Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-06-28
The Republican Platform.

explanatory and apologetic in tone, which
fails to present any plausible pretense for
asking the people to displace Democratic
control Of Federal executive affairs and
return to discarded Republican methods.
On the question of the surplus, the gieat
issue that overshadows all othecs, the resolu-
tions presented by Mr.. Mckinley ere silent.
They explain no plan for abating the M onster
nuisance except by spending money freely,
nor do they propose the present enactment of
any law to prevent future accumulatiors.
The only proposition before the country to
that end they denounce as destructive, while
applauding as consistent and pairiosic .he
obstructive corrse of Republicans iu oppos-
ing and delaying its passage. Thus on the
question that now principally occupies the
public mind, and on the solution of which
the common welfare chiefly depends, the
attitude of the Republican party is one of op.
position merely. Unable to Offer any present
help to the country, the Republican platform
merely insists that the relief rendered by the
majority of the popular branch of Congress,
on suggestion of the Executive, shall not he
accorded.
In 1884 the Republicans adopted as part of
their national platform the following resolu-
ton: ..
The Democratic party has failed completely 10 re-
lieve the people Of the burden Of unnecessary taxa
ton bya wise reduction of the surplus. The Re.
publican party pledges itself to correct the inequa-
tics Of the tariff and to reduce the surplus.
In 1888 they have said nothing whatever
about the surplus, and their only allusion to
the tariff is as we have seen, unaccompanied
by any pledge to correct its inequalities, or
the slightest evidence of desire TO do
SO. The Democrats have lived up TO their
promises and reaffrmed them in fall, in o:des
that the country may compare the pledge
with the performance. The Republican Is
have repudiated their :'aic wo'ds spoken Zoe
years ago, and propounded a programme OF
reaction end waste which they have neve,
hereto fore dared to avow.
The Republicans decle Q that n the dim
future they "would effect reduction of the
national revenue" which they ada it to bs
needed, by repeating the a1noying tobacco
taxes and by abolishing The impost OIL
domestic spirits used in mechanical ol
artistic production, and by 80 revising tbt
tarjd laws as to check importation of article:
produced by our people, and 10 release from
duties ioee'gn prodccts we do not make
The first o. these suggestions is already be
fore Congcess in the IN which the Republi
cans oppose. t. pa twl exemption o.
spieits from taxation ;s an eStravagant a1t
puerile proposition. The exception o
methylated spirits in ElEland has broke:
down became of the general use of tia
article as beverage aztec manipulation h.
druggists. To meiota'a the ate1npl re yerp
establishment for t..s pdrpose OF coiIectin,
OILY part of the whisky lax wo I'D be ad
ministrative waste thatro party could -'ort
to sanction.
On the subject of the tariff the oppositio.
platform simply decla,es in general terrs I:
favor o. what il felsels styles the "Amer:ca,
system o'protection." This isa'l Il ofe's L
the industrial masses o: the county, in op
position to the wa:m- hearted end specif,
pledges of the Democfoc:s for s.eadier EN-
ploynea at full weges e1d sedplcJ3 lsard
ianship of labor's rights ald opportc mites
The Dernoc :atic platform feya 'ds me wGge
ea. 1ers and prodrcers o: the country. The
Republicans look only 10 the monopol-
interests they have foste :si ald are pledged
to protect.
i With respect to the pcblic lands The Repuo
l;can resolution is q pelpeble bubble, claim
ing Share of the credit for inc rest;tr tioG
the Denoc.atic Admin st.atiou has enfoscee
BOT which no Repcbiicaa atttotity evel
sincerely soJght to compel.
Regarding the resolcivl e;e: ling to Oh
TO ei, relations. the 70 notsble eeatc 20 i
The absence of allrs'oc to tie Chinese t-ea:y
hu. that omission VII ne well supple by ih'
declarations o! Amer,can ,sIor . gpn:za. Oh
a. d t.,s votes of American wo { ,nen on Eiec
Col day.
Tie as.e don regcrdicg pensions to Uric
vete- rams is, of course, eyoii of any p,ac;ica
fotce ron the inability OF C!evelend's op
polerts to deny the eco ds, whlch show IT, I.
no Administration tej dore ps much TO
Uo.on soldiers as the oae now ia rower
Tie resolutions re1e ring to Ge ne "a, She;
dan spj to the struggle o. the I-,sD peop'
for homo role are ;eeble copies oi the r;ng
ing declarations adopted by the Democsac
at St. LouiJ.
No pa.t o. the platoon is moe obviousl,
lsincese and misleading than tina; ;e ie1 -.
to Civil Jersice reform. Nothing is orouga
f,rward to combat the explicit declaration il
the Democratic Convention of dutifnl. intel
l'gent and progressive administration Of th,
laws. There is simply hypoc; ,tical gener
ality about "the dangers to our institution
which lurk in the power Of official patronage
which must have been designed to be tn,
great joke of the assemblage in whicl
Flanagan of Texas is vice. president. f
The platform is one wnich WILL add rothips
to the strength of the cahiidetes placed upor
it, and which conspiccously shows the weak
ness of the rafty that enunciates IL. vhict
now complains that it's opponents have MOI
completely performed in less than four yea -s
all thatit constantly promised, but ever failed
to do during four admih:st atoms succeeding
the war.
As an attack upon tire pal ~ in power it is &
pitiable failure. As an explanation of Re.
publican shortcomings when Eepublisanism
was In vogue, 1t loses all influence by the
reactionary and revolutionary character OF
its propositions, which Republicans did moi
dare to suggest when the chief respo.sibility
for the government Of the coun.ry rested