The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-07-19
THAT PLATFORM!

For patent, DaCk-aCtloll, uoupie
iointed, read-as- you-please document
commend to us the Democratic Plat
form promulgated at Chicago. The
Democrats sages who constructed that
political fly trap were well aware that
the Democratic creed could not be for
mulated in any ordinary series of reso-
lutions which a man of ordinary intel
lect could read, and reading, could
understand. Catering therefore to SO
wide diversity of Bourbon tastes, the
trainers Of this rare political paper have
given the country a most admirable
compilation of stump speeches, with
Just enough flavor about it of Waiter
son, Holman and Carlisle, and the
widow Butler, too, as to make 1t in
some degree at least palatable to all
classes of Democrats. Considering the
composition Of the committee which
framed it, on which two men OF as an
tagonistic views as Benjamin F. Butler
and Henry Watterson were trying to
impress their peculiar views upon the
country, it is possibly about as fair
presentation of the modern Democrat
ic faith as could reasonably be expect
ed. As to the character of its most
important declaration on the tariff there
can be no doubt. Its trainers intended
this plank to be interpreted in the east
as declaration in favor of moderate
protection, and in the west and south
as demand for the collection of duties
on imports for revenue only. Gen. But
Ter, who was 4 member of the COM
mttee, says that it is an anti-protectlon
declaration, and the fact that the reso-
lutions which he submitted as substi
tute, and which distinctly recognized
the principle of protection in levylag
duties, were voted down shows that the
convention was unwilling to declare in
favor of protection. All the comfort
that the manufacturers and laboring
people can get from this plank is that
the Democrats declare they are not
quite ready as yet to destroy the indus
tries in which they are engaged. 1t
reiterateS, of course, the colossal fraud
or 1876. The moss-bank orator of the
Democratic persuasion never grows
tired of that. 1t is a Renaissance
which no one will deny is the exclusive
property of the Grand Old Party of
purity and reform Candidly, the
platform does contain one admirable
eviderce of progress which should be
exceedingly gratifying to Democratic
voters of extreme southern views. 1t
declares that all citizens are equal be-
fore the law. Not that anybody sup
poses that on account of this plank any
true Democrat down south would hest
tate to let daylight through a colored
voter for daring to vote for Blaine and
Logan, but it is something at least for
a southern fire eater to assent to such
4 plank, although as champions Of hui
man rights not much is to be expected
of a southern Democrat standing even
on this concession to the sentiment of
his northern brother Not the least
absurdity of the platform is the declar-
alton that Republican administrations
have stolen and squandered the public
revenues, and yet the browning outrage
charged, of boarding a hundred mil
lions of dollars in the treasury. As
piece of Democratic literature it is Il
first class success. Saying that means
4 great deal, when platforms at best
say so much and mean so little.