The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-06-14
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
COMMENTS OF THE PRESS.


The following excellent synopsis and run
ming comment IS from the Baltimore San:
The platform of the Chicago convention having
been constructed with the view of pleasing every
body, is found on examination to be made of mate
rails 50 heterogeneous and asSored that it falls to
pieces of its own weight and satisfies nobody. That
IL adopted without discussion argues sad want
OF settled convictions on the part of the $40 represent
tative Republicans constituting the convention and
may be taken as contirmatory of the view which
now so often finds expression, that the partys day
of serious purpose is i'll the past that its mission
ended, and that the only object of its continued
isence is the fruition of office. party which
makes its platform drag net for issues, good, bad
and indifferent jumbled i'll ineXtrieable confusion,
cannot but suffer loss of reputation for sincerity
alternating by its uterance i'll favor of thing as
many votes as 1t gains by its utterace III favor of
something else wholly inconsistent. Nor the
statements OF the platform models of historical
curacy. The assumption that the party has "tri-
umphed in six successive presidential elections" is
not warranted by the record of 1876 not to mention
the expedients by which the presidential office was
Tor Garfield IN 1880. It's claims to purity OF
legislation, integrity in all departments of the
government" friendness to the elevation of la
Dor" and advocacy of honest currency can hardly
be seriously considered The corrupt legislation by
which lYO,OOO,OO0 acres of land have been voted
away TO railroad corporations and $3.50 600 900 spent
since 1866 for navy we haven't got; the star-route
scandals; the steady growth i'll the last twentyfour
years of oppressive monopolies at the expense of
labor, and the continued coinage of the 'S0cent'
silver dollar, are facts that cannot be put out of
view. The hightarif ground is taken that duties
foreign imports shall be not for revenue only"
By the promise however, that the people to be
relieved of the burden OF unnecessary taxation by
wise reduction OF the surplus and by the specific
pledge ITO correct the inequalities of the tariff and
10 reduce the surplus policy of low tariff legisa
ton is limited at. This again is denied by still
more specific pledge to the Ohio wool-growers to
raise the rates their product The lands it threw
the Pacific coast Vote is solicited By an anti
pledge; Greenbackers and silver men are appealed
TO by what may be interpreted as Endorsement
of their views the granger sentiment is sought to be
enlisted by promise of legislation to regulate in
terstate commerce; the Know Nothing remnant as
lad IN in fnfo
crusade against nonresident aliens owning large
tracts of land in this country; labor reformers
promised "a national bureau of labor and 1.-The en-
forcement of the eight-hour law educationalists
are told to expect large appropriations from the
federal treasury for public schools; pension agents
recent years not only laudabe but are TO be en-
larged existing monopolies are brought into line by
the protection phrases of the tariff plank; hnally
and his works are taken TO the breast OF the party
the little boss himself being cheered the hero of
the convention and if there is d man on earth de-
tested by Mr. Blaine, the presidential nominee that
man is Malone. This is obviously platform of
cap-trap expediency, not to be compared with the
platforms Of former times when the party was AMI
mated by what it called moral ideas" The omis-
remarkable as the contents of this ridic
ulous composition. The recent iegal-tender decls
ions of the Supreme Court the evils threatening our
national currency and the interests affected by the
increased production of grain in competing coun-
tries receive no mention, the same fate, strange 10
say, overtaking female suffrage and prohibitlon;
The wisdom of the party is evidently in tatters and
its want of wellcomsidered policy will in many
minds be thought to be in fine harmony with the
genius of its nominee for the presidency
New York Times (Rep): ''If Mr.. Mckinley, of
Ohio, and Mr.. Charles Emory Smith, of Pennsylva-
MIA be, as the text of the platform indicates the
authors of this precious document they are entitled
to the credit of producing artisticaly absurd and
insincere and senseless hodge-podSe.'
New York Sun CInd) in Some Notes OH the Plat
FORM" says: 1.-The Republican party has not tri-
umphed in six successive presidential elections
The Republican party did not save the Union The
Republican party has not cared continental for
the elevation of labor. The Republican party has
responded, either quickly or tardily, to the de
mand OF the people for purity in legislation. Nor
for integrity and accountability in all departments
of the government, The Republican party is a
fraud. and the same old platform lies are made to
do service again in this year of grace and hope"
New York World (Dem.): 1.-The platform is a mass
of gttering generalities. Against the clap-trap of
Republican professions the people can place the Ia
mentable fact of Republican practice"
Philadelphia Record Qnd): THE platform in
far it proposes anything in the future policy
of the party, is an arragnment of its past policy.