The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-04-24
Democratic Platform Making.

The New York Sun recently asserted that the
"providing the Democratic party with plat
form for the national canvass. of formulating
its principles and supplying the ideas which
are commonly known as issues" belongs to
the National convention and not to Democratic
Congressman. and is to be performed at Cnca-
90 and not at Washington. The Democratic
Washington Post very properly takes exception
to this statement. and on substantial grounds.
1t well says that the difference between the
Democratic National convention and the House
of Representatives is the important and practi-
cal one between promise and performance.
For example:
The most the coming or any National conven-
ton can do is to lay down correct platform of
principles. to promise certain things in the
name of the party, and TO commit the party
thereto so far rs il can be bound by party
convention. But whether these promise, be or
be not performed depends upon the Democratic
members OF Congress. The responsibility in
any case at last comes home to them, and the
country is always quick to set off against what
the convention saws that which the Democrats
in Congress have done or failed to do
The House Democrats by yea and nay vote
of 80 to 10I decided that the duty ON wool
should not be restored. suppose the convention
should adopt the Ohio platform including the
plank demanding the increase of this duty, of
what avail would it be in the face of this action
of Democratic Representatives:
The Democratic House of Representatives
will this year make the Democratic platform.
In the discharge Of their duty as legislators
they carry out policies which the National con-
Venton can only suggest They are making
they cannot help it if they would the party
record. They are showing the country by their
control of one House of Congress, what they
would do if in possession of all departments OF
the Governments
And the Post concludes BY SAYING that
"Democratic performance at Washington is
what the party needs, not Democratic promise,
at Chicago" We think there has already been
enough "Democratie performance" at Wash
ington to make it certain that the people win
not trust that party with the rens of govern
ment Their free trade tendencies have been
too plainly manifested to be CLOSED over by
the platform to be adopted al Chicago 1t will
be of no avail for them to insert Il civil service
reform plank, if, It's POW intmated. they intend
to refuse an appropriation TO continue the
Commission. If. a> the Post says. "they are
showing the country 10y their control OF one
House of Congress what they would do if in
control of all departments Of the Govern
ment," the country has reason to congratulate
itself that the experiment i confined to one
House of Congress. 1t is certainly a do-noth-
ing House, Not one of the appropriation bills
has become a law, and most of them are yet to
be reported to the House. A tariff bill, GER
tain to be defeated, will occupy from one to
two months time unless means are found to
get it out Of the way, Meanwhile the real
work OF the session i, yet to begin, ana il i
evident that Congress must sit until mid>um-
iner, OF later. At large expense to the taX-pay-
ers. The platform the Democrats are making
At Washington is therefore not one to win them
sign them to merited defeat.