The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-16
Tho Cineinnati Platform.

The Cincinnati Platform.
The declaration Of principles put forth
yesterday by the Republican National Con-
vention is noteworthy on but two points
namely, the currency and the school ques-
ton. On other matters it relates to
subjects which can have little in
fluence on the Presidential canvass.
On the currency question it is hating
and timid. It quails before the Western
demand for o repeal Of the act Of Congress
requiring resumption of specie payments
in 1879 Instead of standing by the act
and declaring an unalterable purpose to
carry it into effect, the Cincinnati plat
form makes a virtual but stealthy
abandonment Of its chief provision.
This cowardly concession to the in
infationists will not help the republican
party in the Eastern States. Instead Of pro-
claiming steadfast adherence to the law
requiring resumption in 1879 the Cincinnati
platform merely pledges the party ito make
provision at the earliest practicable period
for the redemption of the United States
notes in COIN" This concession to Western
sentiment, this admission that resump-
ton in 1879 is not intended by the repub-
ican party, is virtual Endorsement of the
persistent attempts of the infationists in the
present Congress to repeal the act. Such q
concession deprives tho republican party
of all the political capital it might
have made in the resumption of spe-
ole payments. It has gone back upon its
own record; it has given up the legislation
of republican Congress; it has retreated
from resumption in 1879 and taken refuge in
vague generalities about resumption lat the
earliest practicable PERIOD" which is,
in effect, an indefinite postponement
of specie payments. This is precisely
the ground of the Western infationists.
The republican party has stultiied itself by
abandoning its legislative promise to resume
in 1879. 1t remains to be seen whether the
democratic party is wise enough to take adj
vantage Of this blunder. But whether it
does or not the republicans have put it out
of their power to help their can
vass by claims founded on their hard
money position. The act requiring resump-
ton in 1879 has been strangled by the Gin
cinnati Convention, which has substituted
for it vague promise to resume specie pay
ments ''at the earliest practicable period,
which may be as many years hence as the
soft money men of the West may think fit.
The resolution on the school question is
an appeal to the Protestant feeling of the
country and an attempt to turn hostility to
the Catholic Church to political account. The
position taken by the Cincinnati Convention
on the school question is right in itself, but
the subject is beyond the domain of national
politics. The public schools are supported
out of taxes levied by the State governments.
There is no State in the Union in which
the Protestants are not in o majority
of six or seven to one. They can
protect the public schools wherever
they think them endangered without the
aid of the federal government. II is absurd
to drag this question into national politics,
and if the republican party did not feel that
it is losing its hold on public confidence it
would not have made this appeal to sectarian
animosities.