Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-09-02
The Republican Platform.

A careful perusal of the platform adopted
by the Republican Convention of Ohio leads
to the conclusion that it is noteworthy only
in respect to its mendacity. For example, it
charges that the present Administration has
been "the most extrayagant ever known"
when, as matter of fact, itsaved in the appro-
priations of the last session $500, 900 over
the appropriations of the last Congress, and
in reality--e1cluding the increase of pensions
saved $25, 900. It's next colossal piece
OF hypocrisy is to charge the Administration
with inability to handle the fisheries ques-
tion. The facts are that the Republican
party, with twenty-five years of power, could
do nothing with this international complica-
tion, and now falsely endeavor to lay the
burden upon US. They are equally mendac-
ious in their reference to Mexico, overlook
ing the fact that without any breach of the
peace we have secured the release of Cutting,
and are now carefully inquiring as to the
proper rearangement of Mexican law in such
particulars. In all of these three points
they stand as prevaricators on the record.
So, likewise, are they hypocrites and dem
agogues in their pension plank. The re-
corded facts are that the present Administra-
tion has carefully examined, adjudicated and
paid more pensions to Union soldiers than
was ever done by any previous Administra-
tion in the same time. A large number of
attempts to steal from the public Treasury
under the false guise of pensions have been
stopped by Presidential vetoes. The whole
country approves them, but the Ohio Repub-
lican Ring seeks to condemn them. They
are welcome to their effort.
Their tariff plank is a simple reafirmation
of Republican principles" without going
into detail. They seem to have lamentably
forgotten that their last National platform
promised reform in our long-continued
war tariff, and that their party has been dis
honest enough to break its pledge.
In their sixth plank they present most
laughable spectacle-the spectacle of Re-
publican Convention denouncing Republi-
can United States Senate. The Republicans
of the third State of &he Union sling dirt at
the only National body where their party
still holds power, and include in their con-
demnation their own candidate for the Vice
Presidency, all of which is touchingly illus
trative of Republican harmony.
OF course, they stand by the revolutionary
processes by which, without inquiry, without
a quorum, in defiance of decency, they thrust
out from the Legislature the duly elected
Representatives and Senators from Hamilton
county. It is terrible precedent to put up
on record, and it will work incalculable evil
in this State unless repudiated by the peo-
pie.
Their liquor plank is more stiffiy prohibi-
ton than any they have before dared to pre-
sent, and yet it is dishonest even in that
They seek to catch the Prohibition vote by
declaring themselves in favor of ''eradicat-
ing" the liquor traffic, yet seek to soothe the
other side by explaining that they will not
resort to unconstitutional means for its
eradication" Yet they indorse the Dow
law, local option and all.
Nothing else in their platform worthy of
mention is to be noted. Having increased
the burden of our State taxation, and having |
real estate, they falsely prate of their econ-
omy. Having turned the penitentiary from
a non-partisan institution into Ring Re- |
publican concern, they are brazen enough to
boast of this. And, after all their filthy |
abuse of General Grant living, they close
their singular platform by praising him dead.
The whole performance is exceedingly |
funny. Itlaunches them into the campaign
covered with mantle of hypocrisy and false
hood which would be ludicrous if it were not
SO utterly disgraceful.