The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-22
The Platform of 1875.


Our Charleston contemporary says:
NJ wa,,ersop. In his speech before the Demo
cratic Conyeaticn 10 hen, nnlx,- Inc Rich.
mona pfspofca remarks that tnose VERY wo n.,s
@cs"s,sS General Hancock IN 1884, onI con.
temporary forse's ,as st ~ sns for revenue and
ihss on This platform Mr.. Iiasn Was ,e'e .ssSsun,
Inc real causes che de,eat o. ,aasmens and he
wcrc The candidstes iscA o' 1"os"'"' "AN ~"
ireachery Of John Kelly.
No. we haven't forgotten any OF those
things. We know that TmDEN carried
virginia in 1876, receiving the largest pop
Mar vote that any man has received in this
state since the war ended; but we are
quite sure that no one pressing his claims
ever for one moment thought OF putting
him forward as an advocate OF tariii TOT
revenue only, nor even so much rs men,
toned that subject. II was then as u VIII
be In ISsa-this year. II TILDsN shall IN
July next be nominated by the Democratic
National Convention. and placed upon
platform demanding tariff for revenue
only. he will carry Virginia no doubt, but
Il will be not because he stands upon that
platform, but in spite OF it. 1t will be be-
cause the Democrats Of Virginia dislike
Republican men and Republican measures
more than they dislike ga tariff for reVe-
nue. only.'
UANcoCK's defeat in November. 1850,
was insured when Indiana voted the he
pnbIican ticket in October. 1880. JOHN
KELLY's treachery operated only in NO
yember. General HANCOCK showed no
"lack OF Judgment" His declaration that
the tariff was local question was true in
the sense in which he meant it to be under
stood-that is. that Virginia congressman
vote TO protect sumac and tobacco, West
Virginia congressman to protect coal and
iron. Missouri congressman TO protect zinc,
Louisiana congressman to protect sugar,
&c, &c. At any rate his lack OF iudg-
ment" was not shown until after the re-
suit OF the Indiana elections had made his
defeat inevitable.
Let us return to 1876. Judge MEREDITH.
OF this city, an Old-Line, HENRY-CLAY
Wing, was chairman OF the committee that
reported the st. Louis platform. We were
there, and joined with Others in the applause
that greeted MFR. D0RsHEIMER's declara-
ton that he would make the issue I" here
and now ON what. reader? On the
question Of "good money "-on the ques-
ton practically of the greenback-delusion.
This was the question that attracted pub
lie attention then, and which it was
feared would distract the Democratic party.
General Tom Ewing was there, and
"the tall Sycamore Of the Wabash" the
gallant VOORHEES,. was there, to oppose
the adoption OF the report Of the commit
tee. and to secure sort Of greenback reso-
luton. They advocated minority report /;
but this minority report touched the
currency question only-that is, as 1t was
involved IN the resumption act. The
members OF the Convention were almost
breatLless whilst the vote was being taken
by States, and when it was announced that
a sound currency had won the victory there
was great rejoicing and much applause.
Senator VOORHEES, is opposed to tariff
for revenue only. So was the chairman
of the committee. So were hundreds OF
the members OF the st. Louis Convention;
but nobody said q word either for or
against tariff for revenue only. That
subject was not in all their thoughts. In
fact. the tariff resolution read, We de-
mand that all custom-house taxation shall
be for revenue "a form of words not at
all likely to stir up strife on the tariff cues
ton.
oh, no. The tariff occupied nobody's
thoughts in 1876. The st. Louis platform
was full of platitudes and consisted OF
many panks. Probably the tariff feature
was less regarded and had less influence
upon the result Of the presidential election
than any other. 1t is misleading to repre-
sent it as having been practical ISSUE
one discussed before the voters--in 1876.
..TnDEN and Reform" won that race.
"TuDEN and Reform" will win the race
OF 1854.