The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-01
The Platforms of the Two Parties.
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFoRaL

Of the Democratic party, for the purpose of as
pertaining and comparing their declarations with
their acts. 1t is easy to formulate platforms
but in sending them adrift for the consideration
Of the people it is of the first Importance to know
whether the declarations made and the acts and
purposes of the party making them are in har
mony. For the purpose, therefore, of contrast
ing the declarations Of the Democratic party
with their acts invite the attention of the peo-
pie to some of the resolutions in their national
and State platforms, and the acts of the party in
comparison Herewith.
I find among the first enumerated principles
of the Democratic party, according to their
Chicago platform, declaration that it is in
favor of reducing all federal taxation to a
point so low that the sum raised shall be
exclusively for public purposes, and shall
not exceed the needs of the government econom-
ically administered. The words used in this
declaration are disingenuous ana crafty, but the
Republicans are not left alone to put an inter
probation upon them. Gen. Butler, of Massa-
chusetts, when the platform was before the CON
vention for adoption, plainly informed the Dem
ocratic Representatives there assembled, and the
country, that tariff for revenue exclusively
meant the same as a tariff for revenue only. In
short, he tore the lions skin from the miserable
animal over which it had been thrown. He
plainly said that you cannot masquerade be-
fore the country as tariff reformeGs in sec
ton and protectionists in another Your dec
laraton simply means that you are in favor of
tariff for revenue only Mr.. Watterson and
other great lights of the Democratic party who
favored this idea did not seriously dispute it. 1t
u.s. therefore, RECOMMENDATION of the old princi-
pie of free trade. which has been put into every
Democratic platform for nearly half century,
although attempted to be artfully covered by
ingenious language.
Upon that question the Republican party
takes issue with its adversary, and boldly and
fearlessly throws down the gage Of battle and
challenges them to a discussion of the questions
involved
Another declaration of that convention is left
in uncertainty, as no one knows exactly what
Democratic continental policy, based upon
more intimate and political relation with the
Republics Of Spanish America" means nor what
is meant by the entangling alliances to which
they advert The last specific enunciation we
have from the Democratic party on that subject
was in 1885, in reference to the acquisition of
Cuba 1t may be, however since the Republic
an party has abolished slavery. that their greed
for acquisition of foreign territory over which
slavery might spread has subsidized.
The declaration in favor of honest money
gold and silver coinage Of the Constitution, con-
yertible into a. circulating medium without loss
is departure from recent Democratic policy
We can congratulate ourselves, as Republicans
that we have converted the Democratic party
from the error of its ways on this subject. as
on many others of late years, and have brought
them back within constitutional bounds. | no
tice that the platform of the Democratic party
Of this State of lS7S-a copy OF which have
Fitch, an ex- United States Democratic senator
provided, among other things, that the Demo
cratic party Of this State was against the re-
sumption of specie payments and was in favorof
paying the five-twenty bonds in currency, and
the substitution of greenbacks for national bank
currency and in favor of such legislation, from
time to time, as would adjust the volume
of the currency to the commercial and
industrial wants of the country. remember
well to have made canvass against one of the
prominent Democrats Of this State on that plat
form. ia which he declared its true interpreta-
ton to be that the Democratic party had aban
doned its old doctrine of honest money and be-
lieved alone in the doctrine of a paper currency.
1t is too early to have forgotten the 'Ohio idea,p
and the utterances of the Democratic party on
that subject But, in this as in many other
things, they have fallen into line after the
Republicans have brought about the very prin-
ciple for which they now contend.
1t seems strange to find in the national Demo
cratic platform boldly drawn declaration for
free ballot and fair count; but, when it is con-
sidered that this declaration is coupled with
false pretenses, its true meaning is not difficult
A free ballot and fair count according to
Democratic practice, means Danyille riots, and
the shooting of innocent men, at the polls, for
daring to oppose them, as was done in the case
of Matthews, in Mississippi, where it is plainly
and VIGOROUSLY confessed that his only crime
was that he dared to oppose Bourbon Democra-
cy. With such record this declaration will be
received by the country with nothing but con
tempt, and as an attempt to cover up by words,
the awful crimes with which the Democratic
party stands convicted.
The declaration by that convention relating to
the question of sumptuary laws is misleading
and deceptive. The design of the declaration
was to capture the German vote of the
country, and in the word 'sumptuary7
they seek to practice a deception both
upon the German voters and upon the
honest, temperance, Democratic voters; for to
one they may, with great plausibility say, that
It applies to what they shall drink and TO the
nf urIro44 kali
for the purposes of deception. 1t is hardly nee
essary to remind the people that the Democratic
party have always enacted sumptuary laws when
they have been in power in this State. Thecon-
troll of the liquor traffic by license is a sumptu
airy law The law in this State respecting the
sale of unwholesome meat is sumptuary law
The prohibition against either Of the sexes wear
ing the attire of the other is sumptuary law
These andmany others have been upon the statute
books Of this State from the beginning, and
against which have never heard the Demo
cratic party specifically inveigh now warn the
German voters Of this State that the Democratic
party will make use of them just so long as they
ind It to their advantage, and the moment that
they find it convenient, after having used them
for the purpose of getting into power to betray
them, they will not hesitate to do So This has
been the history of the Democratic party in its
dealings with all classes in the past.
The most singular declaration found in the
Democratic platform is in relation to the regard
which the Democratic party has for law. But
when interpreted in the light OF the resolution
following its construction is not dificult
1t first assures the capital of the country that
the Democratic party don't intend to play the
pirate and robber and then it turns its face inn
mediately toward the people and informs them
that the Democratic party intends to forfeit all
the railroad land grants for the purposes Of
homesteads. It is the old game of talking with
double tongues to different classes
NATIONAL TOPICS.
The declaration, BY the Democratic party, that
citizens at home and abroad, when compared
with its acts, is an anomaly While the asser-
ton contains a sentiment which should be car
,ied out with scrnpulous exactness, yet the DEM
ocrstic party have mover attempted to protect the