The record-union., 1896-12-07

II is gong on surely ana inevitably by
such scratching.
RIGHTING POLITICAL HISTORY.
During the late campaign good many
things were said which if then denied
would not have resulted in much change
of opinion, for people take campaign
denials along with campaign asser-
tions, with a great deal Of allowance.
When, therefore, the heat Of campaign
is over and there can be examination of
historical recitals in the calm and GER
tain wrong conclusions can be set right
it is well to do SO.
Altgeld in his New York speech sup
ported the plank of the Chicago plat
form relative to Federal Interference
referring as every one knows to the Chi
cago strike, since Altgeld himself dis
cussed it from that standpoint, and re-
cited his version of the strike and the
armed interference of the Federal Gov
ernment-and quoted in defense of the
Chicago infammatory declaration a
plank from the platform of the Republi-
can party in 1860, as follows:
That the maintenance inviolate of the
rights Of the States, and especially the
right Of each State to order and control
its domestic institutions according to
it's own judgment exclusively, Is essen
tial to that balance Of power on which
the perfection and endurance Of our po-
litical fabric depends; and we denounce
the lawless invasion by armed forces of
the soil Of any State or Territory, no
matter under what pretext, as among
the gravest of errors.
This plank Altgeld affirmed was aimed
against the use of Federal troops to en-
force the Fugitive Slave Act. The Rec
ord Union" at the time denied that
statement, and said that 1t had no such
reference, but related to wholly different
subjects involved in the matter Of free
or slave soil in the West. Now come
some Of the few survivors Of that cele
brated Republican convention of 1860.
George s. Boutwell,, John A. Kasson and
Edward L. Pierce of Milton, Mass, and
in letters to the New York papers give
the lie to Altgeld's charge. Be it noted
that in 1860 Altgeld was not of the age
even If in the country to know per-
sonally much, if anything, about it. Mr..
Pierce says:
There are not many survivors Of the
national convention Of 1860, which nom
mated Mr.. Lincoln, and happen to be
one. Carl Schurz was another, repre-
senting Wisconsin. John A. Kassop Of
Iowa was another. Mr.. Kasson was
understood at the time to have done
much in putting the resolutions into
their final shape. OF the Massachusetts,
delegates four are living, Governor
Boutwell,, who served on the Committee
on Platform, Robert T. Davis Of Fall
River, William Claf1in, since Governor,
and Edward L. Pierce. the last two rep
resenting the Adams district.
Mr.. Pierce then proceeds to say and
with emphasis, that which is borne out
all the great speeches made in the cam
paign and in Congress, and all Of which
Altgeld and all the speakers who fol-
lowed him in the mis- reference, not ex-
Guiding Mr.. Bryan himself, could have
examined, namely, that the plank
quoted by Altgeld referred to two GER
tain matters and those only; first dis
claimer Of any purpose to interfere with
slavery in the slave States, a purpose
constantly charged by southerners and
Democrats generally, against the then
new party. 1t was a matter in fact
which the party elements divided upon,
but the conservatives won and showed
the radicals that any declaration less
conservative would work great damage
to the prospects of the new party
The second and last part Of the plank
referred to the kansas border trou-
bles," to the marching of border ruff
fans" into that section and the driving
out of free soilers; these armed bodies
moving over the Kansas border under
pretext often Of protecting property"
that had been taken over the line in the
form of human chattels
Mr. Pierce adds:
Nobody had in mind in drawing or
voting for the platform that it referred
in the slightest degree to the execution
Of the Fugitive-Slave Act by the aid of
Federal troops. Governor Altgeld's at
tempt to support by this precedent his
protest against President Cleveland's S
use of Federal power to enforce the Con-
stitution and laws of the United States
In Illinois altogether fails.
John A. Kasson writes to saw that
Altgeld's charge betrays a most la
mentable ignorance of the history Of
the country and of the political parties
and campaigns. an ignorance he might
well have added that ought to shame
any well read and fair man. The first
clause of the plank was intended to
plant the party on the old doctrine Of
both the Wings and the Democrats rel
ative to non-interference in the purely
domestic matters of State, and the Sec
ond clause referred to the iawless in
vasion of the soil Of any territory or
State by an armed force. 1t grew out
Of the fact OF one of Browns armed
bands having invaded Virginia, and
other armed bands, mainly Missourians.
invading Kansas to suppress free insti-
tutions. Mr.. Kasson says that he
served on the General and the SUBJ