The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-06
The Republican Platform for 1850.

The truth Of the provorb that politics
makes strange bedfcllows was we'll illus
trated recently when the Hon. JOIN b. HAS
KIN, the freest from political complications
OF all our anti-Tammany leaders, opened a
correspondence with JOHN SHERMAN, by
means OF which the latter formally an
nounOed himself as q candidate for Presi-
dent lie took that occasion also 70 define
what he calls the true issue Tor 1880" His
platform Is revival Of sectional hate,
sweetened with cant phrases, as follows:
What would aspire to in public opinion should
decide TO make me a candidate Tor President would be
- unite In cooperation with the Republican party al the
national elements Of the country that contributed or
n.icd In any way In the successful vindcaton OF ma
uona authority during the war. I would not do this
Tor the purpose irritating tho South or opprc ssng
them in any way, but to assert and maintain the
prcmacy OF the national authority the fu extent OF
all the powers conferred by tho Constitution
Stripped OF its DISCUSSES. the plain mean
ing oi this programme, which has now be-
come the leading idea OF the Republican
party, is to wipe out State lines entirely, to
divest the States Of the rights secured by
the Constitution. and. in place Of a union OF
States and people, TO establish a. CONSOLE
Gated government, in itself tho first step to-
ward an imperial republic.
The whole line Of policy the Republicans
since the civil war has been in this direc-
tion. All the political legislation beginning
with reconstruction, has exhibited the same
spirit The election laws. the jurors test
uaths, and the use OF the army to overthrow
State Governments to make Legislatures
to order, and to consummate the Presden-
tial Fraud, are conspicuous examples Of a
systematic scheme to destroy the constitu-
tional rights Of the States. and to sub
ordinate their local and rightful authority
to the arbitrary will OF the Executive
Hence the tcnacity with which the Repub-
lcan leaders cling to the use Of the army at
the polls, and TO DAvENPoRr's invention for
dcprivng naturalized citizens OF their votes
Give them an army OF supervisors and dep
uty marshals, who may receive fifty dollars
each for ten days service, with power to
make arrests without process on the eve
OF an election, and who may steal the pa
pers on which thousands OF votes depend,
and the way to success is easy.
In 1870 thousands OF troops and two ships
Of war were ordered to this city to overawe
our people and thus to control the election
eAN IbA AAf llAAllfA ASNtFA}lA Va Nilt lbNhl hu-
thorities we might soon have had repeated
here the outragc5 that were pcrpetrated In
Louisiana, South Carolina, and other States.
The experiment failed. because GRANT did
not dare to rouse the sleeping lion at the
North. In 1878 the same party resorted to
another process, more insidious, but none
the less an invasion Of the jurisdiction and
authority Of the State.
The issue made up by JOHN SHERMAN was
adopted by the Republican Convention Of
| Ohio, and will doubtless be followed else
where. In the midst OF bankruptcy and dis
trcss, with millions OF idle hands, and the
people crying out for relief, the leaders OF
this party have nothing better to offer in the
way OF craftsmanship than a renewal Of ami
mostly between the North and the South
and Il revival OF the passions that were sup
posed to bo buried with the rebellion.
The laws generally are obeyed IN every
part OF the Union. The people North and
South crave for peace and for an end OF Sec
tional agitation. The condition Of public
affairs Is sufficiently bad, without the ag.
gravaton Of an element which dsheartens
effort and throws backward every advance
toward improvement. For fourteen years
the same cry, IN variety OF forms, has been
renewed, and it remains to be seen with
what effect it can be renewed now