Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-08-24
sta1e PoIi,icnl pIn,fnrn,.-

state Political Platforms.
This being the year of political calm before
the presidential storm, convention platforms
are expected to deal more generally with state
than with national issues Outside of Massa.
chusetts, where General Butler is expected to
thrash the waters into foam; New York. which
the whole country will watch with interest to
see whether Gov. Cleveland's 49,. 600 MAORI
ty is followed by a solid Republican vote and
Republican majority Ohio which is inter
esting as the single October state and Viz
gnia whore the bourbons will strain every
muscle to crush Malone, outside of these
states remarks the New York Tribune, poll
tics promise to be dull this year Thus far
about dozen conventions OF the great par
ties have been held and the declarations OF
principles adopted indicate the drift of politi
cal discussion which the campaign is likely to
follow.
The Republican platforms show that the
tariff question, which was summed up in
single clause in the body of the Chicago plat
form of 1850, is fast pushing its way to the
front Of active debate. The Ohio, Iowa, Ken.
lucky and Pennsylvania conventions planted
themselves squarely on the issue of protection
at the outset of their recitals of Republican
principles, in strong contrast to the shutting
treatment of this sub ject by Democratic con-
ventions. Three of the latter-those in Ohio.
Virginia and Pennsylvania adopted the Ohio
straddle, which is simply meaningless bal
sncing of words. The Virginia bourbon and
Pennsylvania conventions, however, coupled
1t with demand for the absolute extinction
OF the internal revenue system. The declar
alton by the Virginia convention arose, of
course, from hostility to the taxes on tobac-
co and whiskey, especially the latter that of
the Pennsylvania convention, probably, from
the desire to make bid for the support of
the protection sentiment of the state, which is
not likely to be pleased with the thickness of
the plank on the tariff. 1t is OF some interest
to notice that the demand for the abolition of
the internal revenue system certainly an easy
and inoppressive way of raising money for the
support Of government-comes thus far only
from the Democratic conventions There is
small school OF Republicans, of which Judge
Kelley is the chief, who have favored abol-
ton. But the plan has never met with favor
IL Congress or in the party at large and the
Pennsylvania Republicans who might be ex
pected to look upon it as a means of strength.
ening the protective system by making neces.
saTy tariff high enough to pay all the ex
| penses of the government do not advocate it
in their platform. Two Democratic couyen.
tons, held in hopelessly Republican states
Iowa and Minnesota-avo the real senti.
ment of the party against protective tariff
! The Kentucky convention lodged the whole
subject.
The keynote of the Democratic conventions
IS the much alleged abuses of Republican rule.
This is true of all the platforms, even of those
which are largely occupied with state affairs
The conventions in the six states above men
toned profess to favor civil service reform.
| bit they have only one plan to suggest for its
accomplishment. This is, of course. to nut
the Democratic party in power. BY these ex-
trayagant assertions of corruptions and fraud
in the national government the Democrats. if
they are accomplishing anything at all, are
only helping their opponents The average
intelligent voter is not likely to believe much
that he reads in a Democratic platform. and
Is quite likely to discount what he reads il any
| platform but he will be too shrewd net to
! know that, if any part of what is so wildly al.
legged of the condition of the government ser
vice be true, the last remedy to be thought of
Is SholesAle expulsion of the entire force
ard letting-down Of the bars to a rough and
! hungry crowd of Office eekers. He will be
/ too wise not to know that the party which has
already begun to enact remedies into law. and
| expects to continue the process, is more to be
/ trusted than "a artv NH, IL Il
evils are very great, but has no remedies to
propose.
Some interesting minor questions make
their appearance in these platforms. The
Minnesota Democrats urged that the president
be given the veto power over the items of ap
| preparation bills-a most desirable change
which, however, it would seem more natural
to hear Democrats opposing, as movement
| toward Capitalization. The PENNSYLVANIA
Republicans suggested and the Pennsylvania
Democrats denounced, the Wharton Barker
surplus plan thus far it is a local idea The
| Pennsylvania Repu blicans preached the plan
OF holding the primaries on the same day all
over the state-a method which would give
them something of the same excitement and
| Importance as a general election, and would
undoubtedly make II more difficult for party
managers to manipulate them. The Penn
sylvania Republicans demanded the redemp-
ton Of the trade dollar. The railroad ques-
/ ton is still of interest in Iowa. Both con-
ventlons adopted resolutions on the subject.
the Republicans favoring also a law against
/ free passes. The Ohio Republicans urged the
creation of national bureau of labor statis-
tics, and both conventions il that state made
/ special reference TO the duty on wool. The
Pennsylvania Republicans denounced pauper
/ immigration, and both conventions in Iowa
adopted resolutions on the Irish troubles which
showed solictude about the Irish vote. The
Ohio and Pennsylvania Republicans aeknowl-
edged the care OF Congress in preserving to
/ the soldiers, in the new ciyil-seryice law, the
preference in appointments already secured
/ 10 them.
! This may be called the first crop of plat.