form. The very men who every year con-
scented to the insertion of the time honored
formula in the platform sometimes had their
little laugh about it afterwards. Occasionally
they Smiled about it in more WAYS than
one, being immensely pleased at the neat
equivocation in the word "renew''-an am
biguity of which they made the same use
that school boys do of mental reservations
when they are sharply questioned by the
teacher. Meanwhile this annual ceremony,
supplementing the stringent law which was
all the time in force, seemed to have but lit
tie efficacy. The law was, except during
eyanescent spasms, a dead letter in all the
large cities and towns in the State but Lew
iston. And last year the committee on reso-
buttons at our State Convention held in this
city was apparently SO much impressed with
the futility of the oft-repeated declaration
that they left it out altogether, but it was
cheertully restored by the convention on the
very earnest representations of Rev. Mr.
Randall, and Col. Shaw of Gov Perham's
staff. No doubt there were many SNUG
politicians in this as in previous conventions
who thought that they were all the while
playing fine comedy. But there were 9TH
ers there who knew better-who yery well
understood the value of this reiteration of
the theoretical correctness of the prohibitory
principle. They knew that it was a certain
index and register of a tangible, substantial
public feeling that was every year gaining
strength, and that would one day deliver the
State from its bondage to the rum power
otherwise why did sagacious politicians, who
mad no particular convictions on the subject
feel the necessity of making the declaration /?
There is no explanation except that they felt
mstinctively dim consciousness that a moral
question which has taken firm hold on the
masses OF the people is that which gives vic
tory and perpetuity to parties. Politicians do
not make political capital out of moonshine.
LII can't be done. The attempt to do it al
ways fails, as we have hundred times seen.
IN those Democratic platforms which portray
the tyranny and corruption of their political
opponents and their own immaculate purity.
This year the renewal will not be a mai
ter of form. For in the last twelve months a |
miracle has happened. The law has been |
enforced. 1t was thought that there would |
be an uprising of the people to oppose it, |
But, contrary to all expectation, and to the |
infinite establishment of its friends and foes |
alike there has been an uprising of the people /
to support it. The redemption of people
was never 50 sudden-so peaceful. Hardly a
tongue ways against it. Where violence was
expected, there has been quiet and often |
ready acquiescence. And during the few |
short weeks of the reign of temperance the |
effects of abstinence have been so marked, so |
universal and so undeniable, that the most |
violent theoretical opponents of prohibition
have been compelled to acknowledge its vic
tory by their silence. Better still, the moral
cooperation with the law has transcribed all
bounds of party. Though it is lamentable to
reflect that the Democratic organization will |
in all probability still maintain its traditional
hostility to all ''sumptuary laws it is most
encouraging to find individual Democrats en-
tering with great spirit into the revival.
There are no more eloquent temperance ora
tors in Maine than E. F. Pillsbury and T. Fl.
Hubbard. In good time we have no doubt
they will take their party with them, and
then the temperance question will no longer
be in politics.
SO here is one case at least where plat
form has amounted to something. And we
believe that the Philadelphia platform will, in
time, bear the same good fruit. The
Republican party after once inscribing pop
ular watchword on its banner has never yet
erased it, but has every year repeated il with
new emphasis and has never abandoned it
till all that it represented was triumphantly
accomplished. 1t may be that there were at
Philadelphia political traders who thought it
would be "a good thing to come out strong
for labor reform. That they thought so
shows how deep is the conviction of the peo-
pie that the relations of labor and capital
need readjustment in the interest of the for
mer. We believe it will be the mission of the
Republican party to give that conviction prac-
teal effect.