Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-08

The platform of the Chicago convention
is, for the most part, what the late Senator
Sumner would have denominated ga con-
stellation of glittering generalities." 1t is of
the usual character emanating from such po-
litical conventions-extols the merits of the
Republican party and detraets from and ma
ligns the character of the Democracy. This
was to be expected, and no one of either par
ty has been in the least disappointed in the
utterauces of the convention. Yet there
were few members Of the convention who
dissented from some of the sentiments ex
pressed. One of the points CT the platform
was this:
We charge upon the Democratic party the
habitual sacrifice of patriotism and justice to
the supreme and Unsuitable lust of office and
patronage. EThat to,obtain possession of the ma
tional and state governments and the control OF
place and position, they have Instructed all eff
forts to promote the purity and to conserve the
freedom of suffrage.
This, being Immediately preceded by q
resolution approving of the policy of Mr.. r.
B. Hayes civil service system, aroused the
ire of ex-senator Flanagan, of Texas,
who delivered himself of this remonstrance:
Texas, sir, has had quite enough of the civil
service Laughter and cries of amen. For
the last four yesrs, for the fourteen hundred
officers to be appointed by the President of the
United States one hundred and forty represent
the Republican party. We are not here for the
purpose of providing offices for the democracy.
Loud cheers and laughter There is one plank
in the platform that have ever admired, and
that is: ITO the victors belong the spolls. !"
Laughter and applause. We have been ground
under foot by the present administration. We
expected this convention would nominate a
stalwart-one who, after we have won the race,
as we will, will give TO those who are entitled
to position, office. Cheers What are we
here for? Applause and long-continued laugh
ter. l mean the members of the Republican
party are entitled to office, and if we are labor
ers we will have them. We came here for that
purpose. Loud laughter
Mr.. Flanagan was honest in the express
sion of his opinions, and the reception his
remarks received showed that the majority
of the members of the convention agreed
with him precisely. The watchward of the
Republican party has ever been, and is to-
day, ''to the victors belong the spoils." If it
assumes any higher plane of action that as
sumption is false and hypocritical, and none
know the fact better than the man who
drafted the resolution falsely charging upon
the Democratic party the habitual sacri-
fee OF patriotism and justice to a
supreme and Unsuitable lust Of office and pa
tronage. According to the testimony of the
delegates to the Republican convention at
Chicago, that party and not the Democracy
is open TO the imputation Of being governed
only by lust of Office and patronage. That
is what they are all striving for. Though
some may disguise their true motives, their
acts convict them completely not only of
seeking to pervert public offices into places
of plumber, but of seeking to fasten upon
others the blame of such motives.
The imputation that the Democratic Con-
gress has sought to unseat lawfully elected
members with the purpose OF securing at all
hazards majority of States in the House of
Representatives, is self contradicted. The
only contests in the House during the pres
ent session-three in pumber-have been
decided in favor of the sitting members, all
Republicans, while there was not only a
reasonable doubt OF their legal election, but
an absolute certainty that many dishonest
and illegal practices were employed to secure
even the semblance of an election. The
whole platform is a mass of absurdity and
unlruth, and is not deserving of serious con-
sideration.