New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-11
4 PfRTY WITHUCT PRINCIPLES.

4 P1RI1 VII tfctI fhfhtII i|',''
After much delay and labor, the committee
of the Democratic Convention could not agree
upon declaration of principles. A majority
and Il minority report were presented. and the
Convention after long debate adopted the re-
port OF the majority.
The majority report was presented by Mr..
Morrison. No one will be surprised to
find that it labori0usly attempts, but fails, to
hide the opinions which Mr. Morrison has
tired to cmbOdy in legislation. As The TRIBUNE
long ago predicted when forced to fOlswear
their convictions or to forfeit success, the
frcc-tradc politicians promptly forSwer Their
convictions Their beliefs remain the same,
bnt they consent to hide them away until after
election. Their intentions are not changed,
bat they are willing to profess anything ANA TO
promise anything Tor the sake of Office. 1t has
been neutrality-suspicious. these so-called re-
formers themselves have thOught-that they
deserve some consideration because. unlike
mauy politicians of their party they really do
possess some beliefs. But when it comes to
practical test, they have none. Hosea hIg'oW
pictured such Democrats with Photographic
ddrlity when lac gave thanks that Providence
fashioned them hollow 80 that they might
their principles swallow"
OF course the platform that they offer is
dodge. That was anticipated, not only ycstcr-
dav. but months ago. The party could not get
Office If il ailiouted its frcc-tradc voters. 1t
could NOT yet office if it avowcd their purpose.
llcurc 1t cout,ivcd platform OF the loo,ng-
rlns, vafity in which every man can sec his
own shade of opinion reflected. The rude
shocks of the campaign will leave nothing oI
it the record of the vote lCt the Morrison bill
proves beyond dispute what the party really
iucnds.
Considered as dodge The tariff platform rec
poy,rl by the majority il the most ingcn,ousyct
devised. 1t asserts lalerly that the "SNh 'n W
must be- changed because The revenue Is 'SccS-
alive, but there are not many voters who see
that revenue can be cut down as welt by
raising u duty rs by abo.IshnG il. The aSScr-
ton that the main revenue lass been and must
be derived from customs ~ true. but oil no
meaning; exactly the same revenue can be St.
cured 10y a very high duty or by very low
duty. The truth that many industries now de-
pend for their existence upon the duties when
called them into being is 4 damaging one IL
viii bc contrastcd, before thousands oi audi
cncrS with the rates for which f0Ur-hiths of
the Democratic representatives recently voted.
So the statement that a change should not be
50 made as to injure any interest, though nice i'll
itself, will gain meaning from the bill proposed
bv the same Mr.. Morrison who reported the plat
form on behalf of the majority. That enough
revenue can be collected without injury 10
The wages of labor is obvious; the Morrison
bill proves that the Democratic party does not
intoAl to collect rcvcnue in that manner.
Othcr features of the platform reported will
have consideration hereafter. The committee
and the convention have struggled long, but i'll
vain, to avoid an acknowledgment OF the
Democratic purpose in regard to the tar
III. When the wOrlingmcn Of this cOun-
Try contrast this tricky evasion with tlc
clear manly and anequyocal declaration OF the
Republican Convention, they will not doubt as
to thcirduty. The Democratic Convention may
perhaps succeed in dod sing the vanticS of rival
politicians. But it has not d0lgcd the tariff
question, nor can it by any possibility dodge
the record Of the party on that question.