Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-11-13
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The Promised Democratic Revival.

Inc ITOInlSeu DeHOcTltlc heNlfaIs
SOME Of the Democratic journals assert
that the result of the Ohio election will
be the renewed vitality of the Democratic
party, which will now be the only opposi-
ton party, All expectation of its disor
ganiZa,ion or of the formation of a new
party, say these journals, may be aban-
doned the old Democratic guard neither
dies nor surrendcrs. Upon what grounds,
then, does this party of slavery, repudia-
ton, and secession hope to regain the con
fdence OF the country? Its Ohio plat
form must now be regarded as its authOri-
tative manifesto. That document declares
that the party Stands by its principles"
and the Convention which adopted it
nominated "A candidate who was indenti-
fed with them-an old partisan of slavery
and a Copperhead. Yet the same docu-
mcnt asserts that while the party stands
by its principles, it seeks to revive no
dead issues. 1t carefully omits, however
to state what issues are dead. For if it
he'd defined them, it would have mention
ed all the Democratic measures of the last
generation. The denunciatons of dishon-
e3ty, the demand of economy, and the pro-
testatons of fidelity to the Constitution
Upon what fundamental principles what
system of policy, then, does the Demo
cratic party propose to oppose the Repub-
liCan?
Some of its Journals would like to have
it considered free-tradc party. But the
truth is in the way. It's Presidential can
ddate last year was the most conspicuous
protectionist in the country. No party
which nominated Horace Greeley for the
Presidency can assume to be free-trade
party unless it admits itself to be dshon-
est The ilimsy Cincinnati resolution of
last year does not conceal the fact of sur
render. That resolution declared that the
question should be left to the districts. Is
that principles OF course and by the
necessity of our political system it is left
TO the districts But a party is an associa-
ton of men who hold views which they
wish the districts to sustain, and which
appeals to all the people in every district
with the most persuasive arguments it
can command To say that a question is
left to the districts to decide is to say that
it is not party tenet. Did the Demo
cratic party leave the question of the
United States Banks, or of internal i'm
provements, or of a Sub-Treasury, or of
the extension of slavery, under cover of
the Congressional Territorial power, to the
districts without argument? When the
Democratic party nominated Mr.. Greeley
ii deliberately rcnounced the claim of q
tree-trade party. Last year it said dis
tinCtly that it left the question of protec-
tion to the people in the districts. This
year it says that il insists" upon a reve.
nue. tariff, and demands" it. Mr.. Orator
Puff had two tones in his voice. The
Democratic party has no principle what
ever upon the subject and the proof is its
conduct and It's professions within the
same twelve month.
But if it has not this, what other prinCi
pie has it? Is ii return to specie pay
ment? Senator Thurman expressly depre-
Gated such course at present and the
Ohio platform, regrettng, as every party
and every body regrets, an irredeemable
currency, does not demand return TO
specie payment, but only that the return
shall be cautious and considerate of the
debtor class. The foolish New York
platform, indeed, demands specie pay
ment But that only shows that the party
is not harmonious, and has no principle
upon the subject The Ohio platform
Coyertly demands taxation of the bonds.
/ Is that a principle" upon which the
I party means 10 90 to the country? The
| platform asserts the rights of the States,
/ condemns Capitalization, denounces usur.
/ patton. Certainly: SO does every good
/ citizen of every party And what party
! pronounCes against the rights of the
/ States, or tavors Capitalization, or Countc.
nances usurpation? This is the cheapest
4 kind of defamation. The question is
one OF Interpretation. What is centrali,
zauong what are the limits of State rights
what constitutes usurpationY The plat
form defines no principles upon the sub
ject But the implication is that the Re.
publican party practically disrecards the
juStrig otthc States, whatever they may
be- and favors some kind decentralization
and usurpation. All this the Republican
party denies, and therefore the Democratic
appeal becomes really one Of adminiStra.
ton. 1t has no revenue principle, AS its
talk about free trade and lis nomination
of Mr. Greeley show. 1t proposes no fl
nancial system, not even agreeing upon
an immediate return to specie payments.
And il has only vague phrases TO offer