Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-10-04

in the imperialistic poison. The plat
form adopted on that occasion refers
only in general terms to the great prin-
ciple upon which the party was founded
Sec. 8 says:
"Complete liberty and exact equality
in the enjoyment of all political and
public rights shall be established and
effectually maintained throughout the
Union by efficient and appropriate fed
eral legislation"
The convention held at Cincinnati,
June II and Is, 1876, nominated Mr..
Hayes, of Ohio, for president, and con-
iirmed this principle:
"Thc republican party has preserved
this government to the hundredth ami
versary of the nations birth, and they
are nn" tho embodiment of the great
truths spoken Ut -rr'- ~....,,,-, 4L.. Al ,or,,
are created equal, and they are endowed
by their Creator with certain innliAnohla
rights, among which are life, liberty and
the pursuit OF happiness. That for the
attainment OF these ends, governments
have been instituted among men, deriv-
ing their Just power from the consent of
the government. Until these truths are
chcerfully obeyed, or need by vigorously
enforced, the work of the republican
party is unfinished"
The work OF the party, apparently,
was not finished. Mr.. Hayes, though
receiving minority, both OF the popular
vote and in the electoral college, was by
chicanery and the threat of force seated
in the presidential chair in open defiance
OF the principle above quoted.
Gen. Garfield was nominated at Chi
cago, in June, 1880. The party was by
that time reduced to such straits that its
sole dependence for continuance in power
was last frantic waving OF the "boody
shirt This ensanguined garment was
accordingly Haunted once more for all it
was worth, and the principle OF equal
rights for man was left to shift for itself.
Since 1880, that is during the past
twenty years, the party has been dis
creetly silent in its platforms upon the
subject of equal rights. During this
period the standing of the Declaration of
Independence and of the federal consti-
tuition has steadily fallen among the de-
generate descendants of Lincoln. In the
platform OF 1854, upon which Mr.. Blaine
was nominated at Chicago, there is much
about the tariff, considerable about the
protection of American sheep, but very
little about the protection OF American
men in their constitutional rights. No
plank in the platform can be found
affirming this fundamental principle in
specific terms.
The same is true of the platform OF
June 81, 1888, upon which Mr.. Harrison
was nominated at Chicago. True the
convention sent congratulations to the
newly established republic OF Brazil and
congratulated tour fellow-citizens OF
Irish birth upon the peaceful recovery OF
home rule for Ireland There are
planks denouncing Mormonism, favoring
inc USE VI potil S'i'' s'"' '''NSi "'
money! demanding the reduction Of
letter postage, and the protection OF our
fisheries, besides, of course, the usual
call for more pensions but the Declare
ton OF Independence and the equa
rights of man are studiously ignored, i
not entirely forgotten.
In the platform of 1892, upon which
Mr.. Harrison was renominatel at Min
neapols, occurs this somewhat onfuse'
declaration, in favor OF the fire cdom o
thought and speech: "The ultimate re
lance OF free popular government is he
intelligence of the people and the ma n
tenance OF freedom among all men. We