The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-08
The I torn.

The platform adj Jpted at st. Louis is sat
isfactory, doubtless, to about every demo
crat. 1t embodies the principles Of the
democratic party, and no democrat, there
fore, can reasonably find fault with it.
There may be few protection democrats
who do not approve of the tariff plank.
They would be better pleased if the party's
position on tho tariff were left in
doubt. The convention, however, was in
no mood for straddling the tariff issue.
The democrats of almost every state, in
their conventions, had spoken out boldly in
favor of tariff reduction, and the conven-
ton could not do otherwise than obey their
expire ised will.
The tariff plank of 1884 is reafIlrmed, but
with All Interpretation that leaves no
doubt Of its meaning. The protectionists
always insisted that the tariff plank of
1884 meant protection. Mr. Morrison, who
reported it, says that it was inteEded TO
mean tariff reform, and the tariff reform
ers have always understood that it
meant that. The ST. Louis convsn-
tariff reform, and there is no longer room
for quibbling on that point. The tariff
message of Mr.. Cleveland is declared to be
in harmony with it, and that being the case
tho democratic party will enter upon the
approaching campaign with its face to-
ward a reduction of the tariff.
That the revenues must be reduced no
one will deny, unless he proposes to tax the
people in order that wasteful and extrava-
10
$125, 900, coo o> surplus in the treasury, and
revenues yielding $6000,0 600 annually more
than is needed to meet the demands of the
government economically administered,
how long will it be before 80 much
Of the peoples money will be col
lected into the treasury that financial
troubles will be inevitable2 The revenues
must be reduced and they must be reduced
by cutting down the taxes on the necessaries
of life. This is the policy of the democratic
party, and it is policy that ought to COM
mand the hearty support of all classes of
people, except those who are getting rich
from protected monopolies.
OF course the republican party has plan
for getting rid of the revenue. 1t is to dis
tribute it in extravagant appropriations 1t
would give pension to every federal who
took part in the civil war, whether he suf-
fered disability or not. The democratic
party believes in giving pensions to those
who deserve them, and more pension money
has been paid out annually under the pres
ent administration than any previous one.
The democratic policy is one of economy
and frugality, and is in striking contrast to
that of the republican party, which favors
waste and extravaganza.
When the policies of the two parties are
compared, it is difficult to see how the peo-
the democrats. Indeed, the democrats arc
constantly watchful of the interests of the
people Since the present administration
was inaugurated, not only has economy
been introduced into every depart ent of
the government, but the land grant rail
road corporations have been com
PEELED to restore to the people mill
ions of acres of the public lands
of which they held possession without hay
ing complied with the conditions upon
the republican party had retained control
of the government these corporations would
have been permitted to retain these lands.
The platform is one that places the record,
principles and policies of the democratic
party squarely before the country, and it
cannot fail to command the respect and
confidence of the people.