The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-11
Some Comments on tho Republican
Platform.


A cursory examination OF the appeal
which the Republican State Convention has
| just made to the electors o! New York shows
a number OF remarkable omissions which
may readily be supplied by any one familiar
with recent political history.
To begin with. tho Republicans tell US that
they adhere to the principles on which the
national victory was won in 1885," How
about tho principles on which the State
election was lost by the Republicans in that
year!
They Commend the wisdom. patriotism
and purity OF the Administration OF Presi-
dent HARRISON" which commands the
confidence and respect OF the American peo-
pie by its intelligent, efficient and sagacious
conduct OF the public business In all the de.
partments." Illustration omitted: The COM
Dinatlon Of business with patriotism exem.
pliiied by the conduct OF the Hon. JOHN
WASAMAKER, Postmastcr.Genera In Wash
ington and shopkeeper in Philadelphia.
Eighth resolution: I'VE approve the
speedy construction OF the Nicaragua Canal
under American charter. by American ent ter
prise. and with American capital, as essen.
tial to national defenca and to the interests
OF interstate commerce and the trade OF the
continent" This We take to be an approval
OF the unconstitutional charter granted by
Congress to the Maritime Canal Company of
Nicaragua. II Congress can incorporate a
company TO construct a ship canal In Central
America, 1t can incorporate one to undertake
a similar enterprise In Kamtschatka But
the Republican party have no greater caro-
about obedience to the organic law than
was implied In tho Hon. TIM CAMPBEL1's
question: whats tho Constitution be.
tween friends?"
In the thirteenth resolution the Conven-
ton rcafIirms 1.-The Republican partys favor
to thorough genuine reform in the civil SER
vice." and commends tho national Admins
tration for giving effect thereto under the
existing law. notable omission in this
resolution is the failure to refer to the Hon.
JOEL b. ERHARDr, late Collector Of tho Port
of New York. as person who can fur.
nish ull conllrmatory evidence that may be
needed on the subject.
Tho wording OF the resolution relating to
the liquor question is peculiar: eve favor
comprehensive and efficient excise legisIa-
ton Cor giving local option by counties,
towns, and clties, and restriction BY taxa
ton in such localities ms do not by option
exclude the liquor traffic" This is meant
TO convey the impression to tho careless
reader that the Republican party Is opposed
to tho liquor tra'llc. but upon Analysis 1t
will be seon TO mean only that some sort OF
license fec shall be exacted In those localt-
ties where a majority Of tho voters are not
in favor OF prohibition. Nothing Is said
about whether the license shall 10 high II.
ccnsc or low license.
In the resolution dealing with tho aues.
zion OF municipal government the Convcn-
ton recommends tho adoption OF an amend
ment to the Constitution requiring tho pas
sage OF Il general bill for the government OF
cities. There Is no need OF any amendment
to the Constitution to empower the I.egls-
lature to pass such a bill. II tho people elect
representatives who are In favor OF meas
ure OF this kind. they have nothing to do but
TO enact It,
Finally the Convention denounces what 1t
calls tho unpatriotic effort OF the Governor
and Assembly to place this State In an UNI
friendly attitude toward the Worlds Fair,
and insists upon "the necessity for an exhi-
bition by tho State In keeping with Its In
dustrlal supremacy In the nation" We arc
not informed. however, how the Republicans
stand upon the question OF allowing Chicago
to take five millions OF dollars out OF the
national Treasury to help along the great
Exhibition. resolution on this subject
In tho Stats Convention would have been
Just as appropriate aud far more important
than what it had to say about the Nicaragua
Canal. But it Is to!crab!y safe to predict,
without any present declaration on the sub
ject from the Grand Old Party. that Its rep
rcsentatives in the next Congress will favor