, 1888-06-22

WHERE THEY STAND.

The platform adopted at the Republi-
can national convention is sort of onlniiuns
0atherln, in which everything that may
attract local interest or arouse local preju-
dice is patched together in a huge mosaic.
The soldiers and the pension question, BIZ
metallic currency, the admission of all
territories when the proper time arrives,
the fishery squabble, the NIcarauguan
canal, the Monroe doctrine, contract and
Chinese labor, the ballot in the South,
these and many other questions are dealt
with seriatum.
If one were to carefully read the docu-
ment without previous information, he
would inevitably come to the conclusion
that all the patriotism and progressiveness
of the country were confined to people
protesting the Republican faith, and that
thescountry under Democratic rule was
going to the demnition bow-wows with
enthusiastic haste. He would also be sur
prised that a party which arrogates to
itself such immaculate virtues and
freely acknowledges such exalted
genius for the administration of
public affairs should have left
behind it a record 50 pungently odorous
and be relieved from the cankering cares
of government with the aid of thoughtful
voters who had until very recently pro-
fessed the same party faith.
But in all the mass of suggestions and
amidst all the allegations OF short com
ings on tie part of the Democratic party
there is a somewhat significant absence of
the overworked bloody shirt and no allu-
sion is even remotely made to what used
to be considered an impending calamity,
viz, the payment of the rebel war debt.
Three years of Democratic administration
have gently but firmly laid at rest these
twin Nightmares ofthe Republican imagin-
alton. Like Banquo's ghost they will oc-
casionally bob up serenely, but as effective
weapons of political warfare they nave
been permanently retired from business.
The platform very frankly takes astrung
position on the tariff question. but it
couldn't very well do otherwise after the
gauntlet had been thrown down by Presi-
dent Cleveland. The party pledges itself
to high protective tariff and rather than
permit any unrestricted foreign competi-
ton with our Infant industries it favors
the complete abolition of the internal rev.
enue taxes. The issue between tie two
parties is therefore sharply defined. The
Democrats favor n tariff only sufficient TO
meet the needs of the government econom-
ically administered; the Republicans be-
lieve in taking the Infant industries
under their fostering protection, to fur
Their pamper the bloated bondholders who
have grown rich under the pernlcious sys-
TEN, while the ag icultural classes, who
pay IS per cent OF the taxes, remunerate
the fiddler so that the protected peo-
pie may enjoy the pleasures OF dancing.
There will be many side issues to dis
cuss, but the main Issue which the people
will have to decide in voting for the
Democratic and Republican candidates
will be between high protective tariff on
the one hand and tariff for revenue on the
other. The Democrats will enter the
fight with elements of strength which
they have lacked for a generation and
except through the most culrable mis-
management cannot fail of complete and
triumphant success.