Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-27
COME. COME, EAT YOUR CROW

COME, COME, EAT YOUR CROW
The Chicsgo Tribune fought nobly all
through the convention to give its party's
platform at least semblancs Of decency
on the tariff question. 1t fought hard to
get into the platform at least reafirma-
ton of the pledges of 1884. But all to nc
purpose. The very monopolists the Tribune
has been fighting were the makers of the
platform. The Tribune made last despair
ing effort Sunday morning. II it could not
get in a decent tariff reform plank it at
least desired to get out that plea for &c.
whisky.
There is no doubt" says the Tribune,
THAT earnest Republicans generally are
greatly disguised with the free-whisky
plank of the party platform adopted by the
convention. They cay emphatically that
it will have the effect of driving away
thousands of Republicans in some States
where they can't be spared. They earnest
~ hope that the convention before its ad-
journment will correct the shocking
blunder that has been made in this respect
and that the Objectionable plank shall be
withdrawn and one substituted providing
that the surplus shall be devoted toseryice
pensions for the veterans OF the Union, in
accordance with the plan proposed by the
soldier organizations! of the country.
at is pointed out" continues the Tn
Juae, despairingly, ''that the Democrats in
their platform of 1884 pledged the inter-
nal revenues as q pension fund for soldiers.
This pledge is renewed by the Democratic
platform of this year. Shall it be said that
the Republican party is less mindful of the
services of the hard fghing patriots of the
war for the Union not yet pensioned? Or
can it be that the purpose is to place a
heavy tax on the farmers and manufactur-
ers of the country for service pensions, in
order that whisky may be cheap? The
suggestion is repuguant to the history,
morale and traditions of the party; but it
is the inference from this amazingly bun
gled MCKINLEY platform.
The convention may reconsider the
vote" pleads the poor Tribune, ''by which
the platform has been adopted at any time
before adjournment. 1t is rule of parlia-
nentary bodies that the motion for recon
may be entertained at any time
Turing the session. Legislative bodies |
Ivsil themselves largely of this privilege. |
rha convention stands in relation to its |
,ls form as the House of Representatives
would stand in relation to resolutions
dopted by that body until they passed
ut Of its possession. 1t stands also in re-
aticn to the platform as q man does to his /
NIL He can revoke all of it or any codi-
il Of it, or make codicils thereto. During
be life of this convention it has power to
and revoke any article of its
latfOrm. 1t ought to utilize the oppor-
unity which adjournment till Monday
ives it." 1t suddenly dawning on the
retcded Tribune thst pleading would be
/ VAN, it resorts to threats and says with
Iueh point:
''The delegates will have to-day to think
'er ths matter. They are under moral
litigation to consider seriously whether
sy fairly represent the Republicans of /
. country in retaining such an immoral s
opOsition as this free-whisky one in its 2
of opinions.
Instead of repeating the internal rev.
ne tsxss to get rid of the surplus so that
3 high war duties may remain I'M
lnged, the thing to do with the unnec- q
airy suYplus is to distribute it among the q
veterans as service pensions in proper "
n to the time each served his country in y :,
war for the preservation Of the Union. i
is would do good, while repeating the 81
isky tax to get rid OF the surplus would 10
harm" \