The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-23
The Chicago Platform.

men OF all classes cannot fail to see that II
Is not straightforward statement of the
partys principles, and is not in harmony
with its record.
Its leading points are, of course, those re-
latlng to the tariff, public lands, pensions
and the fisheries treaty. 1t declares that
the protective system must be maintained.
There is no party in the country that pro-
poses to destroy that system, and, therefore,
that declaration is superfluous. The pur-
pose in making it was to create the impress
sion that the democratic party favors free
trade. The platform further says that the
republican party would effect all needed
reduction of the revenue by repeating the
tobacco tax, the tax on spirits used in the
oils for mechanical purposes, and by such a
revision of the tariff laws as will tend to
check the imports of such articles as are
produced in this country, and as Will re-
lease from import duties such articles lex
cept luxuries) as cannot be produced at
home 1t also declares that the republican
party would rather have whisky made free
than to surrender any portion of the protect
i've system. OF course, the Mills bill is de-
nounced in unmeasured terms as free trade
| measure
The tariff taxes are now about AZ per
cent of the value Of the articles imported,
and in view of the fact that the Mills bill
makes reduction of only about per cent,
that bill can hardly be called free trade
measure. The platform says that the re-
publicans only want prohibitory tariff on
those things which are produced in this
country. In other words, it virtually ad-
mits that it wants to give the millionaire
monopolists a chance to still further in
crease their wealth But does it mean all
1T says about wanting only those things
| prohibited which can be produced in this
countryi How about tin plates! Tin isn't
produced anywhere in the United States
and yet the republicans are making extra
ordinary efforts to have the tariff on that
article maintained. They say that tin
! plate factory may be established in this
country if the tin plate tax is retained. It
seems from this that they are not willing
that articles not produced in this country
may be taxed for revenue only
The statement In the platform that a
revenue tariff has always been productive
of business depression and disaster is not
true. Mr.. Carlisle, in his speech on the
Mills bill, showed that the country had
Fever been more prosperous than under the
tariff of 1S47, and that those who opposed
the adoption of that tariff were the most
clamorous for a further reduction.
When the protective system first began to
obtain foothold, its greatest advocates in
sisted that it was only intended to aid in
FAINT industries, and that it would be aban-
doned as soon as these industries became
firmly established. The Chicago conven-
ton, however, says that the system must
be maintained. The infant industry argu-
men, was abandoned long ago.
The platform declares that the tariff
should be revised and certain articles placed
upon the free list, and yet when the repub-
lican party had control of the government
it made no such revision, and will not con-
sent to any revision now. 1t not only CD
poses the Mills bill, but fails to present any
substitute for it.
The plank referring to the restoration of
| public lands is interesting in view of the
fact that the democratic party is given part
of the credit for their restoration. But on
what ground does the republican party
claim any of the credit The republicans
gave away the magnificent domain of the
nation TO great railroad corporations, but is
there any record that any of it was ever
recovered through their efforts The cor
poratiOns to which it was granted and
which failed to comply with the conditions
of their grants, would have had it yet if the
had IN
The claim of the republicans that they are
entitled to some of the credit for restoring
| public lands shows how ready they are to
appropriate the good deeds of their demo-
| cratic opponents
There is another reform for which the
republicans claim the credit-that of the
civil service. The plank in the platform
which deals with it is quite strong, and is
intended to create the impression that the
republican party originated it, and ad-
vanced it to its present healthy condition;
and yet when did that party ever sincerely
do anything to reform the civil service? If
the republicans should again get control of
the government that reform would be
abandoned as quickly as it was when it was
attempted during the Grant administration.
The republican party is opposed to the
fisheries treaty, not because it is not fair
one, but because it was negotiated by a
democratic administration, and because
that party hopes to make political capital
by opposing it, If it were in power, the
probability is that it would regard the
treaty as in every respect satisfactory
The platform does not compare favor
ably with the democratic platform because
it is intended to mislead and is not in
harmony with the republican record.
While it may satisfy the average party
man, it will not appeal with any force to
the intelligent Independent voter, and the
independent voter is the man both parties
want to reach in this campaign.
A curious scene was witnessed in the
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