The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-06-18

quite enthusiastic over them, and seem to
think them mcllennial- wise in their ten
denotes.
Such are these platforms of political
parties. In their construction the great
est sagacity, the broadcast political wis
dom, the most cunning counsels, the most
dextrous "wre pulling" is put under
contribution. Brains sweat, if hearts
don't throb Ingenuity is taxed, If NOR
atty is not subsidized. The best and
most sagacious schemers Of the party are
put under tribute, for their best and
most sagacious plans; even, if the best
and wisest men of the nation, are lett un-
courted, or rejected as impracticables
For what is done is to be tested, not so
much by moral, as by popular and practi-
cal ordeals, whose very popularity and
practicability, depends. largely, on the
ignoring of moral considerations. What
wisdom here what shrcwdness what
stragetic cunning in oil this bidding for
the popular vote. But is it wisdom of
the higher sort?
What then, is the platform after all,
which any party constructs and adopts
Is it not weather-vane set on an oiled
point, believed to be best adapted to
please the dear people? Does it ever
propose any reformation, or change in
policy, which the skilful political doctors,
with their finger on the pulse of the pa.
tien., don't find to be largely gratifying I?
Mover, The platform gets its timber
from the people, or from those who manu-
facture it, both in quantity and quality,
as best suited to the greatest possible de.
mand. That regulates the supply. The
law of party economy, is like that Of the
law of political economy-political, we
mean in the higher sense. These bases
of party action are not designed to antici-
pate any needful revolution. They are not
revolutionary at all but conservative
always. They tend to regress rather
than progress. If progress comes, as it
did in the overthrow Of the slave power,
it comes, not by platform postuates,
though they might as some did,years ago,
indulge in some "glittering generalities'
respecting it, as to day, reference may be
made to the abolition of the franking
privilege, the reduction of the rates OF
postage, that capital and labor both have
rights in the fruit of their joint earnings,
and that it would be ungallant, to turn a
deaf ear to the prayer of women who
desire to vote. The propositions of true
reform are, at first, like the theses Of
Luther, and the logic of Garrison, neces.
sarily unpopular. This will never do for
what is only designed to catch the popular
ear, and to glide on the popular current
As the party is designed mainly as o
vehicle by which the ms may run farther
into office, or by which the outs may run
in, the platform, as the track on which
its wheels, are to turn must, in all cases
be constructed according to design. Ii
must run easily so that it will be de-
light Of the masses to push it. 1t must
so run as to Aatter the hopes, crafty the
expectations, and tickle the fancy of the
populace, who are to supply the moving
and victorious power. 1t is put on to
the track always at crisis, when the
most easy-running journals are needful
the smoothest track laid down, and, il
possible, slightly descending grade
secured though always with politica
illusion about it, so as to seem to ALL OIL
to as many as possible, to be strongly or
the ascent.
Such is our photograph of platforms
1t may not be very Aattering to any one
party or party man. But it is, as We
believe, true, nevertheless. If we stand
On any such platform it is doing the best
all things considered, we can, and not tho
best we would. The only way to i'm
prove the platform is to improve ant
elevate the popular ideal. The provert
is as true to day as ever. Righteousness.
eraltoth a nativu." Let It's promotion
be our individual aim, that it may prove
our country's safeguard.