Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-07-23
Parties and Platforms.

Parties and Platforms.
Harpers Weekly.
Political platforms are generally
thought to be very profitless reading,
but they are very significant. If
they contain pledges and promises
which are not redeemed, even if the
party is successful, they yet show
what the party managers believe to
be the dominant feeling of the party,
and with all the contempt that is
heaped upon them, they are still real
enough often to defeat those who
carefully construct them. Platforms
are, of course, so framed as to secure
the largest probable support among
the voters. They are made for the
weaker, not for the stronger, breth
rem, and they therefore contain posi-
tive and radical assertions only when
there is no doubt of the unanimity of
the party. Yet, however important
they may be, and however effective
as weapons in political contests, they
are to be interpreted, like all other
professions, by the known opinions
and the familiar conduct of those
who make them. Thus, in 1872,
when the Democratic Convention at
Baltimore adopted without change
the platform laid down by dissatis-
fed Republicans at Cincinnati, no.
body who was familiar with politics
regarded its conduct as honorable.
1t was a transparent trick to obtain
power, and the manner in which the
coalition Of 1872 was spurned by the
country is one of the most cheering
illustrations we have ever had of the
intelligence and rectitude of the poo
pie. Mr.. Sumner, who was in Who'll
ly unnatural position, and suddenly
separated from the movement of his
entire political life, could justify him.
self only by saying that the Demo
cratic party was converted to Repub-
lican principles and measures-a
statement which he made in perfect
sincerity, but which persuaded no
one.
The history OF the election of 1872
throws much light upon the subject
of platforms aud parties. 1t shows
plainly the large difference between
the fact of parties and the theory.
Theoretically a party is voluntary
association of those who hold SINH
lar political views and seek the same
political ends. But actually it is a
continuing organization, dependent
largely upon tradition, prejudice, and
esprit dc corps, maintaining its name
and Its form, however its purposes
and professions may change. The
true account Of parties is that they
represent certain general political
conventions and tendencies of gov
crnment, rather than that they are
temporary alliances to carry immcdi-
ate ends. In this sense man in
England is born Tory or Liberal.
He is naturally conservative or radical.
And the same thing is true in this
country, and explains the permanence
of parties. 1t is sometimes said that
the Republican party has accomplish
ed purposes for which it was formed,
and is logically iefunct. Slavery
is abolished, the Union has been
maintained, and the Constitution is
amended in the interest of liberty.
There is no reason, it is said, for the
continued existence of the party
But if, as this view comedies, the OF
ject, the final cause, of the party was
equal liberty, and its dissolution
would restore to power the party
that has always opposed equal liberty,
then it is plain that the very purpose
of the Republican party requires its
continuance. And if it be said that
the Democratic party would be equal
ly faitaful to liberty, the reply Is two
fold: first, that, by the same theory,
the Democratic party is logically de-
funct; and second, that there is no
reason to believe that it would be a
more trusty guardian of liberty than
the Republican. If the questions up
on which the country divided into two
parties are settled, both parties &C.
cording to the theory, should disap-
pear. IT they do not, it is either be-
cause those questions are not settled,
OF because the theory is unsound.
The reason that the two parties re-
main, and that third party is a Chi
mera, is that the American people,
beng practical and not theoretical,
know that the tendencies from which
the parties sprang are unchanged,
and they read platforms, Or promises
and professions, in the light of knowl-
edge. When a party composed of
old Copperheads; supporters of sla-
very, State sovereignty, and natural
inferiority and rightful sqhjugatiop
of the colored race; skeptics Of the
principle Unpopular government; pam
ders to ignorance, and promoters of
ecclesiastical interference in politics;
epologists of the Ku-Klux and the
White League-when such y party
grayely comes forward as the especi-
al champion of equal rights and jus:
tice and the maintenance of the Union
under the amended Constitution,
and processes an edifying zeal for
fraternity, honesty, economy, and
good order, there is q saving sense
Of humor in a practical people like
the American which enables them to