National Republican., 1880-06-28
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.


The democrats have nominated for the
presidency one of those who, during the
democratic rebellion, were denominated by
them "LINcoLN's hireliugs" and butchers
This is one phase of their consistency. or
General HANCOCK as q soldier we have
nothing to say to his disparagement. As n
statesman he is without education and eX-
perience, and hence must be taken on trust
The platform enunciated by the democratic
party and upon which it places its candi-
date is a tumble of inconsistencies, gener-
alities and insincerities 1t assumes vir-
tues where it has none; it attempts to reap
where it has not sown it pretends to re-
trenchments, reforms and economies where
none really stand to its credit. Its prom
ises of free ballot as the right preserva-
tive Of all rights is moekery of the thou
sands of citizens in the south who have been
wantonly deprived of that right through
the agency of democratic rifle clubs, night
riders, red.shirters, bulldozcrs, assassins
and murderers, to say nothing of tissue bal
lots and false counts. So that promise, in
the light of history is mere metaphor of
speech which means nothing, but an exhi-
bition of rank hypocrisy. Its filings at
either the title or the policy of the present
administration will not weigh a feather
with the people. The title was secured
through the agency Of democratic ma
chine, while the civilservice policy of the
administration has never found favor with
the republican masses. Fraud, oppression
and wrong characterized the movements of
the democratic party iu all the late insur-
gent states during the canvass of 1876, by
which several were secured for TILDEN,
when the honest expression of majority
OF the voters, if respected by the democrats,
would have secured them for HAYES. The
seventh plank IN the platform referring to
the alleged frauds which gave life to the
present administration, is an absurd re-
iteration Of the stale and worn-out edi--
torials of every democratic trumpeter i'll the
country since President HAYES was in
augurated
The eighth plank is rich piece of sar-
casm at the expense of the administration
for having appointed so many democrats to
Office at the expense of sound and needy
republicans during the past three years
We are not insensible to the fact that il
has "bileted" too many democratic vii
"lains upon the people"
The ninth plank is ridiculous tender oI
"tatfy" to TILDEN, TO sweeten his disap,
pointment at being put aside by his party
at the behests Of JOHN KELLY and tho
Bachems of Tammauy.
The tenth, eleventh and twelfth planks
are mere chips without meaning, that are
thrown in to fill up.
The thirteenth is intended to fool the
worker into the belief that the democratic
party is his friend, when the severest ill.
and trials that have beset him are of demo
cratic origin.
The fourteenth is a piece Of amusing self
laudation that excites the mIrth of every
intelligent laboring man in the country
History shows this plainly to be a remark
able instance of condensed lie"
Having devoted so much attention to the
platform Of the democratic party, we desire
now 10 call attention to the following sug
gestive planks that have been inadver.
tently omitted:
/. Freedom Of the ballot to all democrats
but absolute prohibition Of suffrage 10 all
freedmen and all other republicans unles,
voting the democratic ticket
g No military force at the polls to sc,
cure fair elections for all, but we will allow
rifle clubs and all other organizations o.
white citizens TO secure such result ~
they may deem best for their own interests
g. Law and constitutional liberty for al
who think and act with the dcmocrati,
party
A. The republican party being the enem,
TO our freedom to do as we please, W,
justify any means to promote its extermi
nation; and while condemning bloodshe,
or the assassination Of any democrats, w
think it right to kill either the leaders o
followers of the aforesaid republican party
3. In counting the returns all frauds tina
favor the democratic candidate mus
be overlooked, but no such thing as fraud
uleut count by republicans shall ever b
tolerated.
u. ii state sends TWO sets OF electors
!he electoral college, the democratic SGT sha
at all hazards be admitted and we recon-
mend our friends to steal state in thi
way wherever they can.
7. Having nominated our candidates, "
declare ii our intention 10 itstaH them il, oRc
the great republican party to the conuar
Notwithstanding.
8, When once in power we shall exteu
pensions TO all soldiers of the rebellion q
their representatives; aud shall rescind tn
pensions now being paid TO those who Tough
for the union.
8. We shall restore all property confs
Gated from those who were engaged in tn
rebellion TO its former owners-slaye prol
erty " be included in this legal restitution