Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-23
coNsIDERAT ATOMS FOR UNDECIDED
VoFFRS

CONSIDER ATIoES FOR USD8ClDED
VOTERS.
If there are any voters who have not
yet made up their minds on which side
they will cast their ballots at the forth
coming Presidential election, it is time
they resolved themselves on this question:
It may be assumed that the undecided
voter is one who affects to put no conf
dence in what are called campaign argu-
ments F; who does not believe that the
success or failure of either party will cause
any appreciable change in the prosperity
of the country who regards most OF the
considerations which are put forward on
both sides as exaggerated and untrust-
worthy and who seeks to hold the bal
ance even between the contending factions
To this class of citizens we now address
ourselves, with the aim of showing them
that there exist no reasons which can JUS
tify any sensible and unprejudieed man III
voting the Democratic ticket. In the first
place we must inquire what it IS that the
Democratic party proposes. As matter
of course the minority party ought to pos
sess cogent and easily apprehended reasons
for the change it demands. 1t ought to
be able to show that it can otfer the coun-
try not merely different but better
government thon that at present in power.
Can the Democratic party make this clear?
And has It undertaken to do anything OF
the kind? If we take the Democratic
platform we shall find that certain general
lines of policy are there indicated. For
example, the party pledges itself to frank
acceptance of the constitutional amend
ments, to honest money and faithful dis
charge of the public obligations, to a
tariff for revenue only" to g free ships,
to the maintenance of the right of free
suffrage. A party which could be trusted
to carry out all these lines of policy might
be regarded, other things being equal, as
Offering fairly enough But wien we pre-
coed step further and inquire how the
Democratic party interprets and sustains
these its professions, we are confronted
with very singular condition of things.
OF course it must be evident that what a
party does is a better Indication OF its
real tendencies than what it says.
Now what the Democratic party does is at
variance on all essential points with its
declarations. This is not reckless cam
paign assertion, but a sober statement Of
fact which cannot be controverted. Thus
the Democratic party says in its platform
that the right of free voting is right pre-
sentative of all rights, which must and
shall be maintained throughout the Union.
This is a very sound and proper sentiment,
but whit ADDE'S the party responsible forit ac-
tuaIly do? 1t has based this campaign upon
the practical possession of the entire range
of Southern States. It cannot pretend
that if the ballot was free IN ali those
States they would be solidly Democratic
Four of them at least are known 70 have
Republican majorities normally. But it IS
notorious that in all those States the ballot
is not free; that the Republican vote is
systematically counted out; and that con-
sequently the Democratic pretense Of re.
gard and soEcitude for the sanctity OF the
ballot is false pretense. Take next the
question of honest money and faithful dis.
charge OF public obligations, State and ma
tional This the Democrats profess to be
their aim, but what has been their prac-
tice +? In the Southern States Reputation
has been the rule, and not the exception.
In Congress the Democratic members have
nesrly all voted for and supported every
measure to prevent the resumption Of
specie payments, and to weaken the public
credit, by forcing silver standard upon
the country. In general politics they have
on every opportunity allied themselves
with the faction which proposes to destroy
specie payments, to flood the country with
irredeemaole paper currency. and to pay
off the public debt in the same currency.
It cannot therefore be said that the Demo
Gratis are sound or trustworthy upon this