Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-20
A CURIOUS POLITICAL PLATFORM.

they thought it necessary to insert some
taffy" to tickle every kind of queer
comeouters" upon whose help they count.
The w. P. C. is drifting into the position
of a sort of new-fashioned Cave of Adullam,
to which all who are at odds with the
regular parties may resort, and where they
may find consolation. The new platform
has something less than fifty planks in it,
and is therefore broad enough to accom-
modate a very heterogeneous crowd.
Among the propositions to be found in it
originally were, taxation of United States
bonds, equal wages for men and women,
abolition of the contract system in prison
labor, eight hours for days work, the
General Government to do all the banking,
a graduated income tax, opposition to land
monopoly, regulation of railroad rates, the
taxation of everybody to supply settlers
on public lands with free capital, the
Embarrassment of women, and in addi-
ton to these novelties all the usual and
customary resolutions about honesty in
office, reduction of Governmental ex-
penses, and SO forth. 1t will be seen that
the w. ?. G. has given itself verge and
scope enough in the matter of issues, and
doubtless its managers think that men
must be very hard to suit who cannot pick
out something to please them from this
hotch- potch of old and new crudities and
fantasies. In the Convention, however,
the party very ungallantly event back "
on the ladies, and struck out the resolu-
ton for the enfranchisement of women.
Why they did this nobody knows, for it
was much more sensible proposition than
nine tenths of those which were retained
The sage and brilliant plan for making
the Government the only banker in the
country was also sacrificed, and in its stead
was put resolution favoring the unlim-
tied issue of paper currency by the Gov
eminent. The proposition to create
fund by general taxation for supplying
capital to settlers upon the public
lands is one which is likely to find many
supporters, though we fail to see why the
idea should have been so restricted. If it
is good thing to make the community
furnish capital to settlers, it must be a
good thing to make the community fur
nish capital for everybody. The man who
wishes to start a corner grocery ought to
have the same privilege as the man who
proposes to raise hogs or turnips. There
is SAVIOR of class distinctions about this
plank which is suspicious. The graduated
income tax is another plan dear to the
heart of the Communist. 1t is measure
whereby the wicked people who have sue
ceeded in life can be punished for their
criminal prosperity, and it is an admirable
method for eliminating enterprise and
thrift from a community.
The platform as a whole of course means
no more than platforms usually do, but we
think it clear that there is in it definite
purpose to carry forward communistic
ideas, and that many of its resolutions are
signals to that restless element which is
continually striving to upset civilization.
There are some planks in it which are
harmless, or even good, but it is perfectly
apparent that taking it altogether it repre-
sents set of opinions about government
and economy which are utterly incompati-
BILE with progress and prosperity, and the
practical operation of which would be fatal
to the interests of labor, in the first in
stance. 1t shows that the Workingnen,
like the Bourbons, learn nothing.
Their leaders still rely upon their
irrational and blind enmity to capt.
tai, and instead of trying to lead
them to better and more practicable
courses, pander to their ignorance and
stupidity in the most fulsome manner.
Notwithstanding that they are always
complaining of want of freedom in this,
that, and the other direction, it is further
to be observed that these people are the
most clamorous advocates of governmental
tyranny in the world. They want every
thing regulated by the central authority
They want the freedom of employment, of
acquisition, of distribution, fettered and
curtailed. They cry out for chains to be
placed upon all who have got their heads
above the common level And SO singular
lack of practical common sense is there
in their councils that in all this long plat
form no reference whatever is made to the
vital issue of Free Trade. They do not seem
to know that the tariff is the greatest en-
envy Labor has on this continent. They
cannot perceive that their true interests
demand absolute liberty for labor and cap
ital alike. Instead of throwing their
weight into the scale for the enfranchise-
ment of Labor, they waste time in foolish
propositions for debasing the currency, for
robbing the rich for dishonoring the Gov
eminent by the reputation of its engage
nents, and for a score of Eighty, mis-
chievous, and impracticable crotchets,
which never will carry SO long as the re-
public endures, and which would destroy
it if they did carry. So far the W. P c.
has not brought to the surface one leader
of average common sense, and this is the
most serious indictment that can be pre-
ferred against it. If it cannot do any bet
ter in the future than it has done in the
past, its career will be alike brief and
ing'orious.
THE TORIES AND GLADSTONE.
1t is difficult to understand the fury of
the Tories over Gladstone's apology to the
Emperor of Austria, but it is not difficult