Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-07-22
Democratic Platforms,
[ChicAgo Ttibune.l


lessons OF the Republican party for
twenty five years. Each successive Dem
ocratic platform in that period marks the
adoption of some Republican principle
and the abandonment OF some former
Democratic doctrine. The Democracy
has shown neither just conception OF
what principle is nor firm adherence
to any consistent policy, right or wrong
1t has affirmed and denied adopted and
rejected, all the political Seresies OF the
time. 1t has combstted, denounced, and
finally agreed to and spplauded every one
OF the great reforms wrought out by the
Republican party. On questions of cur
rency, taxation, snd the public lands, AS
well as on the numerous issues OF the
war, reconstruction, aud the payment OF
the public debt, II has occupied variety
OF irreconciable positions pro and con.
Ii mas travelled completely around the
circle of political apostscy. 1t has orig
mated no new policy OF the slightest
value, and suggested none, but has been
a constant drag and obstruction TO the
benef ceut measures introduced by It's OPP
ponents. 1t has trimmed lis sails 10 each
every gust of popular passion or prGJu-
dice, while II has sought neither 10 guide
nor to correct public opinion. II has
never sscertained the Will of the people
until that will was ready to fnd some
new mode of expression Hence the
Democracy has been continually behind
the times With the exception that 1t
sticks To Estate sovereignty" II has been,
In fact, al unprincipled camp.folower OF
the Republican party, suatchlng up
eagerly the cast.of garments of the great
army, and skulking IN the rear to avoid
hardship and danger
In all this period the Democracy has
been actuated by no high motives. 1t has
been either wholly selfish, as when IT
l.espoused the cause OF the STAKEHOLDER IN
1856, or distinctly reasonable as when 1t
pronounced the War "a failure" IN 1864
or blindly revengetul, as when II favored
the payment OF the bonds in lrredeemable
scrip in 1868. The one controlling idea,
which has dominated il unwaveringly for
Quarter of q century, has been TO get in
to office. All else that has been called
Democracy has changed but this idea
mas never changed. An examination OF
the official utterances Of the party, made
by National Conventions from 1886 TO
/ 1880 Will Justify the estimate OF the cnar.
/ acter, aims, and acts of the Democracy
which has been here given.
I 1856 The Democratic Convention at
! Cincinnati June . declared against inter
/ na improvements by the Government
resolved that Congress had no power to
interfere with slavery in the States; ap.
proved the Fugitlve-Slsve law; adopted
/ the principles Of the Kansas Nebraska
! bill,-that is, the non interference OF the
General Government with slavery in the
| Territories or the District OF Colum bia
recognized the right Of neD States 10 regl-
late their domestic institutions iotth or
,oith0W slarery, as they p}edsed;' upheld
the principles Of the Kentucky and Nlr
ginia resolutions of 1871 and 1899 Sup
posed to be q Justification of the r!gut OF
secessiOn).
1860 Both the Douglas and Brcckiu.
ridge Conventions readopted the Demo.
cratic pro-savery platform of 1856
1864 The Democratic Convention al
Chicago, Aug. 80 1864, adopted the fol.
lowing:
Resolred, That this Convention does explicitly
declare, as the sense OF the American people
that, after tour years Of Jaii,Te 10 restore ne
| Union by ne experiment Of b0Gr, during which
! under the pretense OF military necessity of q
war power higher than the Constitution, The Con
| stitutlon itself has been disregarded in every
part, and pablo liberty and private right alike
irodden down and the material prosperity of the
| country essentially impaired, Justice, humanity
and the public welfare demand that immediate
Efforts be made for cessation Of h0sD1taes
1865 The Democratic Convention al
New York July 4 1868, in which Win
field Scott Hancock received 144l votes
dem anded the immediate restoration OF
all the Rebel States to their "rtghts" In
the Union; amnesty for ali past political
ofienses; taxation of G vernment bonds
incident u protection TO domestic manufac
tlres; and adopted the following:
Pawn Mt of the pablo debt Of the United
States as rapidly practicable, ard when The
obligations OF the Government do not expressly
state upou their face, or the law under which they
paid In coin, hey ought IN rt9ht ana justice "a
be p0ii in the ld,Ufut money Of The United Statei
I meaning irredeemsble notes
I against Negro Suhrage-Ard we do declare and
resolve that, ever since the people II the United
States threw OFF all subj lection 10 the British
Crown, the priUtisge and trust Of outrage hapt
beEOHgtd 10 the ssU.r3I States, and that any NJ
tempt by Congr 80, on any lretext whatever, 70
deprive any State Of THE right, or interfere with
tie exercise IL a fsgrant nsurpation OF power
which can find no warrant IN the Constitution
and If sanctioned ny the people, will suhvert ori
form OF Government, and csn only end In single
centralized and consolidated Government, IN
which the separate existence OF the States wi
be eut rely absorbed and al unqualified despot
ian be established IN place of Federal Union
of coeQual States. And that we regard the Re
construction acts $50 call d. Of Congress az usur
pstions, and unconstitutional, revolutionary, ana
U0if
1S72.-The National Democratic Con
vention al Baltimore, July, 1872, com
pletely stultitied the record of the party
tour years previously IS embodied in the
above resolutions, by adopting the follow
ing:
We hold that It is the du'y OF the government
in ito dealings with the people TO II cite out eoaa
and exact justice to all, OF whatever nativity