The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-13
rTs CLAIM To CONFIDENCE.

Prior 70 ISIS there had been very Ht'ls
regularity "a the adoption OF national plat
forms bu, since that year they have formed
a basic factor in political campaigns. St
Louis has never before been the scene OK
a Republican national convention, but the
Democrats have twice held their presiden-
fsal-year gatherings there. in 1875 and IN
iss- The place OF meeting has moved
westward with the center Of population, and
with the exception OF Indianapolis. 81
Louis Is now the nearest Of the very large
cities 10 the center. For nearly half
century Philadelphia ard Baltimore were
the fayorite meeting places, the tendency
a. ali times having been for the extremes
or the country 20 meet half way. II Is
for this reason that New York and Boston.
Notwithstanding their commanding com
merclal position. have never been in favor.
with the exception OF the Clintonian con-
ysntion N 1872 and that OF 1886. when the
Iocofoco platform was adopted. there have
been no great party gatherings in New
York city and none OF any consequence in
Boston. The famous Liberty platform OF
1913 was adopted al Buffalo; and the even
more famous Free-Soil platform was adopt
ed a. Utica in ls4s. although it was then gen
orally known as the Buffalo platform. in
memory OF It's predecessor OF 1913.
The character of the platform adopted
has seemed 70 bear the impress OF the
place at which the convention construct
ing Il has been held. but the fact that Re-
publicans will meet In the state OF Mis-
souri, is not likely TO vary much the char
acter OF the principal plank In the Chicago
platform OF 1854, which might be taken out
bodily and made the standard around
which all Americans can gather l, was
as follows:
ct is the first duty OF a good govern
ment TO protect the rights and promote
the industries of its own people. The larg-
ostdlversityof industry IS most productive
OF general prosperity and OF the comfort
and independence OF the people. We.
therefore. demand that the imposition of
duties on foreign imports shall be made.
not for revenue only, but that In raising
the requisite revenues for the government
such duties shall be so levied as TO afford
security TO our diversified industries and
protection 10 the rights and wages CT the
laborer. to the end that active and intelli-
gent labor. as well as capital. may have
its just reward. and the laboring man his
full share in the national prosperity
Against the so-called economic system of
the Democratic party. which would de-
grade our labor 10 the foreign standard,
We enter our earnest protest. The Demo-
cratic party has failed completely to re-
lieve the people of the burden OF unneces-
sary taxation by a wise reduction OF the
surplus"
over ten years ago this declaration was
made and experience raises ii to the dig
nifty OF prophecy. which Is all the more
marked when contrasted with the declsra-
ton of the Democratic party the same
year:
Sufficient revenue to pay all the eX-
penses OF the Federal government. eco
nomically administered. including PEN
sions. interest and principal of the public
debt, can be got. under our present sys-
TEN of taxation. from custom house taxes
on fewer imported articles. bearing heaviest
va - t-N'N- "a "aAN F~eAAAtAc s4SASSSs
on articles OF necessity"
The people gave the Democratic party a
good chance TO demonstrate the soundness
OF its Views. and 1t is in the position of
having 10 admit either that the government
has not been economically administered or
that 1t was mistaken as TO the adequacy
OF the revenue under its revised tariff That
vast deficiency has been the result can
not be gaiusaid.
The declaration Of the Republican party
proves that its conception OF the needs and
conditions of the country was the correct
one. and affords tho most Convincing as
surance that Il is entitled to the conhdsnee
OF the country. When a nation is pros
porous. minor troubles can be adjusted
easily. but in the present condition of com
mercial prostratlon there must be no tam
por.ng with credit or experimenting along
uutrie1 lines. The sooner we get back TO
a firm foothold the better. and none IS
more sure than upon the well-hxed prin-
ciplss 81 the Republican party.