National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-06-06
The Platform.

1t takes moro literary skill to construct a
good platform than can DO exercised by a
committee in its collective capacity. There
is wisdom in multitude of oounsels, but tho
work of crystalizing tho aggregate wisdom
of a multitude of statesmen into short politi-
cal maxims ought to be entrusted 10 ono
mind. Tho platform adopted at Chicago is
long and somewhat difTuse. Campaign speak,
ors will find it difficult to quote It from
memory, and the busy man who wants to find
the party doctrine upon q particular point
may get tired before he reaches it, The creed
makers rank among the great Of earth, but
few of them happened to BIO sent to tho
Chicago convention, or at least few were
appointed on the committee on resolutions.
In its subject matter tho platform Is
admirable. 1t expresses tho best thought
and the highest aspirations of the party; but
in tho effort to cover all the subjects that
were brought before the committee IL has
When the constitution of the United States
was framed every section was referred to q
committee "on STYLE" whose duty IL was to
strike out ambiguous phrases and prune down
redundant sentences. The committee ION
style" no longer has a place in deliberativo
bodies; but republicans who read the Chicago
platform will regret that it was not com.
pressed into moro compact shape before it was
given to the country.
Some criticism might DO mado in the ar
rangement of topics, and committee con
style would have objected to the frequent
transition from the third to the first person;
but these are minor defects, which mar but
do not weaken this robust declaration of the
party faith. What has been accomplished in
the past is very properly cited as a promise
of what will be done in the future. A
united nation, restored union, q sound cur
rency, purified civil service equal citizen
ship-these are the historic achievements on
which the party bases its claim to the con-
tinued confidence of the people. Coupled
with tribute to the memory of the late
President Garfield ia an emphatic indorse.
ment of the wise, conservative, and patriotic
policy pursued by his successor in office,
uAder which tho country has been blessed
with remarkable prosperity. His eminent
services are commended to 1.-THE hearty ap-
proval of every citizen"
Upon the tariff question tho convention
gives no uncertain sound. Duties are to BIO
levied not "for revenue only" but to protect
our diversified industries, so that labor and
capital may have their just reward The party
is pledged to correct incongruities in tho
tariff, not by the vicious and indiscriminate
process OF "hori2ontal reduction" but-by
such judicious methods as will relieve tho
taxpayer without injuring the laborer or the
great productive interests of the country.
This is sound tariff doctrine. The adjust
ment of the duty on foreign wool is recon-
mended, to the end that an important do
nestle interest may have adequate protection.
Upon the other live issues of tho day the
platform is equally explicit. 1t recommends
INC cstaDllsnlhS vi an lnteInatlOndl htanuuTu
fixing the relative value of gold and silver
it atlirms the power of congress to regulate
interstate commerce, and favors such legisla-
tion as will prevent discrimination in charges
for transportation; it recommends tho estab-
fishing of national bureau of labor, tho
enforcement of the eght-hour law, and the
granting of aid from tho national treasury
for the support of public schools wherever
such aid is needed. The importation of
laborers by contract is condemned, and the
party is pledged to maintain tho present law
restricting Chinese immigration.
The civil service reform is Endorsed and
tho extension of the system to all grades o.
the public service to which it is applicable
is recommended. Among tho othor recon-
mendations is the forfeiture of all unearned
land grants; the repeal of tho Limitation
clause in the pension arrears act of 1879 SO
that the pensions of all invalid soldiers shall
begin with tho date of disability, and the
suppression of polygamy in Utah. In The
resolution demanding the rehabilitation of tn,
navy phrase occurs which has the true ring
"Wo call upon congress to remove the burden,
under which American shipping has been de
pressed, so that it may again be true that W
have a commerce which leaves no sea unex
plored, and nary ,phich takes no latg from supe
rior force"