The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-06-24
THE TWO PLATFORMS.

The platform of the National Demo
cratic Convention is not very surpris-
ing. Upon the questions of the pro-
lection of voters at elections where Fed
eral officers are chosen: the tariff: SYM
pathy with the suffering abroad;
arraignment of the Republican party
for alleged crimes and misdemeanors so
awful that the platform makers were lost
for words to voice their horror of their
fellow-citizens who do not train with
them-the platform is what it was ex-
pected to be, and in harmony with party
traditions.
In most other respects it is not remark
able; it at once approves expenditure for
naval building, river conservation and
the like outgo commensurate with the
growth and needs of the Nation, and in
the same breath complains of the use for
national purposes of surplus that four
years ago it denounced as monstrous evil
dence of political iniquity.
The condemnation of the nomination of
President Harrison, because under his
administration there are of necessity
many public servants who do not by
service forfeit their right to prefer
candidate, justifies SMILE in view of the
fact that in 1888 this same Democratic
party found it to be virtue to nominate
an incumbent under whom also were
several thousand citizens holding Federal
offices. This bit of assumed indignation
on the part of the convention makes it
fidence in the sincerity of it's other
declarations. The attempt to pose the
Democracy which, if consistent in any
thing, has been in its adherence to the
spoils doctrine, as the friend of civil
service reform laws which it has fire.
quently sought to repeal, is quite in the
line of farce comedy.
The platform gives the free-coiners no
comfort, and the difference between the
coinage and currency planks of the Min
neapolis and the Chicago conventions is
too refined and ETHEREAL for the average
intelligence to discover any dissimilarity.
The platform denounces unrestricted
immigration; that of the Republican
party had already done so, and called for
more stringent legislation upon the SUBJ
ject. Each platform recognizes the obi
cations of the Nation to the veteran SOL
diers of the war. Both platforms de-
nounce trusts and combines; both favor
vigorous foreign policy, bat the Demo-
cratic platform-makers had the brazen eff
frontery to declare that the Democracy is
the only party that has ever given us a for
eign policy consistent and vigorous, etc.
That any political body could in this age
of intelligence commit itself to such
ridiculous statement would seem incred
ible.
Both platforms are alike in expression
concerning the Nicaragua Canal: both
commend the Worlds Fair; both declare
for protection of employees exposed in ex-
ira hazardous occupations. The Repub-
lican platform commends wise and lepiti-
mate efforts to lessen the evils of intern
perance and promote morality: the DEM
ocratic declaration is the old-time wall
about sumptuary laws and interference
with individual rights. The Republican
platform approves of postal extension
and enlargement and cheapening of sery-
ice, on which topic the Democracy is
silent.
The Republican platform emphaticallv
pronounces against any union of church
and State, and declares distinctly for
maintenance of freedom of thought, con-
science, speech and press, and of all agen-
cies and instrumentalities contributing
TO the education of the children of the
land. Here the Democratic platform
makes another distinct departure from
that which preceded it. It declares
generally Tor free common schools.