The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-18
The Man who is q Platform.


It is the good fortune OF the Democratic
candidate for President to be a plasformin
himself. Whilst other men who aspire to
high Office may make friends by protesting
to entertain opinions which are popular,
and by promising reforms for which there
is . clanor, Governor TILDES is man OF
such force Of character, and is so well
known throughout the country, that ut the
mention OF his name every mind inyolun.
tarily turns to some measure OF admins
trative policy or some reform which
it is supposed his election will secure to the
country. AS to mention s'Cesarism" or
"the third tern" is to suggest GRANT; as
to speak OF corruption, cafpet-basism, and
scalawagism, is to bring to mind Radical
rule in the South; as the naming Of the
j" whiskey ring" suggests the name Of BRIs-
TOW, so the name OF TILDEN is in itself the
synonyme OF Reform, Retrenchment, Econ
omy, and Peace. 1t is not necessary to tell
anybody that he is the man whose election
would bring about these much-desired re-
suits. He is in word that model candi-
date for whom SO many thoughtful men
have been calling-the candidate who is n
platform in himself.
And yet even such a candidate has been
put upon a platfor,n-the St. Louis plat
form-the best one that the ingenuity, skill,
and talents Of political writers have ever
constructed in this country. 1t is at once o
terrible bill OF indictment OF the Republic
can party, and a magnificent setting in
words OF the principles for which the Demo-
cratic party proposes to contend during the
pending canvass. 1t demands reform, and
it shows how and why reform cannot be
hoped for at the hands of the party which
for sixteen years has ruled the country Is il
its Offices belonged to that party, and treated
those Offices as il they had been the private
property OF the corrupt oftce-holders them
selves. 1t sets forth q creed worthy OF
adoption by all, and yet gives history Of
the Republican party, which ought to be
sufficient to insure its condemnation by the
people in November next.
Notwithstanding, however. the facts that
Governor TILDEN is platform in himself,
and that the st. Louis Convention placed
him upon platform worthy OF the party
and OF its great leader, we confidently eX-
pect in Governor TILDEN'S letter OF accept
ance a new presentation OF the circumstances
which demand q change Of administration,
and statement of his purposes and prlnci-
pIes, which will add new interest to the
campaign and shed new lustre upon
the name OF the Great Reiormer. He
is platform in himself, because he has
heretofore distinguished himself not only
by his acts, but by the extraordinary skill
and ability with which he has defined the
issues upon which he proposed that the peo-
ple should divide. That he will manifest
the same talent in inditing his letter OF ac-
ceptance we have no reason 10 0ouDC.
Other persons may suppose that he has
nothing to do but 10 cry Reform" Or 10
dcnouncc GRANT and Grantism, OF to prom
Use to bring about better times, or to
make q fight upon some issue winch has
merely local Importance. But not SO Will
TILDEN. AS ne took the papers, banb
checks. and other documents OF WILLIAM
nj. TWEED, and from close and searching
study and comparison o! them WoFe WEI
OF such strength in which to bind the rob
Der that the world was astonished at liz
penetration, and the people OF New lori
wondered that they had not been able tt
see all these things themselves, so he vii
group the crimes OF the Republican part,
and point out the issues that ought tt
divide the voters in such n manner
rs will constitute in fact new opening o.
the political campaign. Thus he will once
more prove that he is OF all others the man
who is in himself u platform-n0t only be
cause his name is the symbol Of Reform
Retrenchment, and Peace, but because hi
better than any other leader knows frs
what the country needs; secondly, how tx
supply those needs; and, thirdly, how tt
induce the people to mount the platform
which he knows so well how to construct.
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