The daily gazette., 1880-07-07
From the N. Y. Herald. ,p.n.
The Democratic Platform.

cratic propositions will be unwelcome; |
voters who do no. like freeFships; voters |
who are opposed TO a Tariff oil revenue;
voters who want more subsidies, and who |
will, therefore, dislike the democratic |
declaration that the taxes shall be spent
only for public and not for private objects. |
But II is the great merit Of the demo-
cratic platform that it says something;
that it propos' reforms to which those
who have benefited bs old abuses will of
course object, but which will relieve aud
benefit the people; that IT courageously
strikes at mOnOpolists, subsidy mongers
and jobbers. Naturally monoyolists, Job
bers and subiidy mongers do not like II;
but then IL was scurcely to be expected
that they would. These classes, who
wish to live ON the taxpayers al. they have
long done, prefer the republican platform
and they are right. That platform has
nothing in It distastefal to them. Where
the republican leaders did not think it
prudent to encourage monopoly they
cautiously said nothing, and their plat
form leaves the door open to all the
abuses, the extravsgauce and reckless
waste Of the taxes which characterized
republican legislation before the people
put the democrats In cohtrol ofthe House
of Representatives. oae s4.u
IT, is said that platforms mean nothing
but, in the present instanc it happens
that the national platforms represent
pretty accurately the spirit of the two
parties. The republican platform looks
backward, the democratic platform looks
ahead. The republican platform deals
in and appeals TO old and mischievous
sectional issues; the democratic plat
form, though no perfect, is yet thor
ous shly national and not sectional in its
spirit. The republican platform favors
or encourages monopolies; the demo-
cratic platform favors the taxpayers =
the people. 44..ih .Z.h D.
We have spoken of the democratic
platform as, an honest and businesslike
document, one proof Of this is that
| though much shorter than that of the
republicans 1t contains all that 10 good
and pertinent in that and a great deal
more besides. The republicans in q
cumbrous paragraph speak for free edu-
cation, and In another, equally cumbrous
and verbose, for SEPARATION of Church
aud State. The democrats cover the
same ground in one energetic and clear
sentence, demanding separation Of
Church and State for the good Of each !;
and common schools fastered and pro-
tected." The republicans talk vaguely
of protecting the lib.r rites. .sof all; the
democrats boldly declare that ''the right
of free ballot is the right spreservative
Of all rights, and must and shall be
maintained IN every part Of the United
States" We have looked fdf some othel
points for comparison, but tile republi'
can platform does not afford them. 1t IL
weak, shallow, wotdy, purposely vague
and would make tie fathers of the par.
ty blush with anger If they could read
it in their graves; for those men-the
Summers, Andrews, Giddings, Lovejoys
Do were not accustomed to the mincine
gait and cautious vei bosity of their sue
cessors.
The republicans declare that "com-
merce should be steadily encouraged
which may mean anything or nothing
the democrats declare manfully foi
free ships and a living chance fol
American commerce ON the seas and
, on the land, which means something
definite. The republicans say timidly
that ''the credit acquired should never
be impaired :" the democrats declare
for ''honest money and the strict main
tenance of the public faith, State and
national" which covers the whole
ground without hesitation or timidity.
The republicans say in one section that
"the reviving industries should be fur
I ther promoted" and in another, lower
. down. that 1.-THE duties levied for the
purpose of revenue should so discrimi-
, nate as to favor American labor
which may mean anything, and was
evidently written in the hope that il
might catch in one net The protection
lists of Pennsylvania and the free trade
farmers of Illinois and the Northwest
generally. 1t holds out shodowy
promise to both. The democrats de-
clare for "a tariff for revenue only ;
public money and public credit foi
public purposes solely" and the party
s'pledges itself to protect the working
man alike against the cormorants and
the commune" There is the clear
, ring of honest purpose in these words,
which may alarm monopolists, but
. will reassure Legitimate enterprise and
! honest labor everywhere. Even on
, the wretched Chinese question, where
+ both platforms are, in our opinion, bad
and un-American, the republicans halt
and shuttle, while the democrats are
outspoken. Mr.. Facing-both-ways,
who was evidently the author of the
republican platform, tells John China
man that he must go-but he tells him
with snivel he puts his arm loving
ly around John before he stabs him
the democrat bluntly, but definitely,
tells him he shall not come here Eek
cept for travel, education or foreign
commerce, which, by the way, are
the only purposes for which the Chi.
nese allow Americans to enter China
Finally, it must be admitted that there
is a little brag also in the democratic
platform, but it is on apoint where th'
: party has right to boast of itself. i
: ..has reduced the public expenditure
forty millions a year," say the democrats
and they might have added that it di'
this against the sneers and open ant
covert opposition Of the republicans il
Congress. This democratic boast is vel
f founded. They had the courage to b.
uufashionable. From the day they re
gained control of the House OF Represen
/ IA ives they have fought for rigid econ
omy, sometimes with poorjudgment, bu
8 courageously and regardless OF the out
r cries and resistance Of the republicans
The lobby has disappeared from Wash
inpton since the democrats ''came in |;
, .bat lobby which was once so powerful
-. 4, a. lat uouse which was unde