The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1897-06-24
POLITICAL PLATFORMS.
The first One Was Built by the Demo
cratic Party In 1882.

The First One Was Built by the Demo
cratic Party In 1882.
No political party held national
convention prior to 1881 or.adopted
platform of principles prior to
1882. Before these dates nomina-
lions were made by congressional
caucuses and by the several legisla-
lures.
The anti-Masonic party was the
. first to hold a national convention.
This was convened in Baltimore
Sept. 90. 1881. 1t named William
Writ for president, but adopted no
platform. This example was follow
ed by the Wings, who met in De-
cember of the same year and put
Henry Clay in nomination, but
framed no declaration of principles.
1t was not until the Democratic
party met in convention, also in
Baltimore, March 90, 1882, that the
modern custom of stating the issues
of the campaign was inaugurated.
In those days politicians were brief.
Here is the first national platform:
Resolved, That an adequate protection to
American industry is indispensable to the pros
perity of the country, and that an abandon
ment of the policy at this period would be
attended with consequences ruinous to the
best interests of the nation.
Resolved, That uniform system of internal
improvements sustained and supported by the
general government is calculated to secure, In
the highest degree, the harmony, the strength
and permanency Of the republic.
Resolved That the indiscriminate removal
of public officers for the mere difference of po-
htical opinion is gross abuse Of power, and
that the doctrine lately boldly preached in the
United States senate that to the yictors be-
long the spoils of the vanquished is detri
mental to the interests, corrupting to the
morals and dangerous to the liberties Of the
country.
Here is the first platform of the
historic opponents of the Democrat
ic party. The Wings adopted it in
1886, when they named Harrison
and Granger:
Resolved, That in support of our cause we
invite all citizens opposed to Martin Van Blu
rem and the Baltimore nominees
Resolved, That Martin Van Buren,, by in
triguing with the executive to obtain his in
huence to elect him to the presidency has set
an example dangerous to our freedom and cor
rupting to our free institutions.
Resolved, That the. support we render to
William II. Harrison Is by no means given to
him solely on account of his brilliant and sue
cessful services as leader of our armies during
the last war, but that in him we view also the
man of high intellect, the stern patriot, un.
contaminated by the machinery Of hackneyed
politicians-a man of the school of Washington.
Resolved, That in Francis Granger we recog-
nize one of our most distinguished fellow citi-
zens, whose talents we admire and whose
principles we sanction.
1t will be noticed that the forego-
ing platform has more to say about
the personalities of candidates than
about issues or principles.
The Wing platform of 1914 en-
bodied this concise declaration,
which has not been exceeded in
those qualities that go to make the
model controversial document:
Resolved. That these principles may be sum-
med up as comprising n well regulated ma
tional currency; tariff for revenue to defray
the necessary expenses Of the government, and
discriminating with special reference to the
protection of the domestic labor of the coun-
try, the distribution of the proceeds from the
sale of public lands, a single term for the pres.
idency, reform of executive usurpation and
generally such an administration Of the affairs
Of the country as shall impart to every branch
of the public service the greatest practical
efficiency, controlled by well regulated and
wise economy.
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