National Republican., 1883-12-10
PLATFORM. and Platform Makers.

Platforms and Platform Makers.
Hypocrisy is truly said to be the tribute
which vice pays to virtue. Il is only sound
currency that is countorfoited. Political par
ties arc always divided between those who
desire to givo effect to principles OF preIu-
ciplos the stalking horse behind which to
walk into power. Tho knaves who have no
use for principles but as q mask have only
contempt for those whom they regard as fools
for being in earnest. The schemes of such
people come TO naught when tho fools " who
are in earnest refuse to trust the cause they
cherish in any hands not known to them
selves.
When the good old democratic party of
Jackson unionism. which had ruled the coun-
try from 1920 to 1Si1, sought to emerge in
1874 from the hard.cidcr dcluge in which for
four years it had becn submerged It found
the grasp of Calhoun secessionism upon its
throat, and it surrendered at discretion.
Tho most ultra state-rights faction took IL in
charge and retained control until 1860, when
Stephen A. Douglas and his followers
prevailed in national convention. and the
disunionists bolted tho party. But during all
these sixteen years that democracy meant
simply tho absoutism of the slaveholding
section its leaders were, in season and out of
season, declaring it to be the only national
| IA IA II
claim its doctrines in all the states,
while the republican party was sectional
because it could only advocate its policy
in the FREQ states. Thus the democratic
party made merit of its own infamy by
claiming as virtue its own intolerance. Its
success in sitting freedom Of speech and of
political discussion and all political organiza-
tion TO- tho free states. Northern freedom
admitted slavery as an equal in debate.
Southern slavery hunted freedom, and pierced
it with deadly stabs before it could open its
mouth. Yet all this while tho northern
democrats were asked to admire democracy
because it was national
1t was nice piece Of political joinery in
such times as these to unto tho unionists
with the disunionists in tho democratic
party. And here came in the art of platform
making. Tho southron wanted the Virginia
resolutions of 1913 indorsed, according to the
Calhoun Interpretation Of them, which meant
disunion at the will of state Tho north
man wanted them construed as Mr.. Madison
construed them thirty-two years before, viz;
to only mean that dissatisfied state
might seek change in an obnox-
ous law. The democratic national
convention of 1856 contained q man who
could ride these two horses, going though
they were in opposite directions. This was
B. f. Hallett of Massachusetts,. He was the
greatest American artist in platform making.
As an aid to the present generation of demo-
Gratis, in riding safely tho two horses of pro-
lection and free trade, we submit the patent
Hallett straddle on tho trivial difference be-
tween the unionists aud disunionists of 1856.
Here it is:
RcSolUed, That tho democratic party will faith
| fully abide and uphold the principles laid down
| in the Kentucky aud Virginia resolutions of 1898
| and in the report of Mr.. Madison TO the Virginia
legislature in 1899; that It adopts those principles
as constituting of the main foundations of its
political creed, aud is resolved to carry them out
in their obvtous meaning and import.
As the north and south had been fighting
like cat and dog for half century to deter
mine what ,caS the meaning and import of
the resolutions, the obviousness of the same
was less obvious than might have been de-
sired. But Hallett's patent allowed each
patriot to enjoy his own opinion while vigor-
ously pushing toward the crib whero proven
der awaited him.
Our democratic friends can, In like manner,
easily dodge the tariff question by declaring
for " a tariff that would be obviously right"
This would unite the party, and make free
traders and protcctionists equally secure.
We charge nothing for thinking out this
thought for our bewildored opponents.
"A tariff for revenue" with the "only"
left of, is the panacea proposed by our
esteemed contemporary. But this appears to
be o little evasive. The present tariff is for
revenue" 1t will not do to insert only, u
for that loses the protectionists. Nor will IL
do to speak of I" incidental protection" foi
that would drive of the free traders. "A
tariff for revenue" is as inexpensive and in
definite as church for worship, dinner
for eating. or congress for legislation. Give
us positive and direct issue, and boldly pro,
claim for "a tariff that would be obviously
right A great peacemaker is your "if,
but it is nothing to that Hallettian word
"obvious."
Alaska.
| Among the recomm endationa Contained In