Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1880-08-07

| spirit OF the two parties fnosRePnOli.
/ can platform losks backward, the DEM
ocratic platform looks ahead, The Re
publican platform deals in snd appeah
to old and mischievous sectional iasaes;
the Democratic platform, though not
perfect, is yse thoroughly national and
not sectionaiin its spirit. The Rspshk
can platform favezz or encourages ne
nopolies; the DemocrAtic platforn iAsasA
the taxpayers-thc pscRle $50. ]. ;.
We L4se spsken &C ~ ns0cfAsis
! platform n III h6neaE md 6ssinsss6ke
document, and one proof .ef that b that,
though much shorter than that Of the
Republicans, it contains all that is COED
and pertinent, and great dead more be-
sides The Republicans in : cumhroua
paragraph speak for free education, and
in another, equally cumbrous and ves-
bose, for separation of Church and State
The Democrats cover the nains ground
in one energetic and clear sentence, de-
manding Separation Of Church and
State for the good Of each; and common
schools fostered and protected The Re
publicans talk vaguely of protecting tho
liberties Of all; the Democrats declare
boldly that 1.-THE right of a fre pc ballot Is
the right preservative of all rights,. and
must and shall be maintained in eysry
part of the United States" We have
looked for some other points for cora
parison, but the Republican, platforn
does not afford them. It is wexk, ahal
low, wordy, and purposely vague, and
would make the fathers Of the, party
blush with anger if they could read is
in their graves; for those men the Sum-
ners, Andrews, Giddings, Eovejnys-
were not accustomed to the naineing gait
and cautious yerbosity of their succesa-
ors.
The Republicans declare shat "con-
merce should be steadily encouraged"
which may mean anything Or nothing;
the Democrats declare manfully for sffse
! ships and living chance for AmaricaR
conmerce on the seas and on tho land,
which means something defnite Tbs
Republicans say timidly that ''the credit
) acquired should never be impaired" the
l Democrats declare for 'hoilest 1oney
/ and the strict maintenance of the public
:. faith, State and national" which eovers
. the whele ground without hsiaaxioa Or
n simidisy. The Republicans sAy in one
e section that ''the revivinR industries
!. should be further promoted, and ia an
ether, lower down, that 1.-The duties lev.
l. ied for the purpose of revenue should "a
u discriminate az to favor American u
= !. bor," which may mean anything. and
r was evidently written in the hope thst i.
II might catch Ill one net the Protectionistl
d of Pennsylvania, and the free trads
), farmers of Illinois and the Northwest
It generally. 1t holds out shadovy prom
It ise to both. The Democrats deslate fel
: "a tariff for revenue o,n, public money
= and public credit for public purposes
IS solely, and the party "pledgca itself te
e protect the woi oi...Eglnan alike against
e the cormerants and the commune
= = There is the clear ring Of honest psrpos-
n in these words, which may alarm n4.,
j. nopolists, but will reassure Legitimate
If enterprise and honest labor everywhere
;. Even on the wretched Chinese question,
# where both platforms are, in our opinion.
J. bad and un-American, the Republicans
5. halt and shuttle, while the Democrats
are outspoken. Mr.. Facing both ways,
who WAS evidently the author Of the k.e
publican platform, tells John Chinaman
that he must go--hut tells him with u
snisel; he puts his arm lovingly aroun.i
= John before he stabs him; the Democra,
= bluntly ,'ut definitely, tells him he must
s. not coine here except for travel, educA-
is tioii or foreign commerce" which, by the
o. way, are the only PURPOSES for which the
. Chinese allow Americans to enter Chinl.
~ Finally. it must be admitted that
! there liz a little brag also ia the Demo
-, cratic platform but it is on . pcin,
# where the party has a right TO boast oi
b itself. 1t has reduced the public ex
;. penditures forty millions a ye~z' -,
AZ the Democrats, and they might have 81
# ded that it did this against the snesr.
Il and open and covert opposition Of th.
i Republicans in Congress. This Dsme
~ cratic boast is well founded. They hae
Il the courage to be questionable. Firm
IT the day they r-gained control Of d
=: House of Representatives they ha,'
0, fought for rigid ecouomy, sometime,
t with poor Judgment, hut oourAgsouslJ
ID and regardless Of the outcries and -
~ sistance of the Republicans. The lobs,
L has disappeared from Washington sine,
,r shs Democrats came in" that iobb.
e. which was once 30 powarful that ia tL'
" last House which was under Republina,
N rule, the Speaker was publicly prssente<
g. with piece of silver rs tsstinoni.
H. from the king OF the lobby"
u 1t was said by one Of the shf~~daa
N men in the Democratic party sunie yss.i
: ago, 81 don't believe We Demoerass vii
l. ever WIN until we dare to be Demo
n Gratis" Well, the platform this year i
1t genuinely Democratic platfur.u; th
II party at last seems to have turned Dea
ocratic It has regained its old tim
+ boldness and directness; it darss ons
It more to say what it means Who knsY.
N perhaps it will win. It locks ittl