Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-07-06

in the face and eyes of Republican ma.
jority of nearly 200,0 900 at the election OF
few months ago, itrequired some cour-
age, to assert that the expectations of
the people had been satisfied. 1t may
have been intended in a Pickwickian
sense, to be sure, and rightly interpreted
means the people are satisfied because
the administration has not done worse.
OF course, the able committee on reso-
lutions at the Burlington convention, un-
der the leadership of Mr.. Martin, of Ben
nington, was not acquainted. with the
sugges ton of the Sun, but it could have
hardly improved upon its action if the
Sun itself had written that particular
plank in the declaration of principles as
understood by Vermont Democracy. As
whole, the Burlington platform may be
called condemnatory rather than com
mandatory. 1t is, to use a familiar say
ing, 'chock fulr' of denunciation. Of
course, the anathemas are all hurled at
the Republican party as is right and
proper from a Democratic standpoint
But it is just little singular that in near
ly year and half of Democratic con-
troll the delegated representatives of Yer
mont Democracy could find so little to
applaud.
There was No pointing with PRIDE to
the achievements of either President or
Congress, no eulogies upon the foreign
or domestic policies of the administra-
ton, not even an implied approval of the
Hawaiian blunder, no ringing sentences
of commdation for the income tax, nor
expressions of gratitude for the sale of
party pledges to the sugar trust, not even
a reference to the sha I4eless abandon
ment of civil service reform.
Nothing of the kind. Instead, sand
wiched in about half way down the list
of denunciations may be found this feeble
squeak of perfunctory, albeit meaning
less, approval:
"We approve of the measures proposed
by the representatives of the Democratic
party in Congress for the relief of the
country from unjust and discriminat-
ing tariff taxations."
That's all. Nobody on the committee
or in the convention had the faintest
idea what measures were or are to be
proposed by the representatives of the
Democratic party in Congress for the re-
lief of anybody or anything. In the
three months the Wilson bill has been
footballed through the Senate, more than
six hundred amendatory plasters have
been applied to its feeble and emaciated
frame and nor president nor Cabinet nor
any member of Congress has to-day the
least idea what the thing will look like
when, if ever, it finally sees the light of
day.
1t would never do, however, to be
wholly silent regarding measure which
it was promised would send this nation
fairly scooting along the highway of
prosperity, it must not be condemned,
and the consciences of Vermont Demo-
Gratis could not and would not permit
approval of the monstrosity as it is.
They would not, as did their Pennsyl.
vania brethren, stultify themselves by
declaring it fulfllment of party prom
ises and could not bear to be so cruel as
their Arkansas colleagues and denounce
it. So they took the chances, as it were,
a1d hoped it might turn out better than
it promised.
Perhaps this was the wiser and better
way. At all events, it must be exceed
ingly gratifying to President Cleveland,
to Congress, and the Democratic party
everywhere to know the proposed meas
ures' meet the approval of the loyal and
devoted Democrats of the Green Noun
tain state.-St. Albans Messenger.