Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-08-14
PARTY PLATFORMS.


enough, but unhappily the country has lost
confidence in platforms, 1t is so easy for a
bad party to adopt good platform for an
untaithtul and dishonest party to put forth
donJlctaccd and tricky resolutions, or to
promise squarcly what they have not the
slightest idea Of fulfilling, that the people
have come to consider platforms as of the
slightest possible account-the merest lumber
OF politics. \ convention may resolve till all
Is blue, and 1t amounts to nothing binds no
one; 1t has no responsibility the politicians
have always understood that the people are
beginning to get hold of it.
These committees on platforms apply
with great force to the resolutions OF the
Liberal convention of last fall but not
to the Republican party. In no plat
form OF the great party OF progress and
reform, from 1886 down to 1872, have
the promises been made that have not
been substantially performed
The central idea of the PHILADELPHIA
Republican platform of 1856 was this a:
. c deny the authority of Congress, of
a Territorial Legislature, of any indi-
yldual or association of individuals. to
give legal existence to slavery in any
Territory OF the United States, while the
present Constitution shall be maintains
ed And ''that the Constitution con
iers upon Congress sovereign power over
the Territories of the United States for
their government, and that in the ex-
erclse OF this power it is both the right
and the duty OF Congress to prohibit in
the Territories those twin relics of bar.
barism-pologamy and slavery"
The Chicago platform of 1860 was a
rcathrmatlon OF that of 1856 Both
were protests against the spread of sIav-
cay While other principles were laid
down and other doctrines enumerated
hatred of oppression and determina-
ton to put IA stop to the aggression: of
the slave power, constituted the heart Of
the Republican movement and the es-
sence OF its party platforms 1t will
not probably be disputed that the prom.
Uses of the Republican national plat
forms Of 1856 and 1860 were faithfully
redeemed. Slavery was not only stayed
in its progress, but abolished
The Baltimore platform Of 1864 pledg-
ed the Republican party anew to the
task of 'queling, by force of arms, the
rebellion" then unsubdued demanded
the continued prosecution of the war
with the utmost possible vigor ;" in
dorsed and pledged itself to maintain
the emancipation proclamation the em-
ployment of colored troops, and all other
acts and measures adopted by the Presi>
dent and Congress to meet the emergen-
cy of rebellion; declared that the ma
tionaI faith pledged for the redemption
of the public debt must be kept invio-
l.. nd cd -, /
as a warning to the Vaccinations of Na>
poeon the Third in Mexico
These were the salient features of the
Republican platform Of 1864 and they
all became accomplished facts before the
expiration of Mr. Lincoln's second term
notwithstanding the perfdy and misde-
meanors OF Andrew Johnson and the
reasonable conduct of the Democratic
party Meantime equal suffrage had
been guaranteed by Republican Cons
gress to all loyal men at the South, and
the Chicago platform of 1868 declared
that this measure was demanded bv
every consideration OF public safety, Of
gratitude, and of justice, and must be
maintained; :" denounced "all forms Of
Reputation as a national crime" and
pledged the honor of the Republican
party to the payment OF the public in
debtedness in the uttermost good faith
to all reditors at home and abroad :"
guaranteed the reduction of taxation "as
rapidly as the national faith will per-
NIT; declared it to be duty of Com
gress to reduce the rate of interest there.
on whenever it can be honestly done"
and denounce the European doctrine,
"once subject always a subject as "a
relic Of ieudal times not authorized by
the law of nations" declaring that "no
citizen of the United States, native or
naturalized, must be liable to arrest and
Imprisonment by any foreign power for
acts done or words spoken in this coun-
try"
important and comprehensive as were
these promises, they were redeemed in
every instance within the period of the
four years for which the platform was
made. Reference to the fundamental
principles laid down in every platform
of the Republican party from 1856 to
1903, and to the promises of policy
therein made, and a comparative exams
nation of the subsequent history Of its
'1eNtAA - hSNA 'iAiSti VI tiiS SphSi btiCht ue
monstrates that the country has abund-
ant reason 10 place firm reliance upon
the pledge Of its faith as declared in its
national conventions.
In the light of these facts, what poin
Is there to the assertion of the Tribune
that the people have come to consider
platforms of the slightest possible ae-
eount-the merest lumber of politics"
In the whole history of the Republican
party platforms have, on the contrary,
Invariably expressed the earnest convic-
tons of the people, and have been car
ried out most religiously. The "plat~
forms of the Republican party, instead
of being "the merest lumber of politics"
have been almost literally embodied in
in the statutes Of the nation, The plat
forms OF yesterday has become the law
Of to day This is the secret of the inn
D.ense ho,d the Republican party main.
talns upon the affections and the conti~
denee of the people, The fidelity of its
adherence to both the spirit and the
letter OF Its platforms constitutes the
ulherenee between it and the old Demo-
cratic party. Misrepresentin- it will
not break 1t down its lease of power
VIII be coextenslye with its good faith to
the people as illustrated by its past
history. -IRtGT Ocean