The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-28

AHE presidential conven-
lions are near at hand.
~ :YA and the voice of the
-. platform maker, both
.r professional and anna
teur is again heard in
Egl mr. TTTFfl4ii the land. At such
time it may be inter
esting to recall briefly some of the plat
forms adopted by the two great polit-
icaI parties in the past, together with
few of the less important ones belong
ing to the other political divisions
The year 1850 was a great year for
parties and platforms. In view of the
sectional aspect of the political situa-
ton. it is not likely that the northern
element of the Democratic party would
have chosen Charleston as its conven-
ton city but the location had been
fixed four years before. The conven-
ton assembled April % and at once
appointed a platform committee, one
member from each state. 1t was agreed
that no ballot for candidates should be
taken until the platform had been fixed
On April p three platforms were re
ported-the southern, the Douglas and
the Butler. The southern platform
contained seven resolutions and the
Douglas six. Four of both were alike
and advocated protection of citizens at
home and abroad; approved a Pacific
railroad, favored the acquisition of
Cuba and condemned any attempt to
defeat the execution of the fugitive
slave law. The distinctive southern
resolutions were to the effect that con-
gress could not prohibit slavery in a
territory and that the question of slav-
cry could only be settled by a state. The
other Douglas resolutions declared that
the Democratic doctrines of the. past
were Interchangeable" but that the par
ty would abide by the decisions of the
United States supreme court. The
northern delegates were willing to ac-
cept the bred Scott decision tempo
rarily, but the southern element wanted
the party to accept it for all time to
come. The Butler platform was the
same as that of 1856. It was ignored.
The Douglas document was adopted by
a free state majority. The minority
was the slave state vote, with Oregon,
California and part of Pennsylvania
and New Jersey. On the following day
the southern delegates Withdrew, to re-
assemble at Richmond on June IL. The
original convention adopted the two
thirds rule and began to ballot. But
the convention, though it had accepted
the platform, could not then make up
it's mind to indOrse its chief exponent.
It adjourned, to meet again at Balti-
more on June IS. There it nominated
Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois to lead
the ticket. Some time afterward the
national committee chose HerscheI v.
Johnson of Georgia for his running
mate. On June % the separatists at
Richmond adopted the southern plat
form and nominated John C. Breckin-
ridge of Kentucky and Joseph Lane of
Oregon.
May 9 of that. same year the Consti-
tutional Union party, the northern rem
nant of the Wings met at Baltimore
and nominated John Bell of Tennessee
and Edward Everett of AIassa chusetts.
The platform denounced platforms in
general and asserted that patriotism
should recognize only the constitution,
union of states and the enforcement of
law. 1t carried Kentucky, Tennessee
and Virginia.
The Republican platform for that
year, adopted at Chicago May 49, was
much like the document of the previous
campaign, though it dropped the con-
junction of polygamy and slavery, de-
manded a homestead law and protec-
ton for domestic manufactures and de-
nounced threats of secession. It also
reasserted its opposition to slavery. to
the repeal of the Missouri compromise
and the refusal to admit Kansas as a
free state. 1t declared for a Pacific
railroad. Its candidates = Abraham