The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-06-10
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

The platform adopted by the repdbli-
can convention at Chicego is mainly Jlus-
ter, evasion and misrepresentation. The
merit OF successfully conducting a war,
Of hberating slaves and raising the cur
rency OF the country TO q par with gold
is sscribed to the republican party, as a
matter OF course. Never was republic
can platform framed since the close of
the war, that the military achievements
OF that party was not fayorably COM
mented upon. Different committees
make a difference of phraseology una
voidabIe, but the same facts are always
|, set forth. The idea of a party by It's
policy raising the value of currency is
| absurd. 1t is the business prosperity Of
| a country, the increase Of products and
the demand for them which gives inan-
ciaI spirit to nation. Party cannot
| increase the commerce of a nation
Party could not bring about resumption
if the country was not prepared for it
Resumption could be defeated and would
by spectators in gold, was it not for
measures forced upon the republican
party by the democrats. Suppose green
backs were not taken for custom duties,
and that silver was not q legal tender,
how would the effort at resumption
! result? Resumption was made possible
by the work of democrats, but as the
work was performed during republican
administration it is made to bear repub-
lican features.
The reference to a separation between
chuch and state Will meet the approval
Of every one, as will also that relating to
popular education. The platform is
purposely ambiguous in treating of q
protective tariff What IL means cannot
be ascertained from the language used,
| and perhaps this plank was framed with
special reference to this iEdefuitiness.
1t declares against further grants of the
public domain to any railway or other
corporation. It is not strange that the
republicans should have the hypocrisy
to condemn a practice confined exclusive
ly to themselves. After the immense
subsidies granted to railroads, the con
veyance Of immense tracts Of lands to the
Union Pacific, and the hardship to the
thousands elected from their homes by
the railroad company on account of
grants made by the republican govern
| ment, it is the very essence of impudence
to assume the virtue of declaring against
a practice persisted in by those denounc-
ing it.
A bid for the Pacific vote is made by
an enasculated plank referring to Chinese
immigration. The plank is q mere
recognition of the Chinese question
without being at al committal. 1t is
about equal to Gov. Smiths advice on
the interest question.
The charges against the democratic
party have been framed from a conscious
ness of the practices prevailing within the
republican party. Fraudulent certifi-
cation of returns is good in view of the
work of returning boards in the south.
Unseatsng members is equally so when
we remember the efforts OF republicans
to unseat Butler Of South Carolina after
his title to his seat was declared good.
Attaching partisan Legislation to appro-
priation bills would apply with such
force to republican methods under John
sons administration, that democrats may
with propriety applaud the sentiment.
Take it all in all the platform is q
document in no way creditable. In it
there is a tone of hypocrisy which de
stroys respect, and lack Of directness
which insures contempt. 1t is framed
for the purpose Of pleasing all the ele-
ments Of which the republican party is
composed.