Oregonian, and was considered the regular organ of the republican party, and was edited by James O'Meara.
The democratic state convention which met April 26, 1876, adopted a platform consisting of three resolutions. It declared for the common schools; for religious freedom; commended the lower house of congress for its reforms, and reaffirmed the democratic platform for the year 1874.
The republican state convention which met May 3, 1876, adopted a platform consisting of nine resolutions, declaring its fidelity to the constitution and the Union; in favor of the preservation of the liberties of the people and the impartial administration of the laws; economy in public office and in favor of public schools, protective tariff, specie payment, and approved the resumption act; favored the prosecution of all criminals, having special reference to the star route and whisky ring, and other scandals exposed by the democratic congress; demanded national candidates of tried integrity and in accord with the fruits of the war; denounced the present state administration, which had contracted a debt of $300,000.
It is thus seen that from 1865 up to 1874 the issues which divided the people into two political parties were practically those which grew out of the results of the civil war and the legislation following the adoption of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments to the constitution. It was not till 1874 that the old issues which had hitherto divided the political parties of the nation and state since 1861 ceased to be vital. The period from 1865 to 1876, embraced in this paper, witnessed that bitterness of political controversy and division of the people growing out of the great issues settled by the civil war and developed by the legislation rendered necessary thereby.
It has not been the purpose in this paper to give ex-
