Wichita eagle., 1888-06-24
THE PLATFORM.
The ST. Louis Document an Ingenious
Ssraddle-A Document That Democratic
Speakers Can Interpret As They Please.

Speakers Can Interpret As .Iney fieases
sThe Democratic party, in National con-
vention assembled, rcnews the pledge OF
its fidelity to the Democratic faith. and re-
anirms the platform adopted by its repre-
sentatives in the convention OF 1854. and
indorses the views expressed by President
Cleveland in his last earnest message as
the correct Interpretation OF that platform
upon the question OF tariff reduction,'' such
are the opening words Of the platform
adopted at ST. Louis They suggest three
questions:
What Is "the Democratic faith - 10 which
the pledge of fidelity IS renewed
What was the platform OF 1854. so TAR as
revenue reduction is concernedi
How can President Cleveland's "last
earnest message be considered IS inter
preting il,
The Democratic faith il affirmation or
State sovereignty rs an absolute endowment
of each member OF the Union OF States.
Whenever in power the Democratic party
has so affirmed unequivocally; when out OF
power it has so affirmed with vague and
shadowy limitations. In 1854, being out Of
power, ii affirmed:
"Ihe preservation Of personal rights, me
equality OF ali citizens before the law, the
reserved rights Of States, and the suprem-
acy of the Federal Government, within tas
limits of the constitution, viii ever form the
true basis of our liberties"
In IsSs, being in power, il resolved in favor
of devotion 10 a plan OF government rogu-
lated by O written constitution strictly
specifying every granted power and ex-
pressly reserying 10 the States or people
the entire ungrauted residue of power.
Not word about personal rights" or
ssthe equality of all citizens before the law"
| or of 1.-The supremacy OF the Federal Gov
eminent" In the Democracy's Affirmation
| for 1855 The old South is again In the sad
| die al home and IN the councils al W Washing
ton. The delegates from State whose sen
Tor Senator proclaimed the purpose of the
/ last election 10 be TO determine whether
| the white man should rule the black man OF
no.n whose Governor boosted that he and
| Cleveland were IN ONCE by virtue of ''viola-
! ton of the constitution OF the United
| States and of the State of louisiana who
| promised TO suspend the laws TN Dem
| ocratic successor was elected, and who kept
| his promise, would hardly have tolerated
ans nonsense about personal rights" or
! equality of all citizens before the law" or
| supremacy OF the Federal Government
| that was good enough fiapdeodle for party
/ it had been unable TO capture by force OF
/ arms, but it was not the Kind Of stuff 10
| which it would pledge itself as an admins
| tration The States rights plank OF the
| convention would have been acceptable to
| Calhoun, and doubtless Is acceptable 10 J.
| Davis THIS is 1.-The Democratic faith"
| What was the Democratic platform OF
| 1884 as 70 tariff redUctloni Part OF II was
| in these words:
"From the foundation OF this Govern
ment taxes collected at the custom house
! have been the chief source OF Federal reye-
nue., and must so continue TO be"
What did Mr.. Cleveland say in "his last
earnest message" concerning taxes so col
lectedi Part OF his message Was in these
words:
"Our present tariff laws, the vicious In
| equitable and illegal source Of revenue"
How docs "the earnest message in
terpretn the platforml The one says that
| tariff duties are the oldest and must be tho
most enduring source Of revenue; the
other says that they are not only vicious
but also Illegal imposts. The one looks
to their continuance, the other looks 10
| their ultimate, and, perhaps, not distant,
abolition. The platform is for permanent
tariffs for revenue, tho message Is for
tariff as "a necessary evil, TO be abated as
quickly as possible. A part OF the plat
form Of 1854 was in these words:
"The system of direct taxation, known as
the internal rsvsnne. Is war tax. aud so
long as The law continues the money de-
rived therefrom should be sacrediy devoted
10 the rcIief of this people from lhe remain
| ing burdens of the war"
Nothing, says the Chicago YHt,r occan,
can be palmer than this; the internal rev.
enue system is denounced IS a needlessly
| surviving war measure, belief IN is
| speedy abolition Is expressed, znd IL - az
firrned that 50 long as IL eudures it should
not De regarded as q source of general rev.
enue, but as q specific means Of perform
ing specific obligations growing out Of tho
| war. But "thc last earnest message says
this Of the internal revenue system:
at must be conceded that zone 81 tho
things subjected to internal revenue taxa
ton are, strictly speaking, neccssariss,
there appears 70 be no just complaint q this
| taxation by the Consumers of these articles,
and there seems 20 DC nothing 50 wei able
to bear tho burden Of taxation"
This also is plain enough. The internal
taxes are held 10 be permanent aud eqgis-
able sources Of general revsnuc, not 70 Do
| repealed but continued
And yet "the platform 81 1884, II % be-
interpreted" by the message Of 1871
The platform affirming tariff 20 be a need
full and permanent source OF revenue. tho
| message declaring u 20 Be vicious aud n
legal source; the platform declaring inter
nal taxes To be temporary souroc 81 rese-
nue for special purposes, and toe message
declaring them 70 DO an enduring source Of
revenue for general purposes. Surely, tho
Democracy at St Louis lifted up is voice
TO Mr.. Cleveland and said cam not
thine ass that hath served thee these three
ye2rsp
Still as The wsebs ara moatss between
June and November pre- Zress, we shall hear
| of Democratic spesxsrs "a Esw Jersey and
| Connecticut declaring that tee platform
says protection. ans a Democratic speakers
In Mississippi and Arkansas syewisg hat
the President IL 70 iateSpsss Tbs platform.
and that he vii make il mean free trade
The solemn truth - taa, Tee platform means
nothing AZ all a. 70 tariff; IL sp>aks p,sinly
only when IL afByns the zitlnase doctrine
| Of States rights. Tbs meaning Of tbs Goa
veution was surrender Of Itself 20 the in
evita6ls Cleveland. azi b,s message means
| free trade; net more. nss Iess J2z, ths.
/ ---
\ Ne Chzaes vita UiIs~rzsss.
The Repae.icaa party never cie rafs