Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-23
THE DEMoCRATIC PROFESSIONS,


The platform adopted by the Democratic
Convention after hard struggle last night
is in all its main features exactly the utter
ance that was to be expected from that
body. Of course it pledges the party to
oppose the force bill, which pledge is safe
one in view of the permanent retirement
Of force bill measures from the field of leg
islation. Equally, of course, it pledges
the party to keep down Government eX-
penses, which in view of the difficulty its
representatives are having in that line is
not so easy of fulfllment. But platform
pledges must be made irrespective of the
chances of performance, and so the Dem
ocratic promises are put forth without
stint, leaving the question of making them
good for the future
1t is difficult at this distance to under
stand the row over the tariff plank, except
that the Hill interest were anxious to find
some point on which to make fight, and
they succeeded in using this pretext to
carry the convention away from the slated
programme Either of the proposed resolu-
tions sufficiently committed the party to
an attack on the protective system, the
main difference being that the minority
plank, which was adopted, used the more
incorporate terms in doing so. As the
main characteristic of the rejected plank
was to propose tariff revision without in
jury to any domestic industry, it is per-
missible to conclude that the Watterson-
Hill contingent, and with them the con-
vention, desire domestic industry to be in
jured by the revision of the tariff.
But here comes in the popularity of the
fight The adoption of the more radical
plank was recorded as successful attack
of the Hill wing on the platform as drawn
by the Cleveland managers. But the Hill
organ in New York has not ceased to at
tack Mr. Cleveland for leading the party
into the devious paths of tariff reform. 1t
seems that the Hill idea is to be conserva-
tive on the tariff question until chance
comes to be more radical and reckless than
the leader of the free traders, and then
carry the> convention away with them.
This makes striking exhibit of the value
of principles to certain class of politi-
clans.
The platform contains good plank on
the canal question. 1t wisely approves
internal water ways between States, and
pledges the party to the judicious support
of such enterprises. On the other hand
while favoring proper control of the
Nicaragua Canal in case of waf, the
Democracy wisely avoid indorsing the
500, 900 subsidy job, which at present
forms the most salient feature of that
scheme. In this plank the Democracy
show clearer judgment than is indicated
by the Republican deliverance on the
same subject
On the silver question the Democracy
turn out to be more conservative than the
R epublicans, even refusing to admit the
term "free coinage" as possible result of
international agreement As both plat
forms look toward bimetallism by interna-
tional cooperation, however, the silver
question appears to be pretty thoroughly
taken out of the coming campaign, SO far
as platforms are concerned.
Which leads to the final reflection that
the value of platforms is very slight The
position of the candidates really define the
stand of the two great parties. Both
nominate men for the Presidency who are
opposed to free silver coinage and whose
well-known convictions make the issue
that between revenue tariff and protec-
ton to American industries.