Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-09-21
The Two Platforms.

There is as great difference be-
tween tho two platforms as there is
between the men who stand upon
Thorn and the parties they represent.
The Democratic platform is com.
posed of series of meaningless gen.
eralities, burdened with complaints
and demands for reform, but in no
single instance offering anything
better than means complained of.
Even its promises are so vague and
ill-defined that no one can under
stand their meaning or describe the
policy they foreshadow. Every SEN
tence breathes the spirit of the DEM
agogue, and is either gross mistate-
ment of facts or o studied distortion
of the truth.
It's charge of "sumptuary laws
"a corrupt centralism," "carpet-bag
tyrannies" in the face of an exist
ing maganimity which permits the
loyal element of the South to be per-
secuted by those recently in rebel
lion, is too ridiculous to reply to.
It's claim for sound currency, the
restoration of the public credit and
the maintenance of national honor
is simply an empty sound, tor tho
currency never was sounder. The
public credit never stood higher,
and the nations honor was never
TO we'll established nor more widely
respected throughout the world.
It's demands for reform are like the
dying walls of an old sinner who,
without the knowledge of u single
line, holds up the Bible in the vain
hope that it's sacred character will
attract to him the sympathy and
aid of those whom he still hates in
his last moments.
How different the Republican
platform Every line is the reasser-
ton of truths and principles which
have been tested by experience and
found beneficial to the nation. "The
United States is nation, not a
league" is sermon in itself. The
resolve TO give practical effect to
Declaration of Independence, that
created all men equal, sounds we'll
this Centennial year. 1t is the
voice of the fathers re-echoed by
by their children century after
their sacrifice.
The demand for Congress and
Chief Executive whose courage and
fidelity will not falter in the ad-
vancement and protection of human
rights is the reflection of the popu-
lar will.
The unqualified pledge to live up |
tc every obligation of the Govern
ment and to keep faith with the ma
TONS creditors is the best proof of |
the honor that still characterizes
the party. The declaration that
faithless officials must be punished,
and the civil service kept pure and |
efficient, Is in keeping with the
practice of the past fifteen years.
The bold resolve to defend the
free school system, and keep for
ever separate the Church and State,
shows that the lessons of the past
have not been lost upon those who
now guard the nations interest.
The just recognition of woman's
influence, the condemnation of that
relic of barbarism, polygamy; the
grateful thanks rendered to the SOL
diers and the renewal of pledges in
their behalf; the depreciation Of Sec
tional feeling and the warning words
against the recent actions of
the House of Representatives, are
not meaningless sentiments, but
heartfelt expressions each contain
ing living truths.
The two plrtforms are as un like
as two pictures-the Que an effort
to copy nature on the face of can
yass, the other nature itself, The