Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-15
SENATOR G0RD0N'S PLA TT0Rh

SENATOR GORD0N'S PLA TT0R.h
Senator Gordon of Georgia having been
prominently mentioned for place on the
democratic Presidential ticket for 1876, his
views in relation to politics are thought OF
sufficient Importance to be placed before
the public by an interviewer.
The first declaration which he thinks
should be placed in the democratic plat
form is that OF honesty. The desire OF
the people is he believes to have ali hon.
est party. This is Swell, but the republic
cans will be certain TO do likewise. and
Judging from what is known of the char
acter of the two parties the latter will be
quite as likely to keep their promises on
the score of honesty as the democrats.
The moral strength of the republican par
ty has been proved by its devotion to the
great moral principles for which it was
brought into existence, and its declara-
tons in favor of honesty or any other NOR
al idea, will be found to be quite as much
respected and trusted as any professions
the democratic party can make.
The next plank in Senator Gordon's
platform would be ga restoration OF con-
cord.' 1--WE must learn" he says, call
men to love the national flag, to guard
the national honor and to further the nation
al prosperity" Well, from whom should
we take instructions in these things !?
From men like Senator Gordon, who for
four years fought against the national
flag From party that trampled it in the
dust and endeavored to make it contempti-
BILE in the eyes of foreign nations, sought
to ruin the credit of the country and end
its marvellous career of prosperity by the
destruction of the Union? The republi-
can party has shown its love for the flag
by the sacrifices of blood and treasure it
has made to protect it. Senator Gordon
and his supporters have manifested their
feeling towards it in fighting against it.
Which party will the people trust to have
in keeping the national flagp the party
which fought for or the party which fought
against it ? Which party can be most
safely trusted to labor for ga restoration
of concord" those who fought to keep the
Union together, to hold the people of the
North and South as one people under one
government, or those who fought them
selves and sought foreign aid to break the
Union and destroy the bonds that made us
one peopleP This question is indeed to
become prominent one in the campaign
of 1876, and who doubts what the decision
of an intelligent people will bce The re-
publicans desire the restoration of con-
cord, love the national flag and will guard
the national prosperity, and it is not nee
essary for them to put these sentiments in
their platforms and upon their banners,
for they have written them with their
blood on the pages of history. 1t is differ
ent however with the democratic party,
and if they have learned the error of their
ways and will sincerely try TO amend
them we shall be glad of it.
Another plank which Mr.. Gordon thinks
necessary in the democratic platform is one
pledging the party to secure to the negro all
his rights of freedom and franchise. Since
it is only few weeks ago that Senator
Gordon and every other democratic sena-
tor and all the democratic members of the
House voted solid against the civil rights
bill. the sincerity of his sentiments in IA
yor OF protecting the negroes, must be
considerably in doubt. The democrats
pledged themselves to this in 1872, but
they still kept on massacring the negroes
and forcing them lower and lower in the
scale of freedom. If they would dsband
the Ku-Klux and White League their plat
form would be better receUed. Less of
profession and more of practice of good
works would be better.
The last plank which the Senator would
have is return to the constitution and
the doctrine of State Rights. These arc
what jeff Davis said he fought for in the
rebellion. With the Interpretation that he
and the Bourbons of the North put upon
such language it means simply secession.
These are the principal features of SEN
ator Gordon's platform as reported by the
interviewer. Upon being asked if he
thought straight democrat could be cleo
ted on these principles, he replied that he
believed that "any man who has the con-
fidence Of the people" could be. The rub
will be to find democrat avowing the
principles first mentioned in whom the
people will have any confidence. They
would at once put him down as a cheat.
In 1872 with these principles they took
Mr.. Greeley as a candidate. because his
previous acts had been consistent with
them. To put democrat before the peo-
pie as a candidate on Senator Gordon's
platform, would invite overwhelming de-
feat.
Cinno II has been known that Governor