Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-12
PRESS ON THE PLATFORM.
APlatrsrm of PRINCIPLES.

Platform OF Principles.
New York Void, Dcmocratic.I
The platform Of the Democratic Conven-
ton is a declaration OF principles which the
party can unanimously endorse and the
| people will heartily approve.
II presents clearly and honestly TO the
| country the issues involved in the contest
| about to be decided at the polls. 1t sets
| before the eyes Of all men, throughout It's
| well-consideTed details. the necessity Of
| CHLNGs in the character Of the national adj
! II Illustration, demanded not only for the
| honor OF the country, but for the preserya-
| ton OF "A republican government in reality
| as well aS IN name.
The plain mission OF the Platform is b
| show the people The difference between the
Blaine party and the party OF Democratic
| principles and true administrative re-
| form.
Ii Is Just TO the cause OF labor. - Democ-
racy must necessarily be.
/! fayOrs the reservation OF the public
lands for actual settlers instead Of their be-
! stowal on favored corporations.
IT upholds an American policy, Instead OF
| a British policy, in accordance with the
settled principles OF Democracy-not adopt
! ed for u campaign, but maintained ever
! since the party bad existence.
There was one point which the enemies
| Of the party, not without some apparent
reason, predicted would prove an insur-
/ mountable obstacle to harmOny-th0 tariff.
The difference between Democratic views
has been more in seeming than reality.
| Every Democrat ,iayOrs, and always has
| favored, only constitutional and necessary
taxation. Every Democrat iayors, and
| always has favored. tightening the burdens
| Of the poor by cheapening rs much ~ pos
! sibe the necessaries OF life. There is no
! such thing as a Free-Trade Democracy. IL
| Is a myth. While revenue is necessary,
| the Democratic principle is TO raise IL in
| such manner As shall be the least OppreS-
| Siyc pi the poorer classes and the most
| beneIicial TO American labor.
The platform says this. plainly and hon.
! cstly. II pledges the Democratic party 70
| act in spirit OF fairness to all interests in
making reductions in the taxes. II declares
| that II is not proposed to iniure auy domes-
| tie industries. but insists that all taxation
shall he limited to the requirements OF an
economical and honest government.
There j. no evasion in this. II is plain
language winch all can understand. viii
tie enemies Of the Democratic party, open
or concealed, take objection to itg VIII
they maintain that the people shall be taxed
for other objects than the requirements OF
the Government honestly and economically
administered?
The platform is sound-sOund to the core.
That II lacked entire unanimity u concur
renee by the vote OF Benjamin +. Batter,
who presented in his own name a minority
report. will not iniure it in the estimation
Of intelligent men Of the labOring or any
ether class.
We heartily congratulate the Convention
on lis good work.
The Blaine Party VIII BE Disappointed.
New York Times, Republican,
The platform submitted to the Demo-
cratic Convention Ut Chicago yesterday is
much more Ineligible document, a.
whole. than that when the Rcpuhli,an
adopted, and the Committee on Resolutions
showed more confidence i'm their work
than was felt by their Republican predecGs-
sors in defending it in open discussion.
The point in which the greatest interest
was felt was necessarily the treatment OF
the tariff question. As to this the Blaine
party will be bitterly disappointed, for they
bad hoped, ard. with their ariless modeSty,
had urged that the opponents OF Mr.. Blaine
should take extreme aud dangerous ground
on this ycXed question. The advice has
been declined and the hope has been
quenched. The Republican platform. In
one OF the few lucid sentences that 1t
contains, pledges the party to ''cOrrect the
inequalities Of the tariff and TO reduce the
surplas by such methods rs will
relieve the taxpayer without injnring the
labor OF the great productive interests Of
the country The Democratic platform
pledges the Democratic party to revise
the tariff in spirit OF fairness b. all inter-
6sts," and declares that in making re-
ductOn in taxes il il not proposed to in
lure any domestic industries" II recOg-
nizes that 81 taxes collected at the custom
house must continue to be the chief
source Of Federal reyenue;" that "any
change OF law must be ~ every step re-
gardful Of the labor and capital involved"
in the - Industries which have come 10 rely
upon legislation for successful continu-
ance." II especially declares that "thc
necessary reduction in taxation can and |
must be effected without depriying Amerl- !
can labor OF the ability to compete success. |
fully with foreign labor and without i'm. |
posing lower rates OF duty than will be am |
pie TO cover any increased cost Of produc- |
ton which may exist in consequence OF |
the higher rates OF wages prevailing in this |
country"
4
server that neither OF the two Chicago plat |
forms was made with the intention OF lead |
ing to a radical policy regarding the tariff. |
Were the Republican party successful IL |
would be forced TO resume the work OF re- |
vision which II undertook in vain two years |
ago, and IT, would be compelled 10 make !
that revision in the general direction OF |
lower taxes on raw materials and on the |
necessares OF life. IL the Democratic |
party were successful 1t also would |
undertake q revision OF the tariff with |
substantially the same purpose and |
I'm practically the same directions. The |
conditions OF the lending contest are |
such that 1t is impossible that either |
party, il il win, should not feel the power |
full influence Of It's opponents. In the case |
OF the Democracy it is clear from the mea- |
sured and cautious language Of the resolu- !
tons, from the definite limitations with /
which its declarations Of policy are sur
rounded, from the admissions made as TO |
the acquired rights Of protected industries |
and the need OF recognizing the difference !
In the rates OF wages 70 be earned here and |
In foreign lands, that no destructive inca. |
sures are contemplated. IL Is stlll more !
clear from the recent history OF the party |
that, were such measures proposed, II |
would be impossible TO carry them into
operation.
The tariff policy laid down by the Demo- |
c-atic platform is one which intelligent and
conservative men in all callings and in |
every section eau accept as sound one.
fairly meeting the requirements OF the ac-
tual situation. But IL Is not q policy on
which any distinct issue can be raised by
the Blaine party, unless they are prepared |
to repudiate their own platform and 10 ad-
yocate resistance 10 all change IN the tariff
as opposed to the careful. gradual. Just, and
conservative revision and reduction re-
quircd by the existence OF the enormous
needless surplus and by the condition OF
the trade aud manufactures OF the country.
This they may do, but It would only add
one more 10 the many stupid blunders OF
which they have already been guilty. The
main issue OF the campaign presented by
the Blaine party Is involved In TIE charac-
ter and methods Of the candld3,e. They