New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-23
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

The Democratic patfO is not an honest one
At the very outset it shamcfully misrcprc sontS
the Election bill pretending that this measure
was designed to deprive the people of their
right Of self government. The truth is that
no other measure yet favored by the Rcpub-
Ecan majority in either house of the last Con
eress was more carefully guarded than this.
Its sole object was to secure free and lar
elections, and it is against free and fair cleo
tons that the Democrats most pasSionatcl!
protest When the Democrats can afford To
denounce any fair measure 10 prevent crimes
such as were perpetrated in the interest OF
Governor Hill and the Democrats Of this state,
or by Governor Albeit and his followers III
w-JerScy, they will be many thousand votes
stronger in the two states. and III other close
States of the North, than they are now.
1t was to be expected that the Democratic
platform would try to dodge the tariff issue.
Ii dcnounces the Mckinley Tariff with such
particularly of faSehood that there will be
no difficulty during the coming campaign in
proving that the Democratic National Con
vention acted in this respect for the importers
of foreign goods, and not for the consumers OF
similar goods of American manufacture. II Is
an easy thing to arragn the new tarlii for al
legged shortcomings but instead Of demanding
the unconditional and unqualified repeal of this
bill. the Democrats in National Convention are
tricky and evasive. The people will recognize
the fact that the platform of the Democratic
party does not make in good faith any definite
proposal, nor does that party dare to give a
practical Interpretation of lis own platform by
asking the removal of the duties on iron ore.
The Virgnias. Tennessee and Alabama would
have protested had the platform been more
honest.
The fight in convention over the wording OF
the tariff resolution was largely inSlnccrc and
fraudulent. The men who wanted the less
distinct wording were mainly the supporters Of
the one candidate who had forced the tariff
issue in its worst form upon the party for his
private advantage. If his supporters did not
miSreprescnt him. he was ready TO "paltcr III
a double sense" and 10 90 before the people
in disguise on the one question which. his
friends said had made his nomination logical
necessity If he was inclined 10 luggle with
words. if his most Jealous friends who had
been in his Cabinet were unwilling 10 commit
themselves or him 10 a straight declaration
for revenue tariff, what are we 10 think OF
the party Of which he has been considered the
braye>t and the most conscientious leader?
If Mr. ClcvclandS trusted licucnamS insist
upon a resolution which may mean anything
or nothing. what can be said of his party?
Nor is there anything honest III the dcclara-
ton regarding silver. Everybody knows that
the great majority of the convention was dis
posed 70 adopt an unequvocal frcc-silyer plat
form. the more because Mr.. Cleveland was to
be nominated. But his orders seem TO have
been in the way. The resolution Is one which
can be interpreted for or against free coin
age, though there is no reason whatever III the
construction which would make the platform
inoffcnsive to conservative business men. II
it is honest in any respect, the platform means
free coinage Of silver. If il i not. people need
not very much care what II means
Other parts OF the platform may be left for
subsequent consideration. But on the great
questions Of the hour the Democrats have not
dared 10 speak the truth They mean what
they do not dare 10 say II l. a Frcc-Tradc
platform, with an attempt - hide Free Trade
behind the phrase "Tarin for revenue only"
IL is a ce-silyer platform, with trlckeIy in
the form of utterance which Mr. Cleveland
ought 10 resent and rcpel as an insult