The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-07-13
From the N Y. Herald, 9Th inst.l
The Democratic Platform,

"~'--OS' wv HiosS IL " OohUO5 OC VVutVu
that it is an honest and businesslike docu-
ment. and in this respect it Is very un-
like the bragsing and clustering repub-
lican platform. There are. undoubtedly,
q great many voters to whom the demo-
cratic propositions will be unwelcome;
voters who do net like free ships; W.
ters who are opposed to tariff for reve.
nue.; voters who want more subsidies,
and who will, therefore, dislike the
democratic declaration that the taxes
shall be spent only for public end not
for private obj ,c's. BIT it is the great
merit CT the democratic platform that il
says something; that it proposes re.
forms to which those who have benc.
fited by old abuses will of course object,
but which will relieve and benefit the
people; that it courageously strikes at
subsidy mongers and job
bers. Mutually monopolists, jobbers
and subsidy mongers do not like it
but then it was scarcely to be expected
that they would. These classes, who
wish to live on the taxpayers as they
have long done, prefer the republican
platform, and they are right. The pla>-
form has nothing in it distasteful to
them. Where the republican leaders
did not think it prudent to encourage
monopoly they cautiously said nothing,
and their platform lea yes the door open
to all the abuses, the extravaganza aud
reckless waste of the taxes which char
acterlzed republican legislation before
the people put the democrats in control
Of the House of Representatives.
1t is often said that platforms mean
nothing; but, in the present instance. it
happens that the national platforms rep.
resent pretty accurately the spirit OF the
two parties. The republican platform
looks back ward, the democratic platform
looks ahead. Tue republican platform
deals in and appeals to old aud mis-
chieyous sectional issues; the demo.
cratic platform, though not perfect, is
yet thoroughly national and not Sec
tional in It's spirit. The republican plat
forin favors or encourages monopolies /;
the democratic platform fav ,rs the tax
payers-the people.
We have spoken OF the democratic
platform as an honest and b1sinesslike
document, ana one proof Of this is that
though much shorter than that OF the
republicans it contains all that is good
and pertinent in that and 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
and State. The democrats cover the
same ground in one energetic and cleaI
sentence, demanding separation o.
Church and State for the good OF each
and common schools fostered and pro
tected." The republicans talk vaguely
of protecting tho liberties OF all; the
democrats boldly declare that ''the righ
Of free ballot is the right preserva
tive Of sll tights, and must and shall t'
maintained in every part Of the United
States" We have looked for SOM
other points for comparison, but the re
publican platform does not afford them
1t is weak, shallow, wordy, purposel,
vague, and would make the fathers c
the party blush with anger If they coul'
read It in their graves; for those men
the Summers, Andrews, Giddings, Love
|joys-were not accustomed to the min
cling gait and cautious yerbosity Of thei
successors. =
The republicans declare that acom
merce should be steadily encouraged,
which may mean anything Or. nothing
the democrats declare mantnlly for sire
ships and living chance for America
commerce on the seas and on the land,
which means something definite. Th
republicans says timidly that "the cred
acquired should never be impaired" th
democrats declare for "bonest none
and the strict maintenance of the publ
faith, State aud NATIONAL" which cpvel
the whole ground without hesitation {
timidity. The republicans. sav in or
section that "the reviving industrit
should be further promoted" and
another, lower down, that "the duti,
levied for the purpose Of revenue shoul
SO discriminate as to favor Americs
labor" which may mean anything, az
J was evidently written in the hope that
might catch in one net the projections
OF Pennsylvania and the free trade IA
mers OF Illinois and the Northwest gel
urally. 1t holds out shadowy promi
5 to both. The democrats declare for
tariff for revenue orly; public mon,
! and public credit for public purpos
!. SOLELY" and the party s.pledges itself
protect the workingman alike again
, the cormorants and the commune
There is the clear ring OF honest pu
pose in these words, which may alar
monopolists, but will reassure legtima
enterprise and honest labor everywher
: Even on the wretched Chinese questio
Q where both. platforms are, in our OPT
ions. bad and un-American, the repu
licaus halt and shuttle, while the dem
Gratis are out,spoken. Mr.. Facing bot
Il ways, who was evidently the author
the republican platform, tells Jol
D Chinaman that he must go-but he tel
e him with snivel; be puts his arm 10
ingly around John before be stabs hin
r the democrats bluntly, but definitely ,te
# him be shall not come here "except (
II travel, education or foreign commerce
which, by the way, are the only purp
4 ses for which the Chinese allow Anne
i cans to enter China. =, 49,.
. Finally, it must be admitted that the
}, is little brag also 10 the democra,
platform, but it is on point where {
9 party has a right to boast OF itself.
;e1 'shas reduced the public expendi.ur
J. forty millions year." says the dem
e Gratis, and they might have added that
@ did this against the sneers and open q
70 covert opposition of the republicans
6 Congress. This democratic boast
n we'll founded. They had the courage
be Questionable. From the day th
k, regained control of the House of Re
=