Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-07-22
THE TWO PLATFORMS---THE MON.
GOLIAN PLANK AND THE
COLORLINE.

This is our third paper in which we
have undertaken to make a compare
tive analysis of the two platforms of
the two great parties, as recently enun-
ciated in their conventions what we
undertake to investigate is the position
of the two parties with respect to the
races, with whom the Caucasian is
brought in contact in different parts of
our widely extended country. On
looking abroad it is plain to the most
limited comprehension that these re-
lations are far from satisfactory in any
one instance. As regards the Mon
golian race, the intervention of the
National government is loudly de-
manded by that portion of the white
race which is in immediate contact
with them; the red man and his white
neighbors are in q state of furious ex-
ASPIRATION which portends an Indian
war of dimensions which have never
been equalled since the days Of Gen.
Jackson-and, at least if the Presi-
dents word is to be taken. for it,
the relations of the negro and the
white men are such in Louisiana, and
Florida and Mississippi, as to call for
the presence of large portion of the
United States army. 1t is not sur
prising therefore, that these race trou-
bles find their way into both the de-
elarations of party policy we are now
considering. The Mongolian race is
alluded to in both platforms, the negro
in that of the Republican alone and
the Indian is let alone; his case in
deed had not become so urgent as it is
now, when the platforms were con-
coeted.
In reference to all these topics the
Republican party is tied down to pro-
gramme which forms the basis of its
very existence. 1t is the fundamental
doctrine Of this party, the crucial test
of orthodoxy within it, that all races
of men are equal and are to be ex-
pected to live together, all under the
same institutions, differences of race
being recognized as a mere matter of
complexion, and as affording no just
ground for discrimination in the modes
of political treatment Anything at
variance with this cardinal doctrine is
secuted as recognizing an aristocracy
of skin-an unjust distinction ground
ed on color, and the loyalty of him who
questions it is vehemently denied, he
is stigmatized as an unrepentant rebel
and traitor Be it so But still the
great facts of nature remain and the
legislation which ignores them stulti-
ies itself without the least power to
cancel them and set them aside.
The Democratic party has never
bound itself by any such doctrine as
this; and a large portion of them con-
fidently assert the doctrine that the
difference between these races is much
more than skin deep, is much more
essential than matter of complexion,
that it is so deeply seated in funda-
mentally different psychological char
acteristics that the same political in
situations never have and never will
be successfully adapted to both.
The freedom of the Democratic
party in this respect manifests itself
with singular distinctness in the Mon
golian portion of its platform, as COM
pared with the corresponding portion
of the Republican platform-the one
steps up to the difficulty boldly and
handles it with freedom, the other
creeps after itwith limping, hobbling
gait as of man with his legs tied.
We now give the two planks in jux-
Imposition for comparison.