Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-07-25
The Democratic Platform.

lHtiN PROPOSE - N'. ~ 'h'lH-''' +
With the dn,,top uf tie g. tetu- T
mont fot tho r,t' fuu ''u- Ni.r .
the d,rmai,.u dat tlr principles
II tho Democratic paftN tv nu|l.Ncl F
l., tlo united ,uirc f. Woo I'"rlc g.. .
main. aud Will ',Dr tDmniu as 'he .
bet nul unls .,ruut, for the cnntiu. .
vance Il irco rn,'trmsn'. y lnli'N I
art.ieu- tho lioruih,m patty lot .
So al .u-csuf power -por h.pll, nam
iug mau, ol lhsm. nri fl'i .r- 4 /
sell g. tie reform # thosc abuses
I, then proceeds So dchno the r..
aiiion that the Democracy lolda |
upon every living ISSUE that concerns
the National uu,einmuni. "A. becomes
~ part, shat relies fos lts liunl sue I
cess upon the correctness 81 is own
policy rather than upon the mistakes
aud coftnp,lons Of IT. opponents,
as becomes "a patty Whose history |
shows ,ha, no defeat can accomplish
IT. Destruction 90 shake n. faith ~
the principles upon which It 80 long
ani successfully conducted the GOV
eminent. and ~ which II believes It's
administration must fnall, return as
the Law ~ ,iseNistenco.
oi course this platform does not
NEE, with the unqualified approval
Of the Republican p,es", which VII
probably he no great disappoint-
mont 10 iis authors The tafiif plank
In particular, when We come lo hear
their views. IL either too thin ~ too
thick, too narrow OF too broad. loo
shor, az too long Ia fine u docs
not suit them. aud they sum Il up n,
some one once summed NJ Doctor
Felt,
| 30 90, like ynu ne,tor frll
What u the reason CANNED tell,
IN, 10 nui like YEA Doctor Fell
Well. what Of all ,hatp The plat
form was undoubtedly intended to
accommodate the entire Democratic
party. with sufficient room reserved
for such Republicans rs may choose
90 stand In with rs, aud what else
are party platforms constructed for ?
He must be very ohtuse indeed who
imagineu that they have any other
object than 30 invite the largest pos
sible numbe, 81 voters upon tho
main issue brought ~ hy the cleo.
lion. In this instance the issue IL
simply 81 elect y P'caidon, aud Vice
President over the Republican can.
dija.ea. who will stand pledged 10
administer tho executive branch ~
ihe Government upon different
modes from those used by the latter
fot the last twenty years. and upon
that point n, least, and upon NIL
others that concern tho executive
policy n cannot be denied that the
platform IL sufficiently direct aud ex-
pl'cit ~ lie language TO admit Of no
mistake A. 10 i,z meaning.
II may ~ we'll be frankly admitted.
that upon the tariff question. the
Democrats have an yet agreed TO
nothing among themselves except
that the public interest calls for,
aud the people demand n radical
reform In the present system. but,
widely differing IA they do, In their
Vows No 10 what tho precise nature Of
those reforms should be. they have
not hesitated 10 assume the rcspon.
sibiliiy of bringing them about. and
they stand pledged thereto. OF tho
sincerity Of this pledge tho labors Of
the party daring the late session OF
Congress afford better guarantee
than could be given 10 the country
through the medium ~ resolutions
or party platforms.
Reforms IN the administration of |
Government ara seldom, II ever in
sttu,ed by those who originated The
abuses and does not the fact that
the Democrats are nj variance in |
their views on this question. that
they must and will discuss II In
every possible hearing both in and
out 81 Congress. afford the best
guarantee the country could have Of
reform IN this direction
Anything further than tho espres.
sion Of its purpose TO institute n gen
s,al reform Of the tarinf system Of
tho country incorporated into the '
National platform would bo moro
elap'trap aud buncombe. II could
not raise M issue. II could not bind
or even influence tho constituepcics
who will hnally shape the tariff policy
Of the Government, FOR II belongs 10
the Legislative branch to originate all |
measures upon tins subject. and IT !
can only come before the people
when they elect their representatives
IN Congress. Upon this question,
above all others of a national charac.
ter. the voter Is influenced by tho
interests Of his own locality. The
election Of the present Housc Of
Representatives was an o,erwhclm. /
ing expression by the people IN favor
81 reform of Tho .xistiut, tariff avs