The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-06-18
CONVENTIONS
AND PLATFORMS
CONTINUED from page one.)


equality in the enjoymnt of all civil
political and public rights; against
grants of public lands to corporations
and Inonopolies and demanded that the
National domain be set apart for free
homes for the people; against any re-
pudiation of the public debt in any
form as a National crime, and inserted
clause recognizing the work of the
loyal women of America for their noble
devotion TO the cause OF freedom, the
first time that women had ever been
recognized in a political platform.
The Democratic Convention was held
in July in Baltimore Horace Greeley
was nominated on the first ballot
against jeremiah S. Black, for Presi-
dent, and B. Gratz Brown, of Missouri,
on the first ballot for Vice President.
The Democratic Convention adopted as
its first act the platform of the Liberal
Republicans. whose Convention was
held in May in Cincinnati. Horace
Greeley and p. Gratz Brown had been
nominated at this Convention and their
platform declared as follows:
I'VE recognize the equality of all
men before the law; we pledge our
selves to maintain the union of these
States, emancipation and enfranchise-
ment and opposing any reopenfng of
the questions settled by the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments to the Constitutions" demanded
the immediate and absolute removal
of Oil disabilities imposed on account
of the rebellion; declared against civil
service in the Government and against
a second term for any President; and
demanded a speedy return to specie
payments.
What was called the Straight-out
Democratic Convention was held in
September in Louisville Charles
OConnor, of New York, was nomi-
mated for President and John Quincy
Adams, of Massachusetts. for Vice
President. The nominees declined, but
their destinations were not accepted.
The platform declared that the DEM
ocratic Party was held together by the
cohesion of time-honored principles
which they will never surrender in eX-
change for all the offices which Presi-
dents can confer. The pangs of the
minorities are doubtless excruciating.
but we welcome an eternal minority
under the banner inscribed with their
principles rather than an almighty ma
jority preserved by their abandon
ment." They declared that the party
had been betrayed in Baltimore into a
false creed and false leadership and re-
pudiated both.
This was year when political par
ties seemed to have gone wild on theo-
put into the field. The Labor Reform
Convention was held in February in
Columbus, Ohio, and David Davis. of
Illinois, was nominated for President.
The Prohibition Convention was held
in February and James Black, of Penn
sylvania. was nominated. Five of these
tickets were in the field in the end, but
scarcely got a smell of an electoral
vote.
The Conventions of 1876.
The Republican Convention of 1876
was held at Cincinnati. Seven ballots
were taken for the nomination for
President, Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes,
of Ohio, being unanimously nominated
in the end and William A. Wheeler, of
New York. for Vice President. The
platform declared that the United
States of America is Nation and not
a league; for high duties upon imports;
to promote the interests of the Ameri-
can laborer and advance the prosper
ity- of the. country; demanded protec-
ton for American citizens abroad; for
an investigation into the immigration
and importation of Chinese; declared
against polygamy, and demanded that
Congress prohibit ii.
The Democratic Convention was held
in June, Samuel J. TiIden, of New
York, was nominated for President and
Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana, for
Vice President. The Democratic plat
form declared against the Administra-
ton; for the supremacy of the civil over
the military authority; for the separa-
ton of Church and State; against
sumptuary laws; for sound currency;
denounced the tariff as a masterpiece
of injustice. inequality and false pre-
tense and declared for specie resump-
ton.
In this campaign the "Greenbackers"
first came to the front with a Presi-
Dental candidate in the person of
Peter Cooper, of New York. Their
platform was comprised Of five planks.
each and everyone having some refer
ence to the money question, and the
sum and substance of the five was that
the greenhack should be made legal
tender. The Prohibition Convention
nominated Green Clay Smith, of Ken
lucky, and the American National Con-
vention James B. Walker, of Illinois.
The last named Convention had plat
form which. summed up, said: God
requires and man needs a Sabbath"
Immediately after the election
charges of false returns were made in
several States and Congress in conse-
quence passed the Act approved Jan.
29, 1877, which provided for the Elec-
toral Commission TO decide on disputed
returns. The counting of the electoral
vote began on Feb. /, 1877, and con-
finued until a little after o'clock in
the morning of March 2, 1877. Hayes
was declared elected.
The Convention of 1850.
The Republican Convention of 1880
was held in June in Chicago. James
A. Garfield was nominated for Presi-
dent and Chester A. Arthur for Vice
President. Its platform declared that
the Constitution Of the United States is
a supreme Law and not a mere con-
tract; declared against unrestricted i'm
migration; called attention to all re-
forms the Republican Party had work
ed in its 20 years of control of the Fed
eral Government and asked the con-
tinued support of the people.
The Democratic Convention held in
Cincinnati nominated for President
Winfield S. Hancock. of Pennsylvania.
lish. of Indiana. The Democratic plat
form declared against Capitalization of
power; for home rule and tariff for
revenue. 1t excrated the course of the
Republican Administration, declared
against the fraud of 20 and H." and
for free ships and living chance for
American commerce on the sea and on
the land. The Greenbackers and Pro-
hibitionsits also had tickets in the field.
The Conventions of 1854.
The Republican Convention of 1884
was held in June, in Chicago. James
G. Blaine was nominated for President
ana John A. Logan for Vice President
The platform declared that il is the
first duty of good government TO pro-
tect the rights and interests of its own
people and, therefore. demanded that
the imposition of duties on foreign i'm
ports should be made high enough 10
raise the requisite revenue for the Gov
yersified industies and potection to the
rights and wages of the labore-S