Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1872-10-24
The Cincinnati Platform.

complains that he IS personally SIAN
dered, but that the platform upon
which he stands is not discussed.
Whether he is slandered by saying
that he holds the views upon which |
secession was attempted we elsewhere
consider. Whether he ISLANDERS the
Republican party is virtually declar-
ing its policy to be one of hate-a
policy of which he was one of the
most strenuous adEocates-his own
conscience must decide. Let US now,
however, discuss the platform upon
which he stands.
It's first plank is declaration of the
principles of equality, which the Re
publicans have always believed and
have placed in the law. and which the
party which has nominated Mr.. Gree
ley has always despised and opposed,
and hates and opposes to-day in the
Southern States.
The second plank is pledge to do
what the Republicans are doing and
have always done.
The third demands immediate re-
moval of all disabilities on account of
the rebellion. The Republicans have
already removed all of them, except
the ineligibilitY to office of some one
or two hundred persons whose perjury
was especially monstrous. The same
spirit which led the Republicans to
declare in 1868 that every disability
would be removed as fast as these
wisely could be, and which inspired
the President to use general amnesty,
will soon remove this last relic of the
rebellion. Meanwhile not a single
drop of blood has been shed by the
Republican party as penalty, not
single man has been exiled; no re-
venge has been taken; but equal
rights have been secured-and will be
maintained-and with the exception of
the ineligibility the laws of the United
States are everywhere equal.
The fourth plank asserts the advan-
tage of "local government" The
phrase is Intentionally vague, but
properly understood, it is something
that all Americans approve. 1t also
demands a return to the methods of
peace That is also phrase meant to
| imply that the Republican party is
.warlike, to which Mr.. Greeley's arti-
cles in the Tribune are sufficient an
swer. There is peace to-day every
where, and it is because of Republican
ascendency. The only event that
could seriously impair the confidence
upon which peace rests would be the
election by the Democratic party of a
President holding Mr.. Greeley's theory
of the Union.
The fifth plank demands civil service
reform, which is declared to begin in
one term for the President. This is
no principle; it is shallow cry. l
assumes that the only motive to th'
abuse of patronage is re- election. Thi'
is, however, but one motive among
many. The plank shows that thu
real evil of the civil service system
was not comprehended by those who
made it; and it's sincerity is sufficient
ly illustrated by the fact that Mr.
Greeley declared at Portland his faitl
in the doctrine that to the victers be
long the spoils.
The sixth plank RENTS the question
of protection to the people, and binds
the President to disregard his oath o
Office. 1t is the most absurd declara
ton ever seriously made by intelliger
men. For every question is necessaI
lily remitted to the people. The sub
stance of the plank is that, whethe
Congress passed a prohibitory tari1
or enacts free trade, the President vii
not veto it. While the truth is tha
the President is made by the Constitu
ton, through the veto, a part Of tn
Legislature, and, as President, is con
, stitatiopally bound to recommen
measures which he believes to be use
:. full to the public welfare. The -Persel
letters in the World humorously rio
died this plank before the Baltimor
Convention made it the faith of tbs
e conscientious paper. How the Worl
I must ache for the moment to arriv
. when, "kicking up ahind and afore,'' -
can shout and sing, Il told you so
5 told you sol" after the defeat c
1 the candidate whom we all knew it S
honestly, zealously and cheerful SUP
ports.
D The seventh plank denounces repI
Il diation, which is impossible unde
: Republican administration, and whic
), was never proposed except by tn
Democratic party, which vociferousl
adopted this platform.
e The eighth plank demands "speedy
1t return to specie payments. Upo
5 this point Mr.. Greeley says that tt
way to resume is to resume-Fc
: President, Jace Bunsby.
5 The ninth plank remembers tt
? soldiers and their widows and chi
n dren, whom the Republicans do NJ
u forget, and have never forgotten.
n The tenth opposes grants to raj
q roads and other corporations, Whic
le is very general feeling.
l. And the eleventh wishes honorab
IF peace everywhere, which the Republ
can administration has signalIy mail
"a tanned.
d This is the Cincinnati platforr
IS which Mr. Greeley complains that h
10 opponents do not discuss. The re
I son is that whatever there is good
+ it is taken from the Republican prime
pie and policy, and therefore does n
require the restoration of the Dem
Gratis to secure, while all the rest
:, merely fallacious The difference h
TX tween the platforms is evident. Th
g are both professions, and that of Phi
n adelphia is much more satisfacto
a upon the cardinal points. But behil
e. one profession is the great mass
y, those who have, upon the whole, fait
1T, fully maintained them Behind tt
or other profession is the mass of tho
a who have always hated and oppos
r equality, and who introduced, al
e. have steadily observed, the spoils sy
On TEN. Aud the question. which til
Ke SimDla Statnmnnt suUCpcts waS +