The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-06-14
Twelve Pages.
TIE WORK OF THE CONVENTION.

The national democratic convention has
met, performed its work and adjourned
without day. 1t has put ticket in the
feld-Cleveand and Thurman-and has
enunciated a platform upon both of
which success may surely be predicated.
The enthusiasm and uusnimity in the
convention, as to the selection OF the
party's standard bearers, are only fit types
of the feeling of confidence and pride
the democracy of the nation reposes in
these honored opponents of the ruling
sentiment of this part of the Nineteenth
century. The ticket could not possibly
have been strengthened, and on its face is
a pledge of victory.
From the first there was no question as
TO the nomination of Cleveland, and but
little doubt as to the convention putting
Thurman in the second place on the
ticket. The only matter that created any
disquietude at all was the platform, and
over this the contest was prolonged and
hot IL was conflict between absolute
tariff reductionists and those who favored
revenue reform; it was battle between
those who clamored for throwing down
the gauntlet OF radical reform and those
who preferred to go at the work of re-
forming the tariff rates gradually and for
the most part equitably. One faction de-
clared that the platform of 1884, upon
which democracy was last time victorious,
was comprehensive and definite enough;
the other insisted upon drawing the lines
concusively and irrespective of all polite
considerations. compromise was eff
fected, but the conservatives really won
the day. As now constituted, the platform
is a reiteration of the platform of 1884,
with the proviso that the tariff message Of
Cleveland shall be the true Interpretation
of that platform. In that message Presi-
dent Cleveland singles out several in
dustries as being especial objects of tariff
reduction-as to this portion of that mes
sage there has not been concurrence on
the part of the south. But as to his
general recommendations OF free
set careful use of the reduction knife
the democratic party is with him heart
and soul. This paragraph occurs in the
1854 platform, which has now been re-
affirmed:
The democratic party pledges itself to /
purify the administration from corrup-
ton, to restore economy, to revive re-
respect for law and to reduce taxation to .
the lowest limit consistent with due re-
gard to the preservation of the faith of
the nation to its creditors and pensioners.
knowing full we'll, however, that legisla-
ton affecting the operations of the
people should be cautious and conserva-
tive in method, not IN advance of public
opinion, but responsive to its demands,
the democratic party is pledged to re-
wise the tariff in spirit of fairness to all
interests"
Let this work of revision of the tariff
in the spirit above mentioned, and with
the decisiveness advocated 10y President
Cleveland, now proceed and the party
will soon accomplish its desired end .of
pure economic and equitable govern
ment.
The STATESMAN has not advocated the
Mills bill in its entirety, because We did
not think it approached the subject of
tariff revision in that spirit of fair
ness indicated in the platform of
1884, and that will now for another
four years be the guide of the democratic
party. It is recognized that the subject
is one of many difficulties and grievously
intricate problems. But because of that
spirit of fair play and generous conces-
sion peculiar 10 the American people, it
will prove a subject capable of peaceful
and satisfactory solution. The platform
as now adopted and interpreted is an
advance upon the position held by the
democratic party of 1854. 1t is step
forward in the way of being more definite
and more mandatory of immediate action.
The last four years have not been wasted,
the people are being educated up to the
necessity of a change of tariff laws, the
long debates in congress have not been in
vain. Incident to the canvass that will
now be begun, and to the reseating of the
party's exponent of tariff reform in the
presidential chair and the democratic con-
troll of public affairs, there will spring up
a fresh demSnd for some decisive change
in tariff matters, some betterment of the .
peoples condition laboring under present
burdens, the direct result of tariff imposi-
tions and inequalities. This change is
coming, and, while it may not be con-
summsted in one or two years, return of