The Portland daily press., 1892-10-24
CLEVELAND is ON HIS OWN
PLATFORM.
Harrison, Unlike His Opponent, Can
Stand For His Party's Principles.
THE MODERN DEMOCRACY'S ANUS
ING DEVOTION TO JEFFERSON.

Mr.. Blaine Sharply Criticises Mr.. Cleve-
lands Letter-He Finds that the Demo-
cratic Leader Has Deserted the Demo-
cratic Platform for Another-Sound
Sense Regarding the Pension System
Some of the Results of Reciprocity
shown-The Article To Appear in the
North American Review.
NEW YORK, October 23.-Mr. Blaines
long promised utterance on the Presi-
Dental election of 1892 appears in the
November number of the North Ameri-
can Review, to be published tomorrow
Monday. 1t occupies 13 pages of the
Review Mr.. Blaine notes the lack of
excitement attending the political cleo
tions, contrasting it with the turmoil of
interest that characterized the campaign
of the elder Harrison. This change of pub
may be accounted for by the growth
in population, and consequent absorption
in vast commercial and financial opera
tions, may possibly indicate subsistence
in the future of extreme partisanship.
Mr.. Blaine gives special attention to
the letters of the Presidential candi-
dates. OF President Harrison's letter,
he says among other things, perhaps
none of his predecessors has made so ex-
haustive and none a more CLEAR presenta-
tion of the questions involved" Mr..
Clevelandis letter is subjected to search
ing criticism. Mr.. Blaine finds that in
greater measure than Mr.. Harrison's it
departs from the platform of his party;
in fact, ssMr Cleveland has made plat
form upon which he is now before the
people," "Mr Cleveland's departure
from the position of his party's plat
form on the question of free trade con-
firms the impression which has been
general, that a large proportion of the
Democratic party believes in protection
in some form"
Mr.. Blaine Makes Caustic Comment
upon Mr.. Clevelands utterances on the
currency and state banks
He upholds the Republican policy of
granting liberal pensions to veterans of
the war. On this point he says: "The
amount we contribute toward pensions
is larger than the amount paid by any of
the European nations for a standing
army. Surely the binding up of the
wounds of the past war is a more merci-
full and honorable work than preparing
the country for a new one.'
The most remarkable thing in the
Presidential canvass of 1892, Mr. Blaine
regards as the manner in which in some
sections of the country all other issues
have been put out of sight, and the
force bill alone brought into promin-
ence.n He compliments Mr.. Dana, of
the New York Sun, the author of this
policy, on his zeal and ability in reaching
this end The representations made as
to the purpose and effect of the force
bill,' he declares to be inconsistent with
the spirit of President Harrison's letter.
Mr. Blaine is full and explicit in his
treatment of the subject of reciprocity,
claiming that material increase has been
caused in the United States trade by re-
ciprocal treaties with the islands and
countries of America, and particularly
by the treaties made with European
countries Mr.. Blaine quotes interesting
figures in relation to the increase of
trade with the Leeward and Windward
islands and Cuba and predicts in relation
to Cuba that
We Shall Conquer by Commerce
far better than by force of armies, and
cordially establish such mutual interests
between Cuba and this country that COM
mercially the two countries will be one.
Mr.. Blaine, dealing with the claim of
the Democratic party to be the Jeffer-
sonian party, says: sit would surprise
Jefferson, if he could once more appear
in the flesh, to learn that he was held to
be the indorser of all the principles and
measures advocated by. the Democratic
party today. 1t is, perhaps, not worth
while to enter into any elaborate argu-
ment on the subject, but the Democracy |
owes no little of it's success to the per-
sistence with which its adherents have |
made their disiples believe this preten- |
sion through all the mutations of their |
party. 1t was equally true, it must be
supposed. when Mr.. Buchanan, a con-
frmed Federalist, was the President
elect of the Democracy, though |
it is well known that the object
of Mr.. Jefferson's most intense dislike
was the Federal party. In vain it is
pointed out that the position OF Jeffer-
son on any subject was directly the re-
verse of the Democratic position; he is
duly quoted at the next convention, and |
a new oath of allegiance taken to his
principles. In 1901, after a severe con-
test. Jefferson came to the presidency as
the founder and head of the Republican