New-York tribune., 1878-10-04
nv FtHOR OF WLSE LEGISLATION.

Representative Landers, of the list District
of Connecticut, may have other troubles III
connection with his canvass for areeleetion SUI
ficient To keep him awake nights, but he has
the ADVANTAGE ut least of having a platform
upon which ne can stand without wrenching
himself. When the Democrats OF his district
renOminated him the other day, they marched
boldly up to the currency questionable most
prominent and vital issue in current politics
calmly faced it and courageously resolved that
they were in favor of "such wise financial
Legislation as will restore prosperity to our
"people." Could ANYTHING be clearer or
more definite? And Landers, when questioned
as to his views on the currency and finance, Is
relieved of all trouble by the franknes5 anu
distinctness of tins noble utterance. lie can
point with pride to his platform as a sufficient
answer to all questions on those subjects. lie
happens in addition to have an uncom-
moDly convenient record to point to with
pride He voted on both sides on the Silver
bill, and can satisfy in that regard either hard
or soft-mOney questloners. Upon resump-
ton repeal he voted both ways, and dodged
once. He voted to prohibit the further
retirement of legal-tender notes and to au-
thorize the payment of customs dues in green
backs. and lodged the vote to retire National
bank-nOtes.
So the record is no less convenient than the
platform. He has voted on pretty much all
sides. and the Greenbacker or hard-money
man who cannot find something in it all to
suit must be difficult TO please. When any
pIying and inquisitive voter asks him how he
stands on finance. he will say the Convention
expressed his views precisely: he is in favor
of "wise legislation" And If the questiODer
is guilty of the further impertinence of ask
ing what he considers "wise legislation"
he can hand over the record Of his
votes on these several questions in Congress,
and offer him his choice. Ii seems O pity that
such candidate and such platform should
so far fail to give satisfaction that the soft
money men have gone ahead and nominated
candidate Of their own while there are signs
that the hard-mOney Democrats in consider
able numbers will vote for the Republican
nominee. Considered as an effort to please all
parties, it must be confessed that the rcsolu-
ton is not a success: voters are so disgust
ingly particular nowadays that they won't be
content with candidates announcement
that he is in favor of "wise legislation"
but must nave MN ltli sptclHCdIiy Nhdl ht
means by "wise legislation" If Mr.. Landers
is defeated. as now seems probable, he will
have the satisfaction of knowing that it will
be because he is in favor of wise financial
Legislation"
And why. upon the whole, is not this n
GOOD model for Democratic platforms else
where-nOt only upon the subject Of finance,
but all others For there is not an issue cur
rent in politics upon which the party is at
one with itself. The only thing it is really
united and earnest about is its OppOsi-
ton to Republican ascendancy and its
desire for Office and spOils. Upon these
points the resolutions may bo elaborate,
specific and circumstantial. Upon all
others il will be perfectly safe to say 1t
fayors q" wise legislation" 1t is good gene
raj phrase--a kind of blanket clause covering
eyerything-and the party mt large ought to
thank the Hartford Democrats for bringing it
ont. "Wise legislation " That's it. MIR.
Landers and the rest of the candidates have
no time TO descend to particulars. What they
favor in finance and everything else is wise
"legislation." 1t is too bad that such an adj
yocate of wise legislation should be defeated,
AZ he will be. because of the unreasOnableness
of the average voter, who will insist upon
knowing what the phrase means.