Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-07-17
THE PLATFORMS.

well to read and carefully compare them.
We direct attention to the Democratic
platform, chiefly. 1t will be observed
that in the second paragraph the party |
has faith in the permanency of the Fed
eral Union. 1t will be remembered that
for four years this party south and rebel |
sympathizers north were fighting to de-
stroy the union. The party accepts the
constitutional amendments, but at the
same time is rendering them null and void
in the south, by frightening away from the
polls that class of citizens for whom the
constitutional amendments were made.
Democracy, by this article in their plat
form, desires complete separation of
Church and State. The same party en-
acted laws in New York, directly con-
trary to this declaration The party
would have individual conduct unvexed
by sumptuary laws !" this probably
means that the effort of certain Repub-
licans in congress to look into the liquor
business, with some reference to future
legislation in regard to it, should be put
an end to at once-men should not be
restrained in the exercise of appetite or
passion. The third paragraph starts off
with the burden of the whole wailing,
reform" and refers to the Union chap
PLY rescued from secession" What par
ty in congress and what influence in the
country happily rescued the nation from
secession? The same paragraph speaks
of waste, fraud and incapaeity," and
vet the brains and power of that party
for many years have been in the Tam
many Ring, which produced Tweed and
allowed him to escape from prison and
90 free. This platform speaks of the
failure, during the last eleven years, of
making legal tender notes as good as
gold, and blames the other party for it.
The Democratic platform of 1864, pro-
nounced the war failure, and virtually
recommended surrender to the south.
This same party, for the last eleven
years, has steadily fought all measures
instituted for the purpose of making le-
gal tenders as good as gold this same
party embraces nearly every man and
every influence to-day that seeks to in.
troduce new food of greenback prom
Uses; and has nominated man for vice.
president who is an open advocate Of
> soft money, and is opposed to resumption
The seventh paragraph answers itself
l while it accuses the Republican party o
: ''imbecility and immortality, in not ia
king measures to produce resumption
Il it condemns the act of 1875, which pro
5 vides that the nation shall resume spe
= Gle payment in the next three years. Tn
c paragraph also makes many demands
c which it believes will produce bette
: times, but does not declare any speci6
u remedy for the national ills. Anothe
n paragraph denounces the present tariff
l. but the popular branch Of gUvernmeI
Dc has been in Democratic hands during ii
u last session of congress, and that ente
d prising majority has presented I
IL scheme at all, and no new tariff for Il
ne raising of revenues. If this tariff is
very bad, why have not these Democra
ne in congress get up better system i? A
he other paragraph states that in 1860 Il
ne expenses of the nation were 100000
y, 600, and in 1870, s45O,OOO,OOO, al
DIV would try to have it inferred that t
lb- Republican party is responsible for t
he difference. In 1860, the nation was
sep peace and had no extraordinary expens
ore in 1870, it had emerged from 4 war
to immense magnitude, with a natioI
the debt of 81, 5OO,0OOOOQ, part of viii
on was paid that year, with all the int
1T est, all the pension money, all the or
md nary expenses of the government a
ere large expenses growing out of the W
tn. Another paragraph states that reform
ajOr necessary in regard to the waste of p
ter, lie lands. This is true, and both 2
lon- ties see it now but few years sir
the everybody was anxious to have the
II or cific railroad and other great railro
Gus built, and both parties interested vc
suit land grants to aid these enterpri
phe, Neither party would do it now. Anot
fare paragraph demands reform in the c
service. All parties agree to this pl
lght osition. but it will be remembered I
on President Jackson, the great cham
1 to of democracy, instituted the very ]
nded that is now followed to some extent
re- which is most denounced. If the PAL
ster. seek reform, and both have plan
lame that effect in their platform, the pc
| be will be very glad of it. But, seriou
Ienly the kind of reform most needed
ayes. which might well apply to each par
have a religious reform which shall I
4 no better consciences and better men.
that Finally, the platform ends as it
rable gins, with general condemnation Q
pre- that the Republican party has done
the all of whom it is composed, leaving
letter people to infer that another party "
be composed of opposite qualities
tue, goodness, wisdom, purity, refor
thout Granted that some of the many of