Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-26

An attentive reading of the two platforms
adopted by the republican and democratic par.
ties at their respective conventions at Saratoga
viii show that on most subjects they substanti-
ally agree. Stripped of their ingenuity of yer.
biage the platforms are practically the same.
Let an intelligent foreigner, for instance read
the two manifestos and he would be puzzled to
see wherein they differed In principle.
Both profess sympathy with President Cleye-
lands theories on civil service. though both
find fault with the enforcement of the law The
republicans charge the administration with in
sincerity. The democrats condemn the actual
administration OF the existing civil-service law
as the same has been executed by the republi-
can party" They make a claim that the ma
chinery of the law has been employed to favor
republican Candidates Tor office, and they make
this claim preteXt for a demand that the
existing lists OF eigibles be annulled, a de-
maad which friend OF the service should
countenance, as it stahs at the heart OF the re-
FORM Still, the democrats profess their ''appro-
baton of the spirit OF the recent civil-service
reform legislation, both state and federal.
Criticism is restricted to a wish that the consti-
tutional powers of the President shall not be
impaired, and that the law shall not be prosti-
tuted to unworthy purposes.
Both parties agree that the further compul-
sorry coinage OF the standard silver dollars
should cease. The democrats say 1--WE demand
the repeal of the act' under which the coinage
now goes on, and affirm their belief that to con-
tinue the coinage longer will bring great dam
ger to the business interests OF the country"
So do the republicans; and both parties urge
legislation which shall restore the parity of
value between gold and silver coin.
On the tariff there is a shade of difference, but
il would puzzle our Intelligent foreigner to ex-
plain where the difference lay, especially if he
was acquainted with the tariff record OF eastern
democrats The democrats call for a revision
of the tariff, but in spirit OF fairness to all in
terests," declare for "a due regard for existing
interests" and provide specifically that the re-
vision shall be so limited "that American
labor shall not be deprived of the ability to
compete successfully with foreign labor" The
republicans say duties shall be levied so as to
affrod security to our diversified industries and
protection 10 the rights and wages of the
laborer"
Both parties declare against convict labor
the employ nent of young children in factories
eulogize Grant. and make a special exception
In favor of Union veterans with respect TO clegi-
bility for appointment to the civil service And
both parties, finally, have a great deal to say
about the wickedness of the other
According 10 a London cable dispatch TO THE
STAR, Mr.. Thomas Stevens, who il going around
the world on a bicycle. has reached the heart of
Persia in safety and triumph. The machine is
OF course, a wonderful novelty in those re@ions
and the adventurous rider is everywhere re-
ceived as veritable curiosity. liz. Stevens, if
he gets through his proposed journey according
to program, will have had an unique expe-
rience. He Is a modest but determined Young
man, who has shown a rare tact for taking care
of himself under difficult circumstances, and
deserves to succeed in the strange task he has
undertaken.