The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-06-17
A WONDERFUL.

Inc UemOcratlc national platform
is full of false CLAIMS and unsupported
assertions. 1t Is either equivocal or
untruthful in every line. The work
men who framed it had difficult task
and scant material to work with. They
were called upon to construct a plat
form which would satisfy one-haH Of
badly divided party, while it would
deceive the other half. 1t must de-
clare for free trade without offending
the protectionists. 1t must indorse
the administration without depriving
the party of the support of those who
are opposed to its policy. 1t must be
made broad enough to aoccmodate
such ayowed free traders as Mills,
Scott and Carlisle and to have a cor
ner remaining for Samuel J. Randall,
whom the aforesaid Mills Scott and Car
Isle have been industriously reading
out of the party for the past few wesks,
but who will be urgently invited to a
seat on the platform about month or
six weeks before the election. The
problem was an intricate one, and it is
no wonder that the solution offered is
not very satisfactory.
The growing absurdity Of the plat
form is the tariff plank. This was the
plank over which the builders of the
pedestal upon which Grover Cleveland
has been mounted quarrelled most
vigorously. With such free traders as
Watterson and Scott and such pro.ec-
tionsts as German and Cooper on the
committee on resolutions, it is not
strange that there should have teen
marked differences of opinion as to
how clear declaration the free traders
would demand and how much decep-
ton the rrotectionists could reason
ably be expected TO stand. After the
wrangiing which the solution OF thess
problems required, a plank was in
serted in the platform which was
reasonably satisfactory 10 all the mem
bers of the committee except Mr.
Cooper. OF New York, and he indicated
his displeasure by refusing to have
anything TO do with either the plank
or the platform OF which it is a part.
What kind Of plank is that which
both Watterson and German declare
to be satisfactory? 1t is the most ex-
traordinary declaration ever made by
a national political party. 1t makes
the eyasiveness Of the cvasive Platform
of 1854 appear plain, blunt and direct
by contrast. The first declaration is
that the Democratic party reaffirms
the platform adopted by its represen-
tatives in the convention of 1884," but
as nobody has yet been able TO tell
what the Democratic tariff plank OF
lisa meant. the new plank continues.
"and Endorses the views expressed by
President Cleveland in his last annual
message 10 congress ~ the correct in
depreciation of that platform upon the
question of tariff reduction. As if
this did not make the meaning OF the
plank sufficiently doubtful, it contains
an additional declaration intiorsing
the efforts Of our Democratic repre-
sentatyes in congress to secure a re-
duction Of excessive taxation" Fur
Their along in the series OF resolutions
there is specific Endorsement of the
Mills hin now pending in the house Of
representatives.
Such, then, is the official statement
OF the Democratic attitude in regard
TO the tariff. First, the party reaiiirms
the declaration Of issi. which did no,
mean anything at all. or, rather. which
was SO adaptable in its nature that i, |
could he made to mean anything that |
The individual Democrat wished il TO |
mean Next. President Cleveiand's |
message Is declared 10 he correct in-
depreciation ri this declaration. AsI
President Cleye!and's message was
nothing bat weak argument against |
the American system Of protection,
however, this statement must mean |
that the declaration OF iss4 was really |
for free trade. Last comes the in,lorse-
msnf Of the Mills hill, which is "a |
broad departure from The recommer,-
dations of the presidents message as /
1; Is from sound principles Of political |
economy HeEc, then. in the pea.o-
cratic tariff plank se have groured a
reafarmatiou ct declaration 50 OBJ
scGre in meaning as IN puzzle even
those who made It, = slistinr. iniorSe-
mont % the rsins pies OF free trade.
aid IN Endorsement; Of lie Mills b.l.