The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-12
SPLIT ON SECTIONS.
- the Democratic Party Was
Shattered In 1850.
sEpETIrIon At CHICAGO.
A~nan the south Drives the Kase Into
- Republican Party-The Quar-.
rel ~ Charleston.
Copyright. 1855,


49, Of the great slavery question.
EVERY effort was made ~ both sides 10
,senx about compromise on which
4oefh<rn and Southern Democrats could
~snd. but without avail
- fook the Democratic party a quarter
= century 10 recover from the effects
4 that division, and the wonder IL that
4 recovered at all
Today the Democracy con<ronfs an issue
= which sectional lines are drawn quite
- p1ainly--the question Of the standard
= currency. The Chicago convention de-
<1>red for the frse and unlimited coinage
u sl1ver By the United States irrespective
n the attitude Of the other nations Of the
world. The delegates from the East Ia
vored the maintenance OF the existing
I'D standard and will vote for Mckinley.
ne Republican party Is already divided.
thoa1rh the division 10 not 80 serious as
- threatened division of the Democratic
uarsr would be. The number Of states
which through their delegates to the ST.
fnufs convention went out OF the Kepub-
Nan party Is not great Judged BY the
eetton Of tho ST. Louis convention, only a
nusn part Of the Republican party Is In
hyor Of the free coinage OF silver. That
art ID not represented by any one Ia au-
th0ffty except three members Of the
Tinted States senate. On the other hand.
lie Democratic party. which Is IN power
"a Washington City, find It's majority In
asffouai convention Numerically opposed
~ the policy of the leaders IL elected four
Years ago Less than a year ago 90 GER
fatu we're the gold or sound money" men
that they would control the convention
that the only candidates seriously dis
CHASED we're sound money" men, and
chief among these was w. r. Morrison, o.
Illinois.
kos al the Eastern members OF the
democratic party are for sound money"
- not Ill OF it's Western and Southern
members are for silver. Not ali of the
Southern delegates 70 the famous Charles
ton convention of 1ss0 walked out OF the
convention hall: not all of the Northern
delegates sustained the platform and The
report Of the committee on credentials
two wedges which split the Democratic
marty In half nj the adjourned meeting Of
the convention IN Baltimore and put two
hopeless Democratic tickets In the field
against Lincoln and Hamlin.
Until the Charleston convention OF l6s0
M Democracy had fought over principles
eftsn, but the will OF the majority had
hen accepted when the record WAS made.
Il had fought over men quadrenniaily.
but when the two-thirds vote or the con-
vention named the party candidate ali
ths delegates In the convention acquiesced
q the verdict. The split In the convention
q 10 was the first step toward the condi-
don which resulted In the secession OF the
Southern states and inaugurated the long
continued civil war. There Is belief In
~ minds OF some historians that the dis
card In the Charleston convention was
the result and not the cause OF the de-
etre for secession. that the troubles OF
nat convention we're inspired by Southern
men who wanted an excuse for taking
their states out Of the Union. Mr.. Blaine
Aid not believe this. He thought the diff
ierences In the convention were unavold-
able and the results inevitable.
The conflict In and out OF congress over
tAs right Of the territorial legislatures or
u congress to prohibit slavery In the terri
tories had created restless condition IN
me South. and In the winter OF 1890 an
susbreak seemed imminent. II WAS for
this reason Southern city was chosen "a
The meeting place OF the convention. The
ooufhern Democrats were nrraye6 against
he Northern Democrats. and the belief
Was general that Northern candidate
terminated In a Northern city or plat
form embodying the ideas Of the Demo-
srafs Of the North could not command the
support OF the Southern states. The con-
vtntson was given to Charleston In a coz
elistory spirit. II was the FIRST great na-
Gonai convention held south OF Baltimore
which for many years and, IN fact. until
~. had been the great convention city.
IN 1855 the Democrats had met at CIncin-
oad ana there had adopted n platform
vhich became one OF the bones OF contsn-
Non AZ Charleston four years later.
The Cincinnati platform declared against
tAa renewal. In congress or out. OF the
slavery question, and more distinctly 20
meet the issue. declared that II repnalsted
ali sectional parties and platforms con-
earning domestic slavery which seek To
ouhroii the state- and incife 20 treason
onc armed resistance TO law IN the terri
tories and whose avcwes purpose. II con-
animated. must end IN civil war and dis
WHOM 1t recognized and adopted ''the
principles contained in the organic laws
establishing the territories OF Nebraska
md Kansas as embodying the only sound
ana safe solution OF ths slavery question
upon which the great national idea OF the
people OF this whole country can rerose m
It's determined conservation % the Union
ond ncn-tn.erference Of congress with
slavery In the territories or In TIE District
81 Columbia" IL held that this was the
Nasss OF the compromises Of 1850, ratified
ny the people IA the election az fSs1 and
rightly applied 20 the organixa tion az the
territories In 1884 n held that by the
Uniform application % the Democratic
principle 90 the organisation OF territories
sHt the admission OF new states with or
Without domestic slavery. as they may
e'ect. the equal rights OF all tfse states viii
~ preserved intact. the original coupacfs
o. the constitution maintained invtclate
snt ths rerpetrfty AMI expansion OF the
Vnsen insured 20 It's utmost capacity CT
embracing IN peace and harmony every
sntare American state that may be conssi-
snsrt or annexed with a republican form
Or government" " declared the right 81
tas territories 10 form constitutions ard
~ admitted 20 ths Union when their Ia
nabltants testified. with or without do
ees;ic slavery"
IRIS was ne platform which many ~
ne delegates 20 the Charleston convention
wanted 20 affirm without modification.
sat This platform was like most ~ ths
ssesrsflons Of the Republican and oem,s-
eatie parties on the currency question ~
Wesnt years IL waS snihixaeas. snH each
serssoa rave q a different Interpretation
We southern delegates went 20 Charleston
We TIRE svowes determination OF having
"a - uansssskasle slavery plank put N the
ttstfcrzn.
TIE cAarleston convention osxen With
vfoFo9S. rnncerons contest ever eeNss-
New ycrk and Illinois sent two flll dele
tssions each. sn5 IN che preliminary or
tzsszsstcn tie seats from each % these
sates were given 20 the delegations which
sers understood 20 favnr the nomination
e s'erhen A Douglas Douglas was the
Ma az the NoTthern Derocraey--AlYaoxt -
sseh an tdoi IS Jsmes O. Blaine was IN
xse Republican parry eSterweri The
Norfaern Democrats went 20 Charleston
20 the svowei Intention ~ nominating
SIN sns TIE action 81 tas servention IL
srstns the Douglas eeicEa tors from New
.ofs ana Illinois gave plata Indication
vat his friends were in the majority. n
- pasin too, thsf the vote o. credentials
sse'errniRe3 what the platform wauld be
- ooesias woglt not r0n o. 8 platform
..Is'sseHies the views ~ the Southern
eesseTstes. ard TIRE convention early deter
ssaaes % naks tbe platform before naas-
sss the Naasi4atA