The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-06-14
The st. Louis Platform.

The Democratic platform IS a tnlnly us
guised declaration of free trade. While IT,
pretends TO endorse the twO-faced resolve
on the tariff adopted by the Democratic
Convention of 1884, all doubt as to the con-
trolling influence and purpose OF the
st. Louis Convention, is removed ny
it's re-affirmation as interpreted In the
President annual message last Decem-
Der; and the further fact that the Mills
bill, now pending before Congress, was
likewise endorsed. Tie reference to 1884
and the position the Democratic Conven-
tiUn announced on the tariff issue. was
not acceptable to the free trade or Cleve-
land element of the party. The President
had outlined his policy in his annual mes
sage. He left no intelligent reader in
doubt as to its meaning, He stated that
the surplus revenue coming into the
treasury must he wiped out, not by repeal
ing the internal revenue laws i'll the
direction Of wise adjustment of custom
duties in the interest of Ameri can labor
and industries, but by retaining the whole
lCNCuuC OyDtCus 1Au AoACih6 eA.O
! reduction of tariff duties to degree that
would prove ruinous to our industrial sys-
TEN. The acceptance of the position OF
the Democratic party on the tariff as an
nounced in 1884, interpreted by Mr.. Cleve.
lands message Of last December, and the
endorsement of the Mills bill, is bold,
| bald vindication of frea trade and commits
the party to that mischievous policy. 1t
is, in effect, presenting Mr.. Cleveland 8
message and the Mills bill as the platform
"a plain, unequivocal commitIal to free
trade. The platform is for free trade ;
Mr.. Cleveland is free trader, and Mr.
Thurman is likewise disciple OF that
anti American doctrine. And this is the
position the Democracy in 1888 is com
mitted to and will have to answer for
The platitudes contained in the plat
form about reducing the revenues, while
saying not ono word directly about the
repeal of the tobacco tax, or suggesting
any other mode of obyiatlng an embarass
ing surplus than is contained in the Pres
ident's message. will deceive no one. The
people demand repeal of the laws provid-
ing for an internal tax. as far as may be
compatible with the obligations of the
government. They demand that the
sources of revenue must be so adjusted as
to protect and sustain the labor and work
shops of this country against the pauper
labor of Europe. They demand the Blair
educational bill. which provides fund to
help the States to educate their illiterates
so as to assist in making them intelligent
citizens. These demands cannot he met
by high sounding sentences about reduc
ing the surplus. They can only be met by
tangible legisl alton, and this the Demo
cratic party will not enact, nor does the
St. Louis platform require 1t.
In fact the voters of the country will be
met face to face in November next by two
contending forces and two paramount
questions Whether the Democratic party
and free trade are to be endorsed or the
Rel ublicaa party or protection. The Dem
ocratic platform and the Democratic tick
ct are Tor free trade. The Republican
platform and the Republican candidates
will be squarely and unequivocally for pro
lection. The issue cannot be obscured OF
evaded. 1t must be fairly and plainly
dealt with. There can be 10 more dis
Z guises and receptions. The President
has made the issue, the platform ard the
ticket, and all are against American in
terests. 1t will be for the people to say
whether they will endorse a policy that
would close the workshops and the fur
naces of the United States and invite wide
spread ruin, or whether they will sustain
the present industrial system, which gives
employment to home labor, builds up a
home market, and adds wealth and
strength to our country, making it indie
pendent industriously as well as pollti
caily.