The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-08-21
Tho Two Shlni Platforms.

Both the Democratic platform and the
Republican have land plank. Both hold
TINT the public lands should be reserved rs
homesteads for actual settlers; boh de-
mand the forfeiture of all the unearned
railroad land grants and both are opposed
10 the ownership Of land by alien abscn-
tees though the Democrat plank omits the
Republican declaration against tho acquiSi-
ton Ut large tracts Of tile public land by
corporations III individuals.
Yet the two parties that are thtis both
united i'm the main utterly failed to enforce
their alleged policy during the recent ses-
sion Of Congress.
In regard to contract seryile immigration,
both platforms are analogous. The Demo-
cratic platform SAYS that the Democratic
party does not sanction the importation OF
foreign labor or the admission of seryile
races, untitled hv habits, training,
religion or kindred for absorption
into the great body Of our peo.
ople, or for the citizenship which our
laws confer" and that American ciyiliza-
ton demands that against the immi-
grafton on importation of Mongolians to
these shores our gates he closed" On the
same subject, the Republican platform says
that the Republican party is unalten,bly OPP
posed to placing our workingmen in compe-
tition with any form Of sevile labor,
whether ut home or abroad; and we de-
nounce the importation of contract labor,
| whether from Europe or Asia, nv m Of
Tense against the spirit Of American insti-
buttons, and we pledge ourselves to sustain
the present law restricting Chinese immi-
| gr,tion. and to provide such other legisla-
| ton as is necessary To carry out its pur-
| poses,
Yet the two parties that are thus united
| against the contract system Of immigration
| to this port adjourned Congress without
passing the Till that was drawn up
| against il.
The Democratic platform has plank
| fayoring the enactment of laws by which
labor organizations may he incorporated;
and on this subject the Republican plat-
| form il silent.
But both parties, ut the recent session of
| Congress. refused Ia act upon the bill for
the incorporation Of national trade unions.
The Republican platform favors the "en-
forcement Of the eight hour law upon
which the Democratic platform il silent;
but ms a matter IF fact, the Republican
party i'm Congress has never tried tn secure
the enforcement Of that law.
| The Republican platform has plank not
to he found in the Democratic platform in
| favor Of Legislation for the public rcgula-
ton Of railway corporations, but Summers
bill for that purpose was opposed by both
parties in Congress.
The Republican platform fayors Ma
tional Bureau Of Labor, To which il was I'M
necessary to make any allusion in the
Democr,,lc platform as the bill establishing
the bureau became n law before the making
Of the Democratic platform, which, how
ever. favors "all such legislation as tends to
enlighten the people upon the true relations
of capital and labor.
The Democratic platform fasors the pre-
ser,ation Of personal rights and the equality
| Of all citizens before the law" The Re-
publican platform favois the freedom and
equality If all men, and the rights Of al
citizens"
The conduct of both parties during the
past few years is n commentary upon these
pretenses.
When dealing with the tariff. both partie.
are anxious about labor"
Both platforms are full of Theoretical
shams, which both despise in practice, as il
shown by their action in Congress.-Joh'
Sriafoas Paper.