Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-22
THE REPUBLICAN, PLATFORM


The platform adopted by the Republi-
can National Convention yesterday covers
50 much ground that it is impossible to
discuss it in detail in single article. Nor !
is it necessary to do 50. 1t speaks for Itself, /.
and without equivocation. 1t is an adroit !
platform, wisely conceived with view of
responding to the issues most prominent in
the several sections Of the country.
Ii squarely commits the party to the
protection doctrine, yet expresses de-
termination on the part of the Republi-
can party, if intrusted with power, to re-
duce taxation laid by tariffs upon articles
not of home production wherever that can
be done consistently with the protection
r oil home industries.
1t is pronounced in favor Of reduction
of National taxation by repeal in part Of
the internal revenue laws. Later on it
declares in certain contingency for the
repeal of all such laws. 1t would, we
think, have been wiser to have made the
latter declaration alone, and thus not only
have commended a Just proposition, but
have crossed blades squarely with Mr..
Cleveland upon the retention of portion
Of the taxes, and therefore the mainten-
ance Of the army Of oficeholders which
would be dispensed with by the abolition
of the internal revenue system. If the
concession of retention of the tax upon
spirituous liquors used as beverages, was
TO the temperance demand it was mis-
take, since it is a statistical fact that the
consumption of spirituous liquors was
steadily declining before the tax was laid
and has not been FASTENED by its imposi-
ton, while everyone knows that the tax
does not, by so much as mill, affect the
price of the liquor over the bar, or
operate to restrain men from indulgence
of their appetites. However, the party
is ctk,mitted to a total repeal of the
internal revenue laws, if necessary, to re-
duce the surplus to proper figure.
The congratulation extended to Brazil
on her peaceful abandonment of human
slavery is mos. graceful act Whether
intended or not, it is a bacl1-handed blow
at the Democracy, dealt squarely in the
face, since the Convention of that party
had not a word to say in recognition of 50
great an event as the freeing of nearly
II, 00l, 600 slaves and~Vhieh abolition OF
bondage records the taking of long and
firm step forward by humanity in the march
of enlightenment and the spread of repub-
lican principles, democratic ideas and hui
man sympathies. II was eminently prope,
|. that great political party in the greatest
of republics should thus record its gratifi-
cation over so momentous an event in the
history of free government. 1t was not ex.
pected, however, of the Democratic Con
yention such a resolution could not have
passed that body with the smoke Of slavery
smelling in its garments and the tradition:
of the days of human bondage in Americs
inefiacably stamped upon the pages Of it.
history. The Bradley I. Johnsons of thai
body would never have consented to ex
pressions disappearing the institution"
So, too, the declaration of the Repub
lican Convention that for every citizen, rich
or poor, black or white, the right to cast ;
frSE and uninterrupted ballot, and to have
honestly counted, must and shall b,
ntained, is firm and timely stand
'squeamishness about waving the blood,
hirt must be cast 10 the winds, and any
thing waved necessary to secure to every
black and white mau, South OF North
aad every white and black man in Stat,
or territory the full. free and untram
meled exercise Of his political rights, ant
upon which his liberties depend Thu
South to-day dominates Congress and rule
the country because of basis of represent
- alton that gives il thirty-eight votes in tn,
hational Legislature and the EIectora
College, by which the colored citizens O
the South secure little or misrepresentation
because they are cowed and brow-beatei
and robbed of the one chief and mos
: sacred right of the citizen.
The plank that demands the exclusion
of foreign contract labor was a necessity t
the protection policy. We would hav
been better pleased to have read that tn
Convention declared in favor Of putting III
stlll some other bars, and of checkin
firmly and decisively the influx of tn
AnaesirabIe Nd dangerous classes.
1t declares history when it recites tho
liberal homestead aud public land polio
of the part Rand it puts the Democrat
upon the rack when it defes it to point t
single instance in which it has favore
such administration Of the public lands q
Encourage home-seeking and home getting
The fact is, and whoever chooses to ope
history and read il can convince himsel
that the Democratic party has always bee
the uniform and consistent opponent {
legislation for distribution of public land
among the people willing to occupy then
voted against and bitterly opposed tn
pmestead law, under which 81 600 90
Ies OF land have been acquired by actu;
lerS, or an area equal to all OF Ne
-gEng1ahd, the State of New Tor
and the State Of Ohio Let nc
the voters of to-day forget tina
the slave-owners, who were uniforml
Democrats, and composed the landed ari.
tocracy of the South, always opposed an
legislation opening the way to small farm
and TO free homes. Against these, tn
Democrats, North and South lAsre 1iway
voted in congress as they did in 1859, an
in ls60-6l, when Democratic Presiden
vetoed the homestead bill, as also the bi
giving lands in aid of colleges both {
(Which the first Republican Presiden
signed and made laws.
The Republican platform demands tn
admission TO Statehood Of South Dakot,
and all Territories that are entitled b
population, morals and forms of govern