The Washington critic., 1888-05-16
WASHINGTON, MAY lo, 1888.

IL ANY PEARS were felt among the
friends of the Administration that
the Democracy of New York would
fail to come up to the full require
mcnts of the situation in the adoption
of a platform, the action OF the con-
Vention yesterday is reasonably, If
not wholly, reassuring. Upon the
question of revenue reform its decla-
ration is:
The allegiance and adherence of the State
Democracy to the principles announced by
the convention of 1887 are hereby again de.
rlared with an explicit approval of the doc.
irnes affirmed in the last annual message of
The President to the Congress, that unneoes-
sary taxation Is unjust taxation; that taxa.
tion for the mere purpose of unfairly bene-
hting the few at the expense of the many is
peryersion Of the National power; that the
correction Of evils resulting from snoh a
system will best serve the healthful condi-
tion OF American industry and enterprise and
promote the public welfare; that a large
surplus In the National Treasury drawn by
vicious taxation from the channels of trade
is u dangerous and indefensible abuse and
that in reducing taxation the interests OF
American labor should he carefully re-
garded.
The illusions here to American
industry" and .American labor" are
too mild to be offensive to the free
traders Whether strong and ex-
plicit enough to be satisfactory to the
protection element of the party re-
mainsto be seen.
The remainder of the preamble or
declaration is series of genteel, if
not enthusiastic compliments to the
President, for restoring the Govern
ment to the honest simplicity i'm
pressed upon it by its founders;" for
purifying the civil service, inaugural
ting economics, abolishing useless
offices, saving the public domain from
spoliation, discouraging sectional hate,
maintaining the rights of citizens at
home and abroad, and exemplifying
various other stereotyped virtues-all
concluding with Instructions to the
delegates to present the name Of Mr..
Cleveland as their candidate for Pres
dent and vote thereafter as a unit.
The platform then goes on to a de.
nunciation of trusts and other monop-
olistic combinations, antagonizes the
Electoral Reform bill now before the
State Legislature, and as if by way of
apology to the Governor for the
shabby support given him by the
convention as candidate for dele
gate-at- large, closes with the follow
ing double Endorsement
RtsOiced, That the convention approves
the eminently wise, conservative and honor,
able administration of Governor Hill;s and,
Rss0iced, That the administration of Gov.
crnor David b. Hill merits and has the
herrty respect and consideration of this con
vention.
The ominous feature of the per-
Torrance is that neither the preamble
nor the platform has word to say in
direct commentator of the Mills
Tariff bill. There was Il two hours
debate over it by the Committee on
Resolutions, and an amendment to
the general Endorsement of the Presi
dents Message, committing the New
York Congressman 10 the support Of
bill based thereon, was defeated by
vote of % to /. TO all intents and
purposes, however, the platform il
for all that the Presidents Message
implies as to revenue reform.