The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-01

to have read these platforms a little more at
tentiyely than Mr.. Voorhees, and to
find that his party has played IN this
h14esqae befoRe. 1n1876, onyfour.geaps pre-
viQas, the Democratic national eongention had
said, I'VE denandthat all elstam house taxa
tion shall be only for revenue
Mr.. Voorhees, should be pardoned. When a
party has no views except to catch the favor of
the passing hour, it is hard TO follow it. Since
the organization of the Republican party, tho
the Democratic party has never, on the tariff
question, sought to be consistent upon any
settled principle, but only like the weather-vane
on a steeple, by always changing with the winds.
And, as a student of the winds, though it has
been very diligent, i must think it has also been
very dull.
In its national convention of 1856 it declared
ltself III favor OF progressive free trade In
1860 1T reafirmed the platform;of 1856. IN 1864
twas wholly silent upon the question. In 1863
Mdeclared itself in favor Of a tariff for reve-
nue. . In 1872 it declared that recognizing
that there are in our midst honest, but
lrreeoncllable differences of opinion with regard
to the systems of free-tPade and protection, we
remit the discussion of theasubiect to the peo-
pie IN their congressional districts, and to the
decision OF Congress thereon. wholly free of
executive interference, or ,dietation. Here is
where hIr. Cleveland, no doubt. got his cue of
silence. Hn1Sf6if the party imaginedifar q little
while that it had an opinion and was very EN-
phatic-"We demand that all custom
house taxation shall be only for revenue. y
In 1880 it declared for a tariff for revenue
only" In 1884, 1T passed the twofaeed resofu-
ton which General Butler has so happily charac-
terized. Mr.. Voorhees voted for General But
hrS I~Hsolution, which was specifically for pro-
lection. and Mr.. Hendricks did not. So we
are left properly in doubt, I suppose, what
Mr.. Cleveland isiin favor Of. Here is the record
OF tho Democratic party upon this question,
upon which labor is SO vitality interested.
siF- BLArNEas AMEBICANFs8L
IF Mr.. Cleveland cannottten where he stands
rrranr han ~~nrk Lr-- -.
whose trumpet has never given forth an 1ncerain
sound-its notes being ever clear and resonant.
You know very we'll whom I mean. James G..
Blaine answers to the description. Beginning
hfeiinthe humble occupation of a s-choofmaster
he has. lby the fnEde of his talents, by the
strength and vigor of his character, by his per-
sonal intPepidity, by his irresistible social
charms, by that combination of high and sympa-
thetlc qualities which hslong to rare and fHe
natures, made himself one of the bestknown and
best beloved of all the public men
in our history. AS Speaker of the
House of Representatives of his adopted
State and of Congress, distinguished always.for
the fairness and unerrlng gcfearness of his decis-
ions; asa debater ron the floor of each house,
whenever ne entered theslists his plume shin
ling in the front of the combat; as a statesman,
long known for the surprising breadth and .aer
curacy of his political knowledge; as a. writer
depicting the incidents and scenes 1of "a long
public life, in which he has borne a most scnn-
spicuous part, rich and perspicuous in style,
eopl0uSsHnu accurate IN Information, Just and
generous to every one with whom he hasfexer
crossed "a sword; his shomest,1e abode Of domestic
bliss and hespitality-its hnspita1le doors open
alike to friend and fee-the bitterest adversary
in his warm ambiguous presence forgetting his
feud and nissolying into kindness; a citizen
of the United States, b~road=minded
and just toward the whole world, yet his whole
being pervaded and burning with the American
instinct; so frank and open fh#t heis as trans
parent as the air; this is the man whose banner
ia in lo11efpCnf rubaca Inn 1n nodc AZ 4hal lrnal-
the column, and under whose leadership week
pect to move on to victory.