Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-06-19
IS He A DEMOCRAT?
from the New York Herald.l

Every man has a right to his own
opinions, but when a man chooses to
act with others in a political party,
and when, on the faith of such action.
his party places him in a position OF
trust and influence. it has usually been
held that he is bound in honor to carry
ont by his votes and acts the policy Of
the party that has thus trusted him
That is so plain an obligation that mel
of a nice ms of honor have been
known to resign their public employ
ment when they found themselves no
longer able to follow the party which
gave it to them; and other men have
been held up to public scorn and dis,
grace because they were false to their
party's policy.
The democratic national platform
adopted in 1884 declared formally and
solemnly the policy which the demo-
cratic party would carry out if the PEG,
pie should trust it with power. On
that platform the president and every
member of congress was elected. All
are bound in honor 10 carry out the
promises thus made. That platform
declares that
"The democratic party is pledged to
revise the tariff in a spirit of fairness
to all interests"
But Mr.. Randalrs whole power and
influence in the house of representa-
tives are used and have been used dur
ing the whole session to prevent any
revision whatever of the tariff. Is MIR.
Randall a democrat ? Is he not false
t. a pledge OH which he was electedf
The democratic platform says:-
unnecessary taxation is unjust tax
alton. We denOunce the republican
party for having failed to relieve the
people from crushing war taxes, which
have paralyZed business, crippled in
dustry and deprived labor of employ
ment and of just reward"
Mr.. Randall's whole power and in
luence in the present house have been
eXerted to p%erpetuate these war taxes,
which the democratic platform de-
nounces. Is Mr.. Randall a democrat?
The democratic platform says again:
"Instead of the republican party's
d%iscredited scheme of false pretense OF
friendship for American labor. eX-
pressed by imposing taxes, we demand,
in behalf of the democracy, freedom
for American labor by reducing taxes,
to the end that these United States may
compete with unhindered powers for
the primacy among nations in all the
arts Ut peace and fruits of liberty"
Mr.. Randall has set his face like flint
against all reduction of taxation. Is
Mr.. Randall a democrat?
The democratic platform further de-
ciares uneQulvOcally -
1--WE favor honest civil service re.
FORM"
Mr.. Randall has put into the legisla-
tive appropriation bill a clause which
is denounced by real democrats as
blow at ''hOnest civil service REFORM
Is Mr.. Randall a democrat?
A faithful democrat is not bound tc
agree to Mr.. MorrisOn's or any other
proposition for reducing taxation and
revising the tariff. But if he cannot
agree to these, he is bound as an honor
able man to bring forward a PROPOSE
ton of his own for these purposes
which are promised in the platform
Mr.. Randall has not done this. On the
contrary, his whole effort has been, and
continues to be, to prevent any rednc-
ton of taxation or revision of the
tariff whatever. Mr.. Randall is moi
bound as a democrat to regard the
present civil service rules as perfect.
He has a right to plan and labor for
their improvement. But he is bound
by the pledges of the platform moi to
destroy them.
The course of Mr.. Randall is ur-
worthy of an honorable public man
When he determined to oppose and, il
he could, to defeat the pledges made in
the democratic platform, it was his
duty to give public notice to the party
that he could 10 longer act with it, to
resign the craftsmanship of a committee
which he received as a democrat and to
either openly go over to the republicans
or else "fock by himself"