Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-10
Massachusetts Democratic Platform.

No pla,form has this year been con-
structed by any Democratic State con-
ventIon which was more carefully worded
than the one adopted on Monday last
by the Democrats Of Massachusetts
First In importance and significance.
though not the first laid down In this
platform. Is the plank declaring In favor
OF an income-tax. /, had all along been
assumed by politicians that Massachusetts,
would lead New England and the Middle
States In war upon that tax. the
southern Democrats were warned that
to advocate 1t would be to ALLEVIATE their
best friends in the North. Indeed, 1t
seemed to he admitted everywhere that
there were no two sides to the question.
so far az New England was concerned,
and that the Middle States also were al
most solid in their opposition to il. And
yet the Massachusetts Democratic State
Convention declared az follows:
I'VE approve the principle OF the In
come-tax. as a return 10 correct theories
OF taxation"
Thus. on this important question,
Massachusetts aligns herself with the
South and West. \ wonderful tri-
umph IT Is. indeed.
1t has been said that in Maryland Sena-
tor German let's his Democratic oppo-
nents have the resolutions. whilst ne
takes the offices or whatever else there
is which he desires to control. We are
reminded Of this remark by the course
Of the Massachusetts, Democrats who
first denounced Brice, German, etc. as
traitors to the Democratic party, and
then endorsed their tariff In the follow
ing terms:
we recognize. however. that the new
tariff is, In spite of imperlecuohs'
great Improvement in almost eY"ry
schedule over the morstrous act OF spo.ia-
ton known as the Mckinley tariff and
We hail its passage as the beginning OF
the end OF an unconstitutional system OF
duties for protection only"
Duties for protection only" Is good
phrase.
But the Massachusetts, Democrats de-
clared for free raw materials. This was
inconsistent with their declaration against
duties for protection only, seeing that 10
leave raw materials untaxeI would BE-
protecting one class OF the community.
The convention also endorsed the Tucker
act ab0lishing al Federal electiou-laws
The declarations on the subject Of the
currency show that Massachusetts, has 10
sympathy with the friends OF the free
coinage Of silver. However the convin-
ton was more chary of It's words on
this subject than We had expected 1t 70
be- Not that there were not words
enough used, hut that the sentences were
not as strong nor as clear as they might
have been made. II is surely Il thing
worthy Of mention that at this late day
a Democratic State convention should
the Republican party Toy packing the So
preme Court Of the United states i'm order
to get it to decide that greenbacHs
might cons;itutlona!ly be made a legal ten
der for all debts. So also it IS rather late
10 be denounclng the Bland silver bill,
which became q law sixteen years ago.
Here IS plank whose utterances are
il cksonian. and remind Us of "BeEton' i
mint-drops," but are not exactly what
had been expected from the Massachu-
sets Democrats Of to-day. We quote:
I'VE reaiiirm our allegiance 10 the great
financial principles which guided Jefer-
son, Jackson. ana Secretary Walker; that
1t is the sole function OF the Federal Gov
eminent in monetary matters - pro-
vide a standard Of value, and 70 coin
metallic money, every dollar Df which
shall be OF equal intrinsic value; that no.
thing but this coined money shall be a
legal tender. and that the government
shall not carry on banking business.
I'VE demand that the untaxei notes 81
State or national banks shall be the only
paper money. AMI that the government
shall, with tn. development OF a banking
system adequate TO the demands Of trade,
retire as rapidly as possible all It's legal
tender money"
We are afraid that the Democrats in
Massachusetts, would dwindle down TO 4
small number indeed, II nobody were to
be recognized there as sound Democrat
who was not in favor OF making gold
and silver coirs the only legal tender
for debt.
We agree that the government should
not carry on banking business. Also,
that some substitute must soon be found
for the present national-banking system,
but. az Mr.. Rayner. OF Maryland, has
said. It ought to DO under national su-
pervislon, AMI as thoroughly guarded as
il that system. Another utterance IL
worthy OF notice-namely, the one In
favor OF the "untaxed" notes Of state
and national banks being the only paper
| money.
Altogether. the Massachusetts platform
Is a noteworthy enc. We Ike its gen.
| oral charac:er!ttic Of candor.
| Historic Appomattox.