New-York tribune., 1884-02-20
any further delay, which may render IL iihpoSsi-
BILE for the city to recover this money.
THE REfL ISSUES.

THE RAJ ISSUES.
A platform of one sentence Is proposcu w
some Republican at Washington; FAR play Ior
American voters. and q fair chance for Amerl-
can laborers.r In the opinion OF this RepuDl-
CON nobody needs to be assured what the
Rrnublican party is going to do about slavery or
the war. reconstruction or resumption, the
publc debt, the currency, or the reform OF Clvii
Service. A short platform which people VIII
read. embodying only the purpose of the party
ON the two great questions that are vital, Is all
that is needed.
There is Il great deal of sense in this sugges-
ton in two respects. The platform ought to be
terse and plain and very brief, so that it Will
stick in the mind of every voter. And it ought
to treat rs settled and out of the way those
questions that actually have been settled. AS
to all the past, it is enough to say that the
"history of the Nation for twenty-four years
"bears witness to the wisdom and the patriotism
"of the Republican party" 1t has no occasion to
explain anything, to defend anything, or to
reaflirm anything that it has done. The mag
nifccnt DEVELOPMENT of the Nation, as we all
see it to-day, and the record of the most glorious
years of its past history, make all discussion
about accomplished facts waste of time.
Protection of American industries and pro-
lection of American vOters--these are indeed the
vital matters. But there can be question either
about the position of the Republican party on
these questions. Its record speaks as loudly on
these as on other topics. In a current cartoon,
not long ago, the artist sacrificed his own
reputation for sagacty to his desire To
seem impartial by representing both parties as
afraid of the tariff question and in doubt what
to do about it. He who has read the history OF
the past twenty-three years to any purpose
knows better. There has at no time been any
doubt that the Republican party intended, to
the full extent of its power, to protect home
industry by the tariff. Nor has there been any
room to doubt that the party desired to secure
for every qualified citizen the right to cast free
ballot and to have it honestly counted. Past
history can teach nothing if it does not make
clear the purpose of tho Republican party on
these matters.
1t would not be absurd, however, to declare
the purpose of the party upon any OF the vital
questions upon which parties are really divided
1t would not be a waste of time to declare that
American voters and American labor ought to
BE protected. For precisely the same reasons,
it would not be ont Of place to declare that the
Republican party means to maintain the public
faith and to keep for the country sound and
honest currency. Not day passes that does
not witness a sharp division of parties at Wash
ingtOn on these questions. Nor can they be held
settled so long as a Democratic party, infected
with powerful leaning toward reputation
and debascd currency, bas chance of success.
Neither would it Dc out of place lOr the Repub-
lican party to express, in the sharpest form, its
antagOnism to the Democratic doctrine that
public offices are spoiis that belong to the
victor. The Hoadly theory, so boldly avoWed
in Ohio before and after the slaughter OF
Senator Pendleton, may well be met by a
declaration that reform of the Civil Service must
be upheld and perfected
The real questions that divide voters and
parties-the questions that the people have got
to answer by their votes, whether they Will or
no-may as well he tersely and plainly stated.
1t is no time for wordy evasions, or for diplo-
matte circumlocution. But it is no time to
ignore the fact that n vote in November,
whether so intended or not in the nature OF
things must decide for four years the questions
of public faith honest money, n0n-partlsan
service protection for labor, and protection for
voters. If it is wise not to wander oil upon side
issues, it is equally wise not to ignore those
which the country is compelled to decide.