The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-06-07
POLITICAL PLATFORMS.
A Series of Interesting Documents.
M1testone8 IN the Development Of Poziti-
col Parties Since the Organiza
tlOn of The GOa,en,1- nllert

CI'I CtICt6S St9tC6 CU6 OT9QH3Z0
tiO1a Of the GoUer1 n1ent
In the earlier histories of political
parties in the United States, platforms
were not much used. In fact the first
platform did not appear till the year
1900, and that was adopted by the old
republican Jeffersonian) party at
Philadelphia, Pa
In the year 1900 the Federal party
adopted no platform at all; being
already in power it was probably
thought to "let we'll enough alone. "
But the Jeffersonian Republicans met
at Philadelphia and adopted the fol
! lowing:
1. An inviOlable preservation Of the
Federal Constitution, according to the
tTue sense in which it was adopted by
the States, that in which it was ad-
van 3ed by it's friends, and not that
which it's enemies apprehended, who,
til erefOre became its enemies.
2. Opposition to mOnarchizing is
features by the forms Of its a. minis
tratlon, with a yield to concili tte a
transition, first to a President and
Senate for life; and, secondly, to an
hereditary tenure of those offices, and
| GLiLAS W WOEll OuU Gu0 0ItCGlFS
3. Preservation to the States of the
powers not yielded to them by the
| Union, and to the legislature of the
Union its constitutional share in divis-
iC1 of powers; and resistance there
fore, to existing movements for trans
| fefrit e all the powers of the States to
the General Government, and all of
those of that government to the execu
tive bNRnch.
4 vigorously frugal administration
of the government and the application
Of all the possible savings of the public
revenue to the liquidation Of the public
| debts and resistance, therefore, to all
measures looking TO a multiplication of
| officers and salaries, merely to create
| partIs&nS and to augment the public
debt, on the principle of its being a
public blessing.
5. Reliance for internal defense solely
upon the militia, till actual invasion,
and for such naval force only, as may
be sufficient to protect our coasts and
! harbOrs from depredatiOns; and OppO-
sition, therefore, to the policy of a
standing army in time of peace which
may overawe the public sen 5iment, and
! to a navy, which, by it's own expenses,
ard the wars in which it will implicate
us, will grind us with public burdens
| and sink us under them.
! u. Free commerce with all nations,
I.Asti 3al WI h none, and little cr No
| diplomatic establishment.
Z. Opposition to linking ourselves by
new treaties with the quarrels of
Europe, entering their fields Of slaughter
to preserve their balance, or Joining in
the cOnfederacy of kings to war against
the principles of liberty.
s. Freedom of religion, and Opposi-
tiOn to all maneuvers to bring about a
as ascendency of one Sc It over another.
9. Freedom of speech and Of the
press and opposition, therefore, to all
violations of the Constitution to silence,
by force, and not by reason, the com
plants or criticisms, just or unjust, of
our citizens against the conduct of
their public agents.
From 1900 up to 1912 there were no
platforms adopted by any party, and
in 1912 neither the Federalists or Re
publicans caredghO proclaim their sen
timGnts.
1880.
ANTI MASONIC RESOLUTION, PHILADELr
PHIA, SEPTEMBER.
Resolved, That it is recommended tC
thepeOpleOf the United States, opposed
to secret societies, to meet in cOnven
ton on Monday, the Goth day of Sep
tember, 1881, at the city of Baltimore
by delegates equal in number to theiI
representatives in both Houses Of
Congress, to make nominations ofsuit
able candidates for the offices of Presi
dent and Vice President, to be sup
ported at the next election, and for the
transaction of such other business as
the cause of Anti-Masonry may re
quire.
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN MEETING AT
WASHINGTON, MAY 11TH
RESOLVED, That an adequate protec
tion to American industry is indispens
ible to the prosperity of the country
and that an abandonment of the policy
at this period would be attended with
consequences ruinOus to the best in
terests of the nation.
Resolved, That a uniform system O.
internal improvements, sustained anC
supported by the General Government
is calculated to secure in the highes
degree, the harmony, the strength anC
permanency Of the Republic.
ReSOZUed, That the indiscriminatt
removal of public officers for mer
difference of political opinion, is a gros
abuse of power and that the doctrin
lately boldly preached in the Unite(
States Senate, that " to the victors be
long the spoils of the vanquished i
detrimental to the interests, corruptin
to the morals, and dangerous to tn
liberties of the country.
"LoCo FoCo," NEW YORK, JANUARY
We hold these truths to be self ev
dent, that all men are created free an
equal; that they are endowed by thei
z Creator with certain inalienable rights
among which are life, liberty and tn
pursuit of happiness; that the tru