The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-06-06
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

Vention have evolved another "plat
form Of principles" While in tn
main it bears striking resemblance
TO previous declarations by tn
party, 1t is generally wesker, AM
certainly less emphatic and positiv
than former platforms. The usua
self>praise is repeated, and NOR
suggestions are put forth and prom
ises made; but as whole it will b.
admitted by intelligent members O.
the party that declaration of prin'
ciples with less Of craftsmanship il
it has never been adopted by Re
publicans. The reason for this
weakness it is not difficult to dis
cover. The fact is there is NJ
longes occasion for a Republican
party. It had work to perform
performed it and there is nothing
left for it to do. It is struggling
along, graspjng in this direction and
clutching in that, trying to find
something upon which it can fas-
ten itself-something to do which
comes within the line of its mis-
sion as political organization. 1t
realizes that life cannot be longer
sustained on the boast that the Re-
publican party abolished slavery.
"Pointing with pride" to that
feat is worn out and Is
somewhat tiresome. Slavery has
been abolished twenty years, the
principle that the Union is q union
in fact, whether Or not individual
members may object, is as firmly
established as any other in the Re-
public; people have accepted .hese
things as accomplished facts, have
amply paid the Republicans for all
they did, and are now weary Of
being told the old, old story over
and over again. The life has gone
out of the boast, and with its ds-
parture the occasion for life in the
Republican party has fed. Hence
this weak and unstatesman-
like platform which protests
against the land grant frauds
which 1t devised, encouraged,
fostered and made successful; which
reiterates the false doctrines of un.
necessary and exorbitant taxation
and protection, the evil effects of
which are so distressingly apparent
to-day in a treasury overlooking
with idle money wrung from the
people and which the Republican
politicians are devising schemes to
Hquander or steal, and in trade and |
industrial depression to be seen on |
every hand; platform which urges
the expenditures of millions in the
construction of navy for which |
the country can have no possible |
use, and which like our
last navy would niece Asarily lie in
harbor to rot and 60 to destruction.
The really important, commendable
declarations are and always nave
been Democratic, pure and simple,
and were stolen from that party, or
are In line Of its doctrines and prac.
tees. The principle which de-
mands that eastern nations keep
their hands of, America. and that the
United States preserve the doctrine
Of non.interferenoe with the affairs
of European countries, avoiding en-
tsngling alliances, are Democratic
and not Republican; as is also the
principle of settling disputes by in
ternational arbitration rather than a
resort to war. The civil service re.
form law, Of which the party boasts,
was brought about by the Demo-
Gratis, backed by the people who de-
manded that the Republicans quit
stealing apd give the country honest
and capable government. We must
thank the convention forfhe recon-.
mendation that in selecting officers
for the Territories the President be
required to take bona fide residents
of the Territories. If anyone be-
lieves this was not bitter pill to
swallow, he is not familiar with
Republican principles or Republi.
can administration. And here we
may predict with safety that If ever
the recommendation or suggest ion
is adopted, it will be because the
Democrats lead in the movement
and drive the Republicans into its
acceptance. The last - mentioned
will never willingly surrender so