Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-06
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 6. 1889.
n,d.Fnshloned Democracy.

We have not seen in a long time q
Democratic platform so much like those
OF ante-belIum days as is the one adopted
last Wednesday by the Democrats OF
Pennsylvania in State Convention assem-
bled. 1t reads az il the spirit of the
great constitutional lawyer JEREMIAH
BLACK had inspired its constructors It's
utterances are not merely ike the utter
ances Of JEFFERSON and JACKSON, but
arc the utterances Of those fathers OF
Democracy. 1t is hopeful sign that
the Democrats of the Keystone State
have thus planted their feet upon the
Constitution as il was construed by the
fathers
Congress will assemble in regular ses-
sion less than three months hence, and
possibly in extra session before that
time aud il is the settled purpose OF the
Republicans OF that body to chain the
States TO the car of Federal power, and
destroy the last vestigo OF their rights,
by enscting a law placing all congress
Eonal elections in the southern States,
il not all in the Union. under the con-
troll Of unprincipled partisans. Whether
the northern States shall or shall not be
brought at once under the operation OF
the new law or not is not n matter Of
importance. The Union cannot exist
half slave and half free, said Mr.. LIN
CoLS thirty years ago and the saying
is Just as true now as it was then, aud
Just as true of the slavery which the Re
publican congressman purpose TO estab-
lish in the southern States as it was OF
negro slavery. The proposed national
election law may be made to operate at
first only upon the southern States, but
it will soon be so changed as to extend
its operations all over the country. We
shall all be slaves together.
The feature of the Pennsylvania Demo
cratic platform to which We allude is the
first plank. 1t reads as follows
First That all powers not expressly
granted TO the General Government are
withheld, and sacred observance of the
rule of construction contained in the
tenth amendment 10 the Constitution it
self is essential TO the preservation OF
the principles OF home rule and Of pure,
honest, and economical government, to
the end that labor may not be robbed Of
the bread it has earned
If both parties would agree to be gov
erned by the safe rule of constitutional
construction set forth in the above reso-
luton, and which in former days was set
forth in every Democratic platform,
State or national, the Union would have
before il the prospect OF long life. An
"iudissoluble Union Of indestructible
States is not possible under the loose
construction which tho Republican party
puts upon the Federal Constitution, and
particularly upon the tenth article Of
amendments mentioned in the resolu-
ton quoted above. The tenth amend
ment reads as follows:
"The powers not delegated to tho
United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it TO the States, are re-
served to the States respectively or to
the people. "
Recollect that Mr.. CARLISLE says in
his article in The Forum for September
that Congress has no power to pass such
On election-law as the Republicans intend
TO try to pass next winter, and you will
pee that the Democrats Of Pennsylvania
did not make an abstract declaration,
which had no application to current
events, but laid down a doctrine upon
which the Democrats in the next House
of Representatives must act il they
would preserve the civilization of the
South and the liberties of the whole ma
ton. Tho Democrats OF Pennsylvania
declare for "home rule" in the u nited
States as we'll as in Ireland. What sort
OF home rule " shall we have if our
elections are 10 DO controlled from
Washington through spies and inform
ers and non-residents and ignorant
negroes?
The Pennsylvania Democratic plat
form touches the tariff question also in
the old-time manner. II asks for the re-
vision and reduction Of tarif-taxes "for
the relief of American labor" "Ameri-
can labor needs all the help that it can
get There is no room for two opinions
on this point, though there may be as 10
how this help can most easily be obtained
and most quickly rendered.
We trust that this pennsylyan mia Demo
cratic platform will be laid down in
other States II Is time to recur to first
principles.