New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-20
THE PARTY WITHOUT PRINCIPL Y

The Democratic State Conventions in Penn
sylyania Ohio, Michigan and Missouri help to
tell the country what the party wants. The
session of Congress showed that most of the
Democratic representatives were opposed 10
the Democratic president, on the conduct OF
the fnarccs and the conduct of the Civil Ser
vice. 1t showed also that most OF the Demo-
cratic representatives were in accord with the
Administration in its hostility to protection,
and wanted free trade in wool, lumber, scrap
iror. salt, and many other articles, as step
toward free trade generally, but that about
one fifth of them resisted that policy, and by
acting with the Republicans prevented any
change of tariff. If the purpose of the party
is to be gathered from the action OF its mem
bcrs of Congress, it appears that in respect 10
the issues of vital importance there Is no Dem
oclatic party. There is body OF men VINO
opposc their own Administration on Civil Ser
vice and financial matters. and who are de-
fcated IN spite of the Presidents aid, IN mat
tiers of taxation. Whether the Congressman
represent the voters perhaps the State Conven-
tors may show.
The PENNSYLVANIA Convention was controlled
| by Mr.. Randall, the leader of that minority
| which resisted ard defeated four-iifths OF his
party on the taliff question. Its platform be-
| gins with demand for a revision, rot OF the
| tariff bat of "thc revenue laws" which ac-
cords vita Mr.. Randall's scheme to render
higher duties on imports necessary by repeal
| inc internal taxes. 1t declares that changes OF
tariff must not "deprve American laborers OF
the ability to successfully compete with forcig1
labor" and that duties should be ample to
cover ANY increased cost of production which
may exist in consequence of the higher stand
AID of wages prevailing in this country.
| This is direct CenSlirc OF the course OF inc
| large majority of Democrats in Congress.
| Plainly the rcbcllious minority truly repre-
sents the party in Pennsylvania, and is at war
| with the party elsewhere. When We tun
| 10 Missouri, there is abundant evidence that
| the representatives speak the will of the vot-
ers. Senator Vest, with the approval of a
| large convention, denounced Mr. Randall and
thirty so-callcd Democrats in the House who
| had united with the Republicans 10 strike down
| the Morrison BILL" and said that any such man
was a Republican in disguise and not "A
| Democrat" The convention in Ohio lodged
the issue by an cvasve phrase, and the con-
vcntion in Michigan fused with the Giccnback
| repudiators.
On the financial question the Pennsylvania
Convention lodged. Not a word appears iu
its platform on the silver question or the use
Of the Treasury surplus, and the AdmlnistI a.
ton is vaguely commended not for its financial
policy which has been its most important
work, but for giving "confidcnce to the bust
| ness industries of the country Considering
| that Mr.. Randall himself voted with the Demo
cratic majority to condcmn the financial pol
| icy of the Administration, and to deprive the
| President of manage meat of the Frances. this
is not a crcditablc or honest expression. Ohio
Democrats declare plainly that they approve
the surplus resolution which was intended to
take away power from the President, and
which, even in modified form. he refused to
sign. The Michigan Convention went even
further by its fusion with the Grecnbackcrs,
and The Missouri Convention chcclcd Senator
Vest for approving the origi' al surplus rcao-
luton.
The Civil Service policy of the President
(, can be approved in set terms by the most un-
scrupulous spoik1ncn. MI Manning was party
manager and chat man of committee and Is
, now in the Cabinet Hubert o. Thompson con
5 Quoted secret operations for Mr.. Cleveland
and dictated at the Custom House while he
/ lived Mr. Mago"e. now at the Custom House
has been political manipulation of the Man
, ming type; Mr.. German controls politics anc
, appointments in Maryland; Mr.. Bannlm, Of
scverl-mule fame" does the same for Con
nectcut Sanalcy, the political boss of Yer
, mont, gets his reward in an Office, and sc
, docs Pil>bury, of Maine. while Obcrly, chair
man of the Democratic Committee Of Illinois
becomes chairman of the Civil Service Com
| mission That is what the Pennsylvania Con
| vcntion means when it conmcDds the Pres
idcnt because he has elevated the Civil Ser
| vice from The party dcbaScmcat to which il
had been reduced by previous Administra-
tons" The Ohio Democrats arc careful to
approve the President oily for his courage
: and honesty" but they say not word about
; his appointments. and fatty condemn hi,
T fuanciL policy. The Michigan Democrats
in order TO placatc the GIccr hackers, took
substantially the same comsc, and Mr.. Vest
told the Missouri Convention that "diSap-
poin,cd Office seekers had boiled the Democratic
party, and wcrc running a'ouHd the country
like dog without political collar. Some
called Themselves Prohibitonsts, and some
Glcenbackcrs. They had no party. Coz
help them"
The conventions only make it more clear
that there is no body OF men, united by com
mon principles, which has a night 10 style it,
self tho Democratic party. Tbcic is body
OF political sharpcrs. who arc united only by
a desire TO get Office Oh false plctcnccs, ant
who arc trying TO deceive the people.
Il HOBBIES or TREASURER.