The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-08-26
PARTY VS.. PLATFORM.

PARTY VS.. PLATFORM.
Some of our exchanges are so thor
oughly Democratic that they are fear
full Mr.. Cleveland and the party will
not carry out the pledges contained IN
the Chicago platform, and are con-
stantly reminding their leaders of the
provisions in that instrument. Prom
inens among these is the Esen'ag 1st-
sgram, of Portland, which, for some
time past, has not been mild in Its
criticism of the president, and since
the appointment of the house COM
mittees by Speaker Crisp, has Ia
mented the downfall of the slime
honored principles" This is consist
ent, at least, and is more admirable
course In politics than bllndly follow
ing the policy Of self-constituted lead
ers. It truthfully says:
"rhe platform as it went before the
people was the deliberate work of the
convention, and was intended to be an
orthodox expression of Democratic
doctrine. In view of this fact there
can be but one course for the Demo-
cratic members of congress to pursue,
and that is to redeem all the pledges
of the platform according to the letter
and spirit. The country expects it of
them; their sense of honor should
prompt them to it, and all our indus
trial interests demand it. That con-
gresham is blind indeed who makes
any mistakes as to the attitude of the
people at this time"
The article in our cotemprary was
called forth by the speech of Mr..
voorhees, on the silver question, and
it says he is Juggling with the plat
form. His speech is In the line of
Democratic professions, while his bill
is in the interest of the monometal-
ists.' Republicans have always
charged Democracy with being in
favor of free coinage; but this has
been strenuously denied by some of
the leading papers of that party As
regards standing on the platform" it
was well known when Mr.. Cleveland
was nominated at Chicago that he was
in favor of the single standard, for he
had so expressed himself on different
occasions, and his letter Of acceptance
was an artful straddle of the plank
referring to the monetary system. II
Democracy intended to be honest in
the principles set forth by their last
national convention it was hypocritical
to place Mr.. Cleveland at the head of
the ticket. But this was done because
no other man could have been elected
on that platform, and the citizens
voted for him and not for the. party.
If sufficient pressure is brought to
bear on congress it may have the sf-
feet to keep some recalcitrant men,
bers in line; but the general opinion
is that Democrats care very little for
free trade or monometalism now that
they have secured the election Of the
executive and the control of both
branches of congress.
The Telegram closes the article with
the following paragraph:
"If the money plank of the Chicago
platform is rotten, 30 are the tariff
and force-bill planks. They are all
made of the same material and come
from the same shop. If they are rot
ten; or any Of them, then the whole
Democratic party is rotten. The con-
verse is equally true. If one is sound
all are sound, and if they are sound
then there is absolutely no excuse for
Democrat to refuse to stand squarely
on the platform. We repeat, there is
but one course for Democratic men,
bers of congress to pursue, and that is
to stay by the platform.
The logic of our cotemporary is un-
doubtedly correct, and we class the
Chicago platform with the others
adopted by the party for the past
thirty years, and have arrived at the
conclusion that they are all "rotten."
An apt illustration of the lnsincerity
of the one adopted at Chicago last
year is the "force- bill" plank, when
such measure had never passed con-
gress and was opposed by prominent
Republicans, and there are others
equally as fimsy. We do not wish to
discourage our brother in his COM
mendable mission of attempting to in
fuse political honesty into the Demo-
cratic party; but we firmly believe
that he will be convinced before an
other presidential campaign that the |
Democrats In Chicago in 1892 did not
say what they meant, and did not
mean what they said.