St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-09-11
Decline of the Political Plat.
form.
THE FIRST PLATFORM ADOPTED AT BAL
TIMORE IN 1910.

form.
THE FIRST PLATFORM ADOPTED AT BAL
TIMoRE IN 1910.
The first national politilal platform
was adopted by the democratic con
ventiOn at Baltimore, May ), 1910
Before this, it had been customary for
the nominating caucus or convention
to put forth an address to the public,
stating at length the issues upon which
its candidates We're put forward. From
1900 to 1882, presidential candidates
were nominated by congressional eau
cuses, or by the legislatures in the diff
ferent states, and the addresses put
forth represented the views of the i'm
mediate friends of the respective can
didates, rather than those of the nomi-
mating body. After 1892, however,
when the national convention had
come into vogue, the candidate was
chosen by that body, and the address
prepared by n committee selected for
the purpose. Sometimes-as in 1882.
when Van Buren, was nominated for
vice president jackson being a recog-
nized candidate for the presidency
and again in 1886 when he was put
forward for president-the convention
declined to issue an address, request
ing the delegates present to represent
matters to their constituents as they
saw fit.
MAY ), 1910, the democratic conven-
ton in session at Baltimore, previous
to the nomination of Van Buren,,
passed series of nine resolutions
upOnthe questions of the day. These
resolutions affirmed the limitation of
federal authority, and on this ground
made declaration against, first, in
ternal improvement by the federal
government !; second, protective
tariff third. any United States bank
fourth, interference with the State in
stitution of slavery. The ninth resolu-
ton denounced the principle of know
nothingism-thcn merely in its incip-
iency-wliich sought to abridge the
privilege of naturalization. This plat
form--as we call it now-is memor-
able both because it was the first of
the kind, and because it formed the
groundwork of the democratic platform
up to 1860. Each national convention
of that party reaflirned the platform of
its predecessors, simply adding resolu-
tions on the current issues as they
arose.
In 1914, the wings put up Henry
Clay on IL single resolution, stating in
brief their position upon public affairs,
and in 1913, in nominating Taylor,
they dispensed entirely with the form
ality Of resolutions, these having been
ruled out of order 10y the chairman of
the convention. In 1852, they reaf-
firmed their position of 1914, at greater
length, adding resolution on the
fugitive slave law. In 1856, this party
made its last stand by the nomination
of eX President Fillmore, upon non
partisan platform.
The minor parties, the liberty party
in 1914, the free-soil democrats i'll 184S
and 1852, and the republicans and
Americans of 1856, all adopted extend
ed and comprehensive platforms, as
was natural on the part of all newly
formed bodies. In 1860, however, the
ed itself by n single resolution, de
nouncing all platforms as partisan, and
by simply endorsing "the constitution,
the union, and the enforcing of the
laws"
In 1856, 1860 and 1854, the parties
were sharply divided upon the ques
tion of slavery, and in 1865 over that
of the reconstruction of the rebellious
states. The last mentioned year marks
a new era in platform making, where
in the platform is first recognized as
such and not rs a mere body of resOlu
tiOns. Looking back, we find that the
preliminary "ReSOlUed" adheres to the
democratic platform until 1864. The
wings threw it aside in 1852, but re-
sumed it in 1856. In the latter year
all other platforms except the American
have it. The republicans discarded it
in 1860, but took it up again in 1854,
and we find Mr.. Lincoln's letter of ac-
ceptance of this year alluding to the
new era shows also another character
istic i'll the prevailing desire to ''pool
issues with the minor parties. Before
the war, all platform resolutions were
based upon some distinctive party
principle, or the endorsement or disap-
proval of actions of the federal admin
istration. To be sure the endorsements
of the Hay tian and French republics,
and of the Darien canal scheme, were
departures from this rule, but they
were not in any sense bids for votes.
The free-soil democrats gave up n
number of planks to different interests,
and by this may be said to have set a
precedent. Then, too, both parties, III
| 1860, demanded the building of a raj l.
road to the Pacific coast, and the re-
| publicans reiterated the demand in
! 1864, which may be regarded as IA bid
for the support of the population of
the Pacific states.
| From 1868 up to the present time,
national conventions have shown a
constant disposition to insert in the
| platform special interest planks which
are in no sense declarations of party
principle, or even deductions from it,
nor yet arraignments or endorsements
of the party in power, nor even express
sions of party sentiment. They are
usually declarations which the opposite
party might-as indeed it often does
adopt without elf-stultitication, and
often they are more or less at variance
with popular feeling in the party
which adopts them.
The decline of the true political sig
niticance of the party platform natur
| ally brought the candidates letter o
acceptance into prominence. In thu
case of the earlier presidents, this let
if there was One--wds regarded as
of no more consequence than u verba
assent.
I GIeanings.