Show THE TilE FIRST PLATFORM o NE NE of the essentials of a modern modern modern mod- mod ern political convention is the adoption of a platform upon which the President Presidential al' al nominee nominee is isto isto isto to take his s stand and during the campaign Whether or not he stays on it is quite another matter matter mat mat- matter ter but few candidates would think of going before the without without without with with- out one The first platform appeared during during during dur dur- ing the campaign of 1840 In that year the Democrats holding their convention in Baltimore set forth what they considered the fundamental fundamental fundamental funda funda- mental principles o o- o otheir their party Asserting that the federal government government government govern govern- ment was one of strictly limited powers and that all grants not expressly expressly expressly ex ex- ex- ex pressly m made de to it were reserved to the states this platform Declared against the assumption of state debts contracted for loral local lo- lo cal ral improvements bv by the federal I government I I I Denied the power of the federal government to foster one industry or GT section to the detriment of an an- other that the federal government government govern govern- government ment exceeded its authority when it raised more revenue than was required to defray the ordinary expenses expenses expenses ex ex- ex- ex I of administration Denied the power of congress to interfere with or control the institution institution institution of slavery Declared against the handling of public funds by private banks Denounced restrictions upon the privileges of citizenship and of ownership of land with respect to foreign immigrants s. s They then unanimously Martin Van Buren for the presidency and got ready to fight I the battle of ballots along the lines of policy they had laid down But if they expected their opponents to meet them on that ground they were grievously disappointed The Whigs not only failed to adopt a platform but they failed to put forth any statement of principles for the very good reason that they didn't have any They disregarded disregard disregard- gard ed issues entirely and launched their whirlwind Tippecanoe and Tyler Too campaign The bewildered Democrats stood firm on their platform and watched the procession go past past past-a a triumphal procession for the Whigs 0 Western Newspaper u r Union |