New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-03
TIE THO GPE1T ISSUES.

their minds how to vote.
THE TWO GREAT ISSUES.
It has often been said IN recent years that
there was no issue now upon which the TWO
great political parties divided, and there was
some truth in the statement. The controiiing
thought in the Presidential election OF 1851,
if not in the one before that, was that the
Republican party was more competent to adj
minister the Government, and more trust
worthy, than the Democratic party. The
issues laid down in the platforms had their
influence, but this belief decided the contest.
A change has taken place, however, in the
past year or two. Two subjects have been
growing steadily in the public mind-the
Tariff and Civil Service Reform. They will
undoubtedly be the leading ideas of the Presl-
Dental canvass of next year, and with regard
to both of them the Republican party has
taken positive, practical ground. The Demo-
cratic party has not done So 1t can no longer
be said that there are no issues between the
parties.
Yet the situation is curious one, because
the Democrats instead of openly opposing the
positions their antagonists have taken on these
questions, are doing their best to persuade the
country that they think just about as the Re-
publicans do Or rather, the Democrats are
trying to hide from the country the fact that
they have no views to present on these points
no principles that would bind them If they
came into power. The platform adopted by
the PENNSYLVANIA Democratic Convention is the
latest step in this attempt to fool 1O,OOO,OoO
voters The tariff plank is that which had
already been handed along from the Demo-
cratic Convention in Ohio to that in Virginia,
and will no doubt be passed on from that in
Pennsylvania to the party conventions in other
States. They want import duties 80 arranged
as to "prevent unequal burdens, encourage
"productive industries at home and afford Just
compensation to labor. but not to create or
"foster monopolies." This is like the shield
that was black on the one side, and white on the
other The Free-Trader, looking at it from
his point of view, is expected to think that 1t
means Free Trade; the Protcctionist, looking
at it from the other side, Is expected to THINK
that it means Protection. 1t means both, and
therefore it means neither. 1t is an attempt
to play double on n question of great popular
interest-an attempt which the Democratic
leaders foolishly suppose they can continue
through two political campaigns, and long
and important session of Congress. This Is
characteristic of the faulty of the Demo
cratic party.
On the other great issue, the Pennsylvania
platform is equally tOriuous and Insincere. 1t
calls for chat genuine and deep reaching Civil
"Service Reform which consists in the election
"to Office of honest, intelligent, capable and
courageous public servants, who will faith
fully, ETC. and VINO will redeem and purge
"the departments of the General Government,
"etc." This is. in reality, declaration for the
"spoils system" in the name of reform. IL
ignores, as every Democratic convention held
this year has done, the fact that what is known
as the "merit system" of appointments to the
clerical service of the Government has become
as much a part OF the law of the land as the
statute furnishing counterfeitinS, or those
regulating import duties. 1t says nothing as 10
the course the party would take respecting this
SYSTEM if it should come into power The
leaders seem to be blind to the fact that 1t is no
longer a question whether the old "spolls
system - shall be abolished. The question now
is. how rapidly and how thoroughly the work
of destruction shall be done, and who can be
best trusted to do it. The general principle
has been accepted by the Republican party
now controlling the Government and the dis
cussion has already passed on to matters of
detail. Mr.. Curtiss address at
Newport shows that the Civil Service Re-
form associations throughout the country are
already addressing themselves to the work of
repeating the law of 1920, which limited the
terms of Collectors, District Attorneys, etc, to
four years, and was passed for spoils purposes
Meantime tho Democratic party really seems
TO believe that the people will be SO blind "a not
to see that a Democratic victory would mean a
grand debauch with the offices, and n sweep
ing away of the new system. Here and there,
TO he sure, Democrat lifts up his voice i'll
favor of the merit system, as MIR. Groesbeck
did last night at Cincinnati. But it is lone
some cry. Although the Democratic Senator
from Ohio was the nominal author of the Civil
Service law his State Convent ion passed it
by in contempt, and the Democratic con-
ventions in o her States will doubtless follow
its example.
THE REVELA TONS or ERSKiNE N. PHELPS |
Muck light has been thrown on the political
situation by Erskine NJ. Phelps, Of Chicago