Morris tribune., 1890-09-17
The Democratic Platform,

After careful perusal of the plat
form adopted by the Democratic con-
vention at st. Paul last week, one is
forced to the conclusion that the main
thing the assembled Democracy of
Minnesota had in view was to show
to the world that they were "agin'
the Republican party and every
measure ever advocated OF adopted
by the Republican. This, says the
Minneapolis Times, is illustrated in
theirs tariff plank, which is an out
and-out free trade declaration. Here
tofore the party in it's official deliver
ances has raaeiy gone beyond "tariff
for revenue only" But the Mime
sofa democrats substantially declare
for free trade OF ''free commercialex-
change" with all the world. In other
words the platform demands that
Blaine's policy of reciprocity with
the South American states shall be
applied to European countries also.
The Republican party having ad-
vanced from the narrow, old-time
high-tariff policy to tariff reform, the
Democrats Immediately desert that
position and declare for free trade.
They have permitted the Republicans
to drive them from the only ground
from which they can hope to make
any effective appeal to the manu-
featuring and industrial interests OF
the country. The people of Mlnne-
sofa are not ready for free trade.
They will hardly give their assent to
the proposition to extend the policy
of reciprocity or 'free commercial ex-
changes" beyound the ccE-tries
named by Mr. Blaine. Qualified
reciprocity that will bring us products
we cannot produce IS wise. economic
policy; but reciprocity on products we
can and do produce in excess of home
consumption, the people do not want.
The denunciation of 'the recent
attempt of the Republicans in Con-
gl-ess to usurp power is aimed at the
rules adopted by the House which
confer upon the Speaker the right to
count; all members present as a
quorum, whether voting or not, and
which put an end to the old filibuster-
ing methods. The voters of Mime
sofa will hardly be wrought up to any
very Intense feeling against the adop-
ton of rules calculated to facilitate
5he business of congress, and which
Jake from minority the power to
dictate to those entrusted by the peo-
pie with responsibility for the dis
charge of business. There is nothing
that commends itself to the patriotism
and good sense of the country, in the
theory Of the right of the
to veto the will of the ma
jority, on the ground that the major
Ity cannot be trusted. 1t will be
difficult, we suspect, to convert the
voters of Minnesota to a belief in |
government by an aristocracy, even if |
it happens to be composed of South
erners who rebel against the laws
when the laws do not suit them.
The attitude of the convention is
equally untenable on the Federal
election bill. A law which will en-
sure fair vote and all honest count
IS the imperative necessity of the
hour. 1t is very unwise policy for
5he Democrats to make an issue upon
/ measure so thoroughly in harmony
with the enlightened moral senti-
nent of the nation.
The platform demands the abolition
If the import tax upon binding twine.
But the Republican senate has stolen
heir thunder here by amending the
ariff bill and placing binding twine
IN the free list.
The other planks of the platform
ire in better spirit and more in line
With the intelligent and patriotic
the country.
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