The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-09-18
THE PLATFORM.
The convention which met at Madison

The convention which met at Madison
on the 9th deserves well OF the people
for promulgating doctrines which
are the essential elements of good
government. The people of the state
can support the candidates standing
on such a platform with all the hearth
ness that Genes from a sincere convic-
ton of occupying an impregRable posi-
ton. On every prominent question now
before the people, the platform gives
expression to opinions as oommendable
for their directness as for their wisdom.
The principles enunciated will stand the
severest test to which they can be sub
jected by political adversaries. To as
sail them would be to attack the props
which support government of the
people and by the people. Whatever
may be the fate of the ticket nominated,
the democrats of the state will have the
satisfaction of knowing that the cam
paign was begun creditably and that they
offered the people an unexceptionable
ticket with an exposition of views which
challenges the respect of all.
On the financial question nothing
could be more appropriate than the ut
terances Of the platform on this subject.
1t is plain statement of what the cur
rency of the country should consist.
There is no ranting, no encouragement
toward empiricism. The less a govern
ment thinkers with the currency the bet
ter. This fact is recognized by the plat
form and it does no. seek to usurp the
prerogatives of business. IT satisfies
itself with the declaration that money
should consist of gold or silver or paper
convertible into coin. The very simple
ity of this plank is characteristic of its
wisdom. The great demand of the
country is to let the currency alone and
it will regulate itself. This demand of the
people the platform makes imperative by
a careful avoidance of all suggestions
which could only hinder that which will
be brought about by the natural course
of events.
The portion of the platform referring
to federal supremacy, and the rights of
the states under the constitution will
prove valuable reading to those who
claim that the democratic party desire
the supremacy of the state over the fed
eral government. It declares that the
national government is supreme in all
matters in which the constitution gives
it power to act 1t asserts the right of
citizens to local self government and
maintains that the rights secured to the
states should not be infringed. 1t points
out danger to the perpetuity of the
republic which the events of the last few
years has made menacing, that is the
Capitalization of power, the possession
of supreme power by a few for the gov
eminent of the many. There cannot be
the slightest doubt that continuance of
the republican party in power will result
in dangerous diminution of the powers
now possessed by the states for the
administration of their local affairs, and
a corresponding increase in the power of
the national government. In a federal
government there is danger to be APP
pretended from either of two extremes,
lack of sufficient cohesion or the central
ization of power. The platform states
that the government has passed through
destructive war occasioned by the first
named evil and states that the danger
now impending comes from the enter
tainment of opposite extreme views. 1t
would be well for the people to heed
| this warning; the danger is far from
| being imaginary as will soon be demon
strated if the present policy is persisted
| III.
Every patriot cannot but be stirred by
the ringing denunciation of the Inaugural
ton of a man defeated at the polls.
The evils of rendering nugatory the
expressed will of the people in the choice
of an executive, are clearly set forth.
The platform asks for more economic
administration of affairs, the reduction OF
salaries raised to suit high priced times
and the abolition of useless boards and
commissions. 1t denounces intimidation
by whomsoever practiced but insists that
occasional deeds of personal violence
does not justify the usurpation of the
powers of the state by the national gov
eminent.
Too much cannot be said in praise OF
the platform. 1t should be read by
every one and its truths should sink