Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-07-17
Democratic Platform.

Friday Morning, July............. II, 1874
Democratic Platform.
We publish the comments of several
leading journals upon the Democratic
Platform as adopted by the party in
Maine, and expressed through their re-
cent convention. We have not the plat
form in full at hand to lay before our read
ers, but from the comments we give its
purport can be we'll understood. We are
glad to see that the Democratic press
have approvingly received it as one repre-
senting the views of the party generally in
the country, and around and upon which
the party might we'll rally and stand as a
National Party. In BRIEF it advocates a
return to specie payments, or "hard mo-
ney;'' a repeal of the class legislation
which fosters certain interests in the coun-
try at the expense of others, or "free trade;"
and return on the part of the executive
and Legislative departments of the country
to such construction and observance of
the Constitution as, whilst conceding to
the General Government all powers ex-
pressly granted to it or necessarily impli-
ed, yet would just as firmly and sacredly
maintain and guard the reserved rights
and powers of the States, or, in other
words, estate rights"-since the late war
more generally expressed under the terms
'local selfgovernment" and ''home rule"
Coming from Maine, New England State,
and one protected under the operation of
high tariffs, this platform is remarkable
illustration of the power of truth learned
in lessons of practical experience, as con-
tra-distinguished from and in comparison
with the working of theories based upon
mere distractions and speculations. And
here we take occasion to repeat what we
have before expressed, that we need no re-
modelling of political parties and forma-
ton of new ones. By common accord the
country seems to be reyerting to the prin-
ciples upon which the Democratic party
was founded, as the only means of extrica-
ton from the difficulties and troubles that
now afflict the nation. If men will not
support an organization maintaining the
principles advocated by that party, be-
cause of old time prejudices or mere
name, it is useless to expect there could
be any agreement as to name, or concur
renee as to platform for new party
Parties are evolved by the force of circum-
stances and are formed from the exigencies
of the occasion requiring them: and they
cannot be "resolved" into being and &C
ton by string of distractions emanating
from the brain of political schemers. We
commend this platform Of principles to
the attention Of our readers; and ask their
careful consideration Of the reflections
that obviously arise from its perusal, in
view of the situation Of the country, the
coming elections, and the duties of every
citizen who regards his own privileges
and interests, as we'll as the interests of
his fellow countrymen.
The following are the extracts above re-
ferred to:
Boston Post.l
This is o declaration of principles that ex-
presses succinctly the view of Democrats
throughout the land and about it the national
party might rally. With such platform and
such a candidate there should be no margin
for other choice. Both are worthy of the
honest, earnest men of Maine and of the sturdy
Democracy of that State.
detroit Free Prcss.l
The platform adopted by the Maine Demo-
cratic convention is sound, broad, and SYM
metrical one. In brief, the convention declares
for sound currency and free trade denounces
Federal usurpation and authorized interference
with the State governments, and the recent at
tempt to establish press censorship at Wash
ington. 1t holds up the party in power as
deserving of condemnation for its corruptions
and gross abuses. There is nothing in the
platform which cannot be heartily commended,
and it is one worthy of the opposition in any
State.
New Haven Registcr.l
1t is refreshing to read such articles of pure
Democratic faith as those embodied in its for
mulary of principles
[Chicago Tribune.l
The Maine Democracy met in convention
yesterday ana nominated CanOlQate Tor Gov
ernor. Their platform is solid. 1t favors an
early return to specie payment, declares for
free trade, condemns Carpenters press-gag law
and itssupporters, and concludes by pronounc-
ing the party in power deserving Of the righte-
Gus Indignation of the people. The world does
move. Time was when no political party in
Maine would have dared to speak out for free
trade. Elementary instruction in the laws of
trade, brought home to the people of Maine by
the decay of the slTp-building interest, has
worked revolution in sentiment. 1t makes
all the difference in the world whose OK is gored.
Rochester Unionl
These resolutions have the ring of the true
Democratic metal. There is no equivocatiOn
or ci,eumlocution about the declaration in fa-
vor of currency based on specie payment as
the only one for the country. 1t means what
it says-means that the law which arbitrarily
makes a repudiated Government promise to pay
legal tender for the payment of debts, when ii
is worth only eighty odd cents on its face and
ever varying is a fraud that ought to cease at
once, and that would be made to SO cease,
without disturbing the values upon which ex-
isting contracts are based, if the Democratic
party were in power. Not less marked is the
resolution condemning that twin fraud Of
Hprotection, and declaring for free trade
"Protection" plays substantially the same part
in its sphere that deprecated legal-tender rag
currency plays in its sphere. 1t enables cum
ming and INSCRIPTIONS classes monOpolists to
rob the masses for their own enrichment
lust as legal-tender places money upon a false,
fckle and ever-shiftlng basis, SO protection"