New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-24
THE prBEL GENERALS PLATFORM.

THE REBEL GENERALS PLATFORM
No, half the truth was told us by Beltz-
hoover concerning the unwillingness OF inc
"Rebel Generals" who control the Democratic
marty to deal fairly with the Union soldier
There have been other proofs of this than
the refusal to pass pension bills in Congress.
Let us 90 back little.
The Democratic National Convention OF
1864 adopted the following resolution
Resolred That the sympathy Of the Democratic party
IL heartily and earnestly extended to the sodery OF our
Army who are and have been in the field under Tue *
OF our country and In the event Of our attaining power
they will receive I'll the and protection reearu III"
Kindness that the brave soldiers OF the KepuDhc hao
nobly earned . =
The Democratic National Convention OF
1868 renewed this pledge in the following Iorm
That our soldiers and sailors who carried the nag o
our country to victory against most gahht anu NO
ermincd foe must ever bc gratefully remempereu an"
all the guarantees given their favor must DC ai'h'
carried into execution go
In 1872 the Democratic party adopted with
the candidate of the Liberal Republican party
its platform, which declared as follows:
We remember with gratitude the heroism and sacr'-
fees of the soldiers and sailors OF the Republic ana no
act OF ours shall ever dctrac from their Justly eained
fame or the full reward Of their patriotism.
Again in 1875, the Democratic Natlonai
Convention was careful not to offend the SEN
timent of the country upon this subject. Inc
platform upon which Mr.. Tiden was nom'-
mated contained the following:
Rsored That the soldiers and sailors OF the Repupnc'
and the widows and orphans OF those who have faien h
BATTLE have Just claim upon the care protection ana
gratitude OF their felow-ctzens
Before another Presidential Convention was
held great change came over the fortunes
of the Democratic party. 1t had obtained en-
tire control of Congress. and was in an excel
lent position to redeem some OF the promises
it had made. What was the resultf Mr.
Betzhoover told us in part when lie said
that "with the present Democratic House
"penson bills do not have much favor. IL
" has become almost impossible to get con-
sideratiOn of such bill at all, and when
considered its chance of passing the House
"is very remote, and the Rebel General
"who is at the head of the Pension Commit
"tee in the Senate is still more averse to al
Glowing any such bills to pass" But there is
another circumstance in evidence. Or course,
the Wade Hampton Convention at Cincinnati
was careful to repeat the pledge that had Deen
| embodied in all the Presidential platforms OF
the party for sixteen yearsi OF course, they
| took care to show the same readiness to stahd
by the Union soldier, now that they had
| gained considerable share of power, as they
had shown when they were trying to gain
| power2 The Union veteran who Is asked 10
vote for Hancock will search the Cincinnati
platform in vain for any expression upon n
subject still so vital to him. There is not one
word in that document which indicates
| any gratitude on the part OF the Democ-
| racy to the Union soldier, or indeed any
knowledge of his existence. Shall we be told
that this is no longer living issueY Let the
| answer be IN thc words of the Republican
platform adopted at Chicago fortnight be-
fore-had they been chosen with prophetic
vision of the action of the Democratic Con-
vention they could not have rung out with
nober. more indignant emphasis:
| The obligations of the Republic to the men who pre-
served its integrity in the hour OF battle are undmln
shed by lapse of fifteen years since their maj VIC
torv-to do them perpetual is and shall forever
he the grateful privilege aud sacred duty OF the Amer
can people.
Shall we be told that the Cincinnati Con-
yention forgot" it7 If so, their " forget
"fulness Is on par with the "careiessness y
of the Southern editor who holstcd Rebel
flag in his columns the other day. The sol
diers were not forgotten at Chicago National
platforms are usually drawn with care, and in
view of the previous utterances OF the party
as well as of the platforms of the opposing
marty. They mean as much by what they
omit as by what they say. The Cincinnati
n,atform was revised when the nomination of
General Hancock seemed probable, and with
direct reference to that event, and was adopted
after the nomination, instead of before. Yet it
does not contain single word of praise for the
Union soldier. Mr.. Bcltzhoover was right
about the controlling influence in his party.
The Union General whom they have nominated
stands upon the Rebel Generals" plat
form.