The San Francisco call., 1896-06-19
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

After reading the platform of the OPP
posing school of politics, which was adopt
ed in convention at Sacramento yesterday,
any fair minded man would suggest that
for it's own good and the States advantage
the Democracy of California should merge
itself into the Republican party, at least
during the present campaign. The
Sacramento platform voices nearly
every declaration OF the Republican
party as concerning the needs OF
California, and in substantially the
same language that was employed
by the Republican State Convention few
weeks ago. It is almost line upon line
and precept upon precept, nor is it exactly
theft of the livery of the court of heaven
to serve the cloven-footed Democracy in;
but, however the convention happened to
adjust its platform to the principles enun-
ciated by the Republican party only the
other day, the theme of the old hymn,
while the lamp holds out to burn the
vilest sinner may return" is strengthened
from center to circumference. The Demo
cratic party of California is to be congrat-
ulated for evincing a disposition to get
nearer abreast of the civilization of the
nineteenth century.
Tbs Republican party of California de-
clared for the free and unlimited coinage
of silver. The Democracy follows suit.
and declares for the same thing.
The Republican party declared against
what is known as the refunding bill of the
Pacific railways. The Democratic party
now comes to the front. and says it, too, is
opposed to the bill.
The Republican party declared against
the Southern Pacitic's GLOSSY" methods in
California politics. The Democratic party
comes along with similar declaration.
The Republican party demanded the
construction of the Nicaragua canal at
the earliest time possible. The Demo-
cratic party has come to the conclusion
that the canal should be pushed to COM
pletion as rapidly as possible.
The Republican party pointed out how
the industries of California are unduly de.
pressed, and recommended the immediate
return to protection that protects, and a
merchant marine sufficiently backed by
the General Government to control the
Pacific Coast ocean carrying trade. The
Democracy now admits that California in
dustries are greatly depressed. but it does
not appear to know how to remedy the
evil. This is the first divergence from the
plans and specifications of the Republican
party to restore the State to it's old-time
power and influence in the commercial
world.
The Republican party declared for pro-
lection tolabor and pointed out that the
way to protect American labor was to
shut out all labor competition that COM
peted by cutting down wages. At this
point the Democracy made it's second
divergence from the Republican party's
list of declarations. 1t could suggest moth
ing better than "a tariff for revenue only
that is, the same kind the country has
been enjoying for three years-and which
has failed to provide enough revenue to
support the Government by S150, 900, 900.
besides increasing the bond debt of the
country $1,000, 900. to say nothing of the
hundreds of thousands of good, sober and
honest wage earners who have been thrown
out of employ by its operation.
Therefore the Democratic party of Cali
fornia having indorsed all the principles
of the Republican party, except the one of
tariff, it follows that the tariff question is
the only issue that the parties can go be-
fore the country upon.
The Republican party choerfully enters
the arena of the common sense of the peo-
pie as the champion OF the principle of
protection in the case of protection VS..
free trade. There would be no sense at all in
discussing any other principle of govern
ment than that of the tariff, for every
other declaration of the Republican party
has been accented by the Democracy az
its political creed. Now for the hustings.