The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-07-06
THESE PARTY PLATFORMS.
George on the Platforms-A Pro-
hlbitionist's View of the Sit
uation-The old Parties
Distinction Without
Difference.
WHAT DO THEY SAY AND WHAT DO THEY
MEAN?

least the parties are after the votes whether the
platforms adopted really platforms OF principles
or not. They are at least the work of their prin-
cipals or party leaders, who have been carefully
planning for months what to say and hat not to
say; and where party exigency required words;
and party ideas were not in unison; to clothe the
thought in verbose phraseology, that may mean
al ything or nothing to suit The taste of any man
whose vote it is very desirable to have this fall
The opening paragraphs of the last two cocu-
ments are alike in all essential features and the
similarity runs through them, Each contains
large amount OF self praise for the wonderful
things they haze done, and the more wonderful
things they acoud haze done if the other party had
not prevented them.
The Democrats boast of the amount of money
they have paid out to the late soldiers. sailors,
tteamsters. nurses. contractors. ct al) of the Re-
public, and the Republicans claim as higher bid
for their votes that they have not paid out half
enough. but that every man who once wore the
blue should now be provided for out of the public
treasury. docs this Include his uncles and his
cousins and his auntsa) The Democrats say ."our
established domestic industries and enterprises
should not and need not be endangered by the re-
duction and correction of the burdens of taxa.
TEN must be maintained; its abandonment has
always been followed by disaster to all interests.
"The Republican party would effect allneeded re.
duction of the national revenue by repeating
taxes upon tobacco and the tax upon spirits used
in the arts and for mechanical purposes Here
is generous bid for the vote Of every tobacco user
or grower, little more specific than the terms
used by the Democrats to cover the same ground,
This same paragraph says, 1--WE favor the entire
repeal of internal taxes rather than the surrender
OF any part of protection system. at the behes
Of the Whiskey ring and the agents CT foreign man
ufacturers,'
This is the only reference of either party that
gives us any hint that there is such a thing as a
whiskey ring in the United States and as the Rep
only allude to it we presume it is a purely Dem,
institution. that has grown up during the past
three years, to influence and effect the destruction
of our riff on foreign products and manufac-
tures
Perhaps the W. G, T. u, the cranks and the
Methodist preachers, will all be satisfied that this
is the proper definition of this term, and will now
forget all the past and rally to the support of the
endangered tariff, that is now threatened by an
Infatuated Whiskey Ringl If this is sop TO tenn
perance men. there is greater one to Irish Amer
leans. and 1t was no doubt uuintentional over
sight that there is no word Of coincidence with
the German people who have been called to mourn
the loss of two benifcent rulers in SO short
time The Democratic party say ''the rights and
welfare Of all the people have been guarded and
every public interest has been protect.
ed. and the equality Of all our citizens before the
law. without regard to race or color has been
Wi
ance of power on this account also. The Repub-
lican utterance covers up the Democratic state
rights doctrine with the word. "a.u-t.o-n.o.m.y,"
which is supposed to mean all and more than
Thos. jefferson ever thought of. They do not say
so, but by implication charge the other fellows
with telling some whooppers, and say they are not
only in favor ofgiving every man the opportunity
of casting one ballot. but of having them all counted
Except. as we read between the lines. it be in
Michigan or some other state, where an unneces-
sary number of them are cast for some imprac-
ticable constitutional amendment. that might
damage the national prospects of the party in a
future election.
Both unite in condemning pauper labor impor-
tation and the Chinese (Chinamen have no votes!)
The Mormons are denounced by the Republicans.
utah has no electoral vote to catchy
The Republicans give the Democrats gentle re
minder that they have not been careful Of the
rights and welfare of the citizens of South Dakota
Two more Republican Senators would disturb
tine balance Of power)
A divorce between political and ecclesiastical
power is good thing to talk about in its relation
to Mormonism. buta very good thing to let alone.
if it refers in any way to a much larger and more
influential church.
Thus much for two of the platforms. Now what
of the first one put out. 1t is not copy Of any
other. and being published in advance of them,
could not be intended merely to cover matters
that they have forgotten. They start out with an
alusion to the Almighty the source of all power
The others think Him unworthy of notice and
make no mention of God or Supreme Ruler.
Then they go straight for the greatest national
vice, and the greatest national tax, and pre-.
pose to use heroic measures for the abolition OF
the one; so far as National legislation is respon
sible for its continuance; and thus restore or re.
tain in the pockets of our laborers for use in the
other channels of trade. the nne hundred millions
now worse than wasted, whose only return is in
beggars. paupers and criminals. As this is the
greatest leak let stop it first and then unite to
repair the rigging of the ship of state.
They declare against all laws and all revenue
that makes our national government party to
national vice.
They take no issue with either of the others
(when there is none to take) upon public revenue
and civil service.
They declare against Mormonism and at the
same time reccomend uniform national laws for
marriage and divorce
They declare for the preservation and defense Of
the Sabbath as q civil institution without oppres.
sing any who religiously observe the same on any
other day than the first day of the weak. The
other parties for prudential reasons are dumb
here.
They favor arbitration as a Christian. wise and
economic methed OF settling national. as well as
more local differences. They do not desire war,
and make no promise of lavish expenditure of
public money in anticipation OF imaginary evils
that can never come TO an intelligent nation of
christians.
They allude to the question of suffrage. upon
which they say they not agreed but refer it to
the states who can provide an educational basis
for 1t as they may deem wiae, without making
distinction on account of race or sex.
Our best thinkers Of all parties are anxious for
an educational elactoral qualification lint In the