National Republican., 1885-09-25
Republican Political Carpentry.

AS a rule state platforms are clumsy
specimens Of political carpentry. They are
often made ap Of odd bits contributed from
various sources, and making an incongruous
combination. Not uufrequently they pro-
claim absurd theories, aud when they enun-
ciate automatic propositions as old as the
hills they are apt to put them out as II they
were new and startling discoveries. So
many blundcrs have been made in these
Foundations of political creeds that it is
doubtful If It would not be better to foreSo
such rhetorical efforts and let each party
trust to its record and its candidates rather
than to professions and promises.
The platform adopted by the New York
Republicans at Saratoga on the 23l is
happily EXCEPTIONAL in that it is care.
fully elaborated work, each part consistent
with every other part, and all producing u
harmonious effect.
Inasmuch as the question Of civil service
reform is the one on which the New York
Democrats are extremely liable to get by
the cars at any time, and is the mllu qucs-
tion IN the minds Of great many Republic
cans in that state, 1t was lifting that the
CONVENTION hiIphlN SlNC u 81 lIdSc III tslt
platform, and should speak with such pre-
cison and emphasis rs TO leave no doubt OF
its meaning. Not even the most eXactlng
of the Independents can find fault with the
declaration ''thRt the provisions of the cX-
isting civil service laws of TIE state and ma
tion should be strengthened and extended
10 all grades of the public service to which
they may he applicable, so that the sece-
tion Of administrative officers IN the civil
service shall, so FAR as possible, be gov.
orued solely by capacity and fitness"
There may be some Of the In lc-
pendents who will object to the
assertion that ''honorably discharged sol
diers and sailors, who are shown by com
pctitiye examination to possess the ncccs-
sary requirements, should be given the
preference In certiicatiOn and in appoint
mCnt,' but II Is right, and the Republican
party in New York and elsewhere will
stand un to it, If soldier can pass ex-
animation, even though hc be twenty points
behind the young man fresh from college,
he should have the preference. The men
who saved this nation have some peculiar
rights.
There is no trimming, 10 evasion, or
dodging on the tariT question. New York
gave TO the national Democratic party the
shibboleth "tanfI for revenue only"
Against this Democratic declaration OF
deadly hostility to American labor tho New
York Republicans thunder their indignant
protest IN the words Of the last Republican
national platform. They demand that, in
raising the requisite revenues for the gov
ornment, duties on imports shall be so levied
as to afford security to our diycsIilgl IN
dustrics, and protection to the rights and
wages Of the laborer, to the end that active
and intelligent labor as well as capital may
have its Just reward, and the labOrlng man
his full share IN the national prosperity,
Equally IN the interest Of labor IS the
declaration against subiectlng the free,
honest wOrkngmen Of the state to cOmpe-
tition with the sold labor OF convicts. Tue
national administration, "haying In view
the greatest economy" has committed tho
Democratic party TO tue fatal policy Of let
ting out public work to be performed by con-
viots. But the most important aud far