Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-07-01
New Series-VOl. 15. No. "a
Their Own Platform.

The Democrats OF Ohio, at their re-
cent State Convention, were hard put
to it in makinga platform. They first
stole, almost bodily, the Republican
platform on the Common School ques-
tion, and then, to cover up the purpose
of their theft, they proceeded to de-
nounce the part they had just stolen.
To show the Identity Of the two upon
that question, we publish them, as fol-
lows:
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
Fourth-We stand by free education, our
public school system, the taxation OF all for
its support, and no division of the school fund.
Fifth-Under our Republican system of
government there should be no connection,
direct or indirect, between Church and State,
and we oppose all legislation in the interest OF
any particular sect.
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Thirteenth-We favor the compete separa-
ton of Church and State, religious indepen-
dence and absolute freedom of opinion, equal
and erdct justice tc all religious societies and
purely secular education at the expense of the
taxpayers. without division among or control
by any sect, directly or indirectly, OF any por-
ton of the public school fund.
With the exception of the phrase we
have italicised, the Democratic plat
form is identical with the Republican
in idea, and almost so in words. The
Republican platform is the plainest and
most outspoken, but the Democrats ap-
parently intended to convey the same
ideas in words but slightly different.
But they were not content to rest there.
1t was necessary to adopt some such
plank as this to hoodwink their Protes-
tant supporters; but it was also neces-
sary to show that they were not in
earnest in doing so. They therefore
added to what we have quoted above
the following sentence, which, it was
probably supposed by its trainers,
would satisfy the Catholics that the thir-
teenth plank was direct negation OF
the fourth and fifth items of the Re-
publican creed, however much it might
seem to be otherwise:
ave denounce the Republican platform
Tupon the school question: as an insult to the
Intelligence of the people of Ohio, and a base
appeal to sectarian prejudices."
If the Republican platform upon the
school question is "a base appeal to Sec
tartan prejudices," what else is the
Democratic platform upon the same
subject? The ene is the counterpart
of the other; and if the Democracy
mean what they say, there is not the
slightest difference between them and
the Republicans on that subject. In
denouncing the Republican platform,
therefore, they are likewise denoun-
cling their own.
1t is clear, however, that these pso-
pie do not mean what they say. The
first part of their thirteenth proposition
is a reaffirmation Of the Republican po-
sition, while the last part Of it is de-
nunciation of what is thus reaffirmed.
1t is idle to ask reasonable people to
believe that men can be honest in in
dorsing and denouncing the same thing
in the same breath; and the conclusion
we are forced to is that the real pith
and purpose of the thirteenth Demo-
cratic plank is to be found alone in its
denunciation of the Republican plat
form upon the school question. In that
denunciation we know they were
earnest and sincere; and that being so,
the first part of their thirteenth plank
is mere clap-trap, and will deceive no
one.
The phrase we have italicized, "equal
and exact justice to all religious socie-
ties" has no necessary connection with
the school question, unless it means
each religious society should have an
equal share of the school fund. Ii it
does not mean that, why was it thrust
into a declaration upon the school
question? Justice to religious societies
has no connection with education, ex-
cept upon the assumption that every
religious association has an inherent
right to a proportionate share of the
school fund for the religious as well as
secular education of its children. II
the phrase we have quoted was inten-
ded to cover what Is known in Ohio as
the sGeghan bill,' the passage of which
was demanded by the Catholic Church
TO cQ&Dl6 IL u 6IoCt al oitoi III ONCAy
institution throughout the
State, it should have been placed in
some other connection; but its presence
in the Democratic platform, in connec.
ton with the school question, was
intended to convey to the Catholic man.
ayers the assurance that they can de-
pend upon the Democracy not merely
to do what they are told, ss in the case
of the Geghan bill, but to secure, gen.
erally. such an amendment of the State
as will permit a sectarian
division of the School fund. The Cath
oIics of Ohio will never consider that
"eauaI and exact justice" has been
done to them until they secure sectari-
an schools at the public expense.
In the meantime, until that amend
ment can be obtained, it is necessary to
hoodwink the Democratic Protestants
of Ohio, and make them believe that
the porty has no such purpose. Hence
the resolution we have quoted, and the
which accompanies it Is
simply to assure the Catholic leaders
that they may safely trust the Democ-
racy. no matter what, in the present
emergency, they may be compelled to
saw to the contrary.-PiHs. Com.
Ethan Allen.
1t was one hundred years ago on the
10th of May that Ethan Allen, with the