, 1880-07-08
TINE uEMocRATlc PLATFORM.

The document which we pnbhsh
this week under the above caption -
a fair one in some respee's--al'hough
/, was doubtless intended for super
fetal notice only. Its FIRST clause
pledging the party to the doctrines
and traditions OF their ancestors, II
IL means anything, means that their
policy will be as vacillsting and
changeable in the future as in the
past. Inasmuch as there are abun
dant precedents among democratic
leaders for any kind Of COURSE, that
clause affords a delightful ambiguity
that covers many boles through
which the present party leaders msy
easily crawl should they find 1t e1
pedient so to do. The second propo'
sition contains well worn sentiment
of the party, embodying its doctrine
on the states rights dogma. This
doctrine is the identical one out Of
which grew tho disastrous civil war
that shook the foundation Of our
government. Being embodied in
the platform, besides being the cen
trail and fundamental idea Of bourb' n
democracy, it places Gen. Hancock
in a peculiarly embarrassing position
In fact, one OF two things is Ger
tain: either the old democratic party,
by making Gen. Hancock its leader,
has virtually destroyed itself an d
come over to the republican idea
upon the question Of states rights, 'r
Gen. Hancock must act the part Of
a hypocrite and belle his whole CIR er
in the past. In the former case that
part Of the platform is living false.
hood; in the latter, Gen. Hancock
will take a position we do not believe
him capable OF. In either case the
partyis NOT coming squarely befo' e
the people as an honest organization
should. Gen. Hancock's war record
as a union soldier marks him as, the
embodiment Of the doctrine Of ma
tional supremacy as against that of
states rights, and how he can con-
sent to run on platform setting
forth the latter is mystery indeed.
The doctrine Of separating Church
and state, as also that Of fostering
and protecting common schools will
meet with popular favor, and, as
there is no division Of sentiment
bstwesnr the two, parties on these
points, there can be no controversy
over them. "Home rule" in propo--
sition Sd, is simply another way of
putting !. states rights. aHonest
money" ETC., brings the party right
over to the republican position on
this point. Proposition No. A, sub
ordinating the military to the civil
power, was the strong card played
against Grant when he was the re-
publican candidate; but now that
the democrats have a soldier candi.-
date, it is fair to presume that the
words do not mean what they used
to. The 9th proposition, treating Of
free ballots, sounds like the essence
Of sarcasm coming from party re-
sponsible for southern bull doing,
tissue ballots, Maine frauds, etc.
Ths.words sound we'll enough, but
they are likely to provoke unpleas
ant illusions. The sixth statement
is merely bravado, and assumes po.
sition for the republican party that
is not and never has been proven.
Number seven is the whining of
schcolboy over q chance he took and
ssolemnly agreed TO abide by, but
which failed o turn out as he ex-
pected. The eighth is merely clap
trap and, in the face Of the reputa-
BILE standing of President Hayes a,
ministrstion, is an insult to the put.
lie. Number nine is the political