Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-21
MINNEAPOLIS PLATFORM.

Victory.
The very first sentence in the repub-
lican platform has in IL the thrill OF
victory. The mere place of holding the
convention, never before campaign
feature, was turned to telling account.
1.-THE representatives OF the repub-
licans of the United States" the plat
form begins, assembled in convention
on the shores Of the Mississippi river,
the everlasting bond Of an indestruct-
iblc republic" There is nothing far
fetched in this. The Mississippi Is
precisely that-"the everlasting bond
OF an indestructible republic" That
was the controlling idea with Jeffcr-
son In making the Louisiana purchase,
and that Is why so much interest CEN
tered in the siege of Vicksburg That
felicitous allusion will serve to quicken
memories and suggest thoughts OF
patriotism, and such memories and
thoughts always promote the welfare
of the republican party.
The declaration in favor of protec-
ton with its supplement, reciprocity,
was accorded the post OF honor as the
first definite plank of the platform.
There was no chance for anything be-
yond a reatfirmation of the doctrine
laid down in the resolutions of 1888 and
Incorporated in the act of 1890. There
were no two opinions in the conven-
ton. IL must have been proud day
for William Mckinley when he saw the
great national convention of the repub-
lican party over which he was presid-
ing absolutely harmonious and very en-
thusiastic in the Endorsement not only
of the principles of the platform Of
1883, which he penned and reported,
but OF the bill which he afterward
framed and pushed to enactment
The next plank was carefully word
ed and an acknowledgement statement OF
the genuine bimetallic position of the
party, and an Endorsement OF the Inter
national silver conference. This plank
ought to be satisfactory TO all intelli-
gent people, from the Pacific TO the At
lantic, for IL stoutly upholds the silver
dollar and tenaciously clings TO the
gold dollar, making the former equal In
purchasing power TO the latter. This
seems TO strike a good many monetary
theorists rs impossible, but IL is no
mystery. Ever since 1879 even the paper
dollar, having no intrinsic value what
ever has been worth It's face in gold.
The more that plank is studied the
more II will commend itself TO the bet
ter judgment of the American people.
The doctrine Of n free ballot and a
fair count IL reaffirmed, coupled with
denunciatlon OF the outrages perpe-
trated at the south for political reasons.
There is also n reafiirmation of the
Monroe doctrine in its application TO
the present state OF our foreign rela.
tions, and an Endorsement OF the for
eign policy Of the administration, in
Guiding the steps taken TO prevent Grim
lnals, paupers and contract laborers
from being dumped upon our shores.
These largo questions, together with
the final resolution indorsing the adj
ministration of President Harrison,
may be set down as the landmarks Of
distinctive republicanism. The other
planks are OF such nature that, II the
democracy is wise, they will not en-
counter hostility. The democratic
party Is for free trade and against n
free ballot sustained by an honest
count, and Is committed through It's
members OF congress 70 iree silver, but
II cannot afford " antagonize a single
plan(, Ia the republican platform, COM
ing under the head of miscellaneous.
Those planks are, TO put them as brief
ly as possible, protection against acct
dents in interstate commerce, mining
and manufactures; sympathy with the
Irish In Ireland and the still more OPP
pressed Jews in Russia; education with,
out any union Of church and state; hos
tihty 70 trusts and monopoliesi free
rural postal delivery and one-cent post
age as soon as practicable; ciyil-seryioe
| reform; the Nicaragua canal; the adj
mission Of the territories as soon as
they are ready for statehood, and the
selection from their own citizens of the
federal offices for them; the reclama-
ton OF the arid lands and their utiliza-
tion for homesteads; the Endorsement
of the Columbian exposition, the sym
pathy with all wise and legitimate Of
forts TO lessen and prevent the evils Of
tntemperance and 10 promote morality
y renewed pledge TO the veteran sol
diers of the republic OF "a watchiul
care and recognition OF their claims
upon grateful people"
We will see how the democratic con-
vention declares itself on these great
questions. A republica platform Is no
mere glitter OF generalities. II Is only
~AsaaSssS ta ~aAaAnaEA tina nlAllaAs given