Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-06-22
THE ST. LOUIS PLATFORM
From the Valley Yirginian.

From the Valley Virginian.
The Democratic platform is a
thinly disguised declaration of free
trade. While it pretends to en-
dOrse the two faced resolve on the
tariff adopted by the Democratic
convention Of 1891. all doubt as to
the controlling influence and pur-
pose of the st. Louis convention,
il removed by its re.ailirmation as
interpreted in the Presidents an
nnal message last December, and
the further tact that the Mills bull,
now pending before Congress, was
likewise endorsed. The reference
to 1891 and the position the Dem.
ocratic convention announced on
/ the tarlfl issue. was not acceptable
to the free trade or Cleveland ele-
ment Of the party. The President
had outlined his policy in his an
nual message. He left no intelli.
gent reader IN doubt rs to its mean.
ing. He stated that the surplus
revenue coming into the treasury
must be wiped out, not by repeal
ing the internal revenue laws IN
the direction OF wise adjustment
of custom duties in the interest of
American labor industries, but by
retaining the whole internal reve.
nue. system, and forcing the reduc.
ton of tariff duties to a degree that
would prove ruinOus to our indus
trial system. The acceptance of
the position of the Democratic party
on the tariff as announced in 1884,
interpreted by Mr.. Cleveland's
message OF last December, and the
endorsement Of the Mills bill, is
bold, bald vindicatiOn of free trade
and commits the party to that mis-.
chievous policy. 1t is, in effect,
presenting Mr.. Cleveland's mes.
sage and the Mills bill as the plat
form-a plain, unequlvocal commit
tai to free trade. The platform is
tor free trade Mr.. Cleyeland is a
free trader, and Thurman is like
wise disciple of that anti-Amerl-
can doctrine. And this is the DO.
sition OF the Democracy in 1888 is
committed to and will have to an.
swer for.
The platitudes contained IN the
platform about reducing the reye.
nues, while saying not one word
directly about the repeal of the to.
bacco tax, or suggesting any other
mode OF Obviating an embarrassing
surplus than is contained IN the
Presidents message, will deceive
no one. The people demand a re-
peal Of the laws providing for an
internal tax, as far as may be com.
patible with the obligations OF the
government. They demand that
the sources Of revenue must be so
adjusted AZ to protect and sustain
the labor and workshops of this
country against the pauper labor of
Europe. They demand the Blair
educational bill, which provides a
fund to help the states to educate
their illlterateS so as to assist in
making them intelligent citizens.
I These demands cannot be met by
high sounding sentences about re-
ducing the surplus. They can on.
ly be met 10y tangible legislation,
and this the Democratic party will
not enact, nor does the st. Louis
platform require it.
In fact the voters of the country
will be met face to face in NOvem.
Der next by two contendlng forces
and two paramount questions
Whether the Democratic party and
tree trade are to be endorsed or
the Republican party or protection.
The Democratic platform and the
Democratic ticket are for free trade.
The Republican platform and the
Republican candidates will be.
squarely and unequivocally for pro-
lection. The issue cannot be OBJ
scured or evaded. 1t must be fair.
ly and plainly dealt with. There
can be no more DISCUSSES and de.
captions. The President has
made the issue, the platform
and the ticket, and all are against
American interests. 1t will be for
the people to say whether they will
endorse a policy that would close
the workshops and the furnaces of
the United States and invite WIDE
spread ruin, or whether they will
sustain the present industrial sys.
TEN, which gives employment to
home labor, builds up a home mar.
ket, and adds wealth and strength
to our country, making it indepen-
dent industrlously as well as pOlit-
ically.