Middletown transcript., 1896-06-27
THE PLATFORM.

Louis last week may be found on oul
first page. Every man who has vote,
it matters not what may be his party
affiliations, should read the declara-
tions of principles of the several lead
ing parties. The man who says II am
Republican" II am a Democrat, =
or 81 am Populist" or even am a
Single Taxer," without regard to the
policy or principles that govern parties,
is not the best citizen. Intelligent men
read and think for themselves, and the
more that men read the more intelli-
gently can they cast their ballots.
These are times when men should seek
after the truth and for the good of the
country should find it and follow it.
What the National Democratic plat
form will be no one can with certainly
predict. It looks like free silver dec
laration financially and how sound
money Democrats can accept such a
policy is beyond comprehension. But
it is not fair to PREJUDICE. The Conven-
tion meets July 7th and all eyes now
turn towards Chicago.
But read, in the meantime, the Re-
publican Platform and then preserve
it for campaign reference. The arraign-
ment of the Cleveland administration
in the st. Louis platform has the en-
dorsement of large majority of the
people. Prominent Democrats even in
st. Georges hundred denounce his pol
icy and doubt his capacity where four
years ago such opinion spoken in their
presence would have been resented as
personal affronts. Such are the changes
of sentiment. In the west the anti
Cleveland feeling is overwhelming.
Both Indiana and Ohio Democrats on
Wednesday adopted Free silver 16 to l
and delegate in the latter State de-
manded in Convention that the picture
Of "that arch traitor, the Benedict Ar
mold Of the Democratic Party, Grover
Cleveland" be removed. OF course
no right-thinking man commends such
language towards the President merely
because of the differences of opinion.
In Illinois the Democrats not only en-
dorsed free silver coinage but renomi-
mated their anarchist governor, Alt
geld. How far this indicates an anti
Cleveland sentiment in the party can
not be guessed at this distance but it
is deplorable as fact that any party
should put up such man as stand
ard bearer. We conclude, however,
that it all means opposition to the
present administration, and that the
st. Louis platform sums up the rea-
sons in dignified and forceful terms.
Upon the Protectionand Reciprocity
planks every Republican can stand
squarly upright. We believe THAT the
present crisis in commercial affairs was
precipitated by the election Of Cleve-
land and a Democratic Congress upon
a platform declaring "Protection
fraud and a robbery" That declara-
tion struck at every factory, at every
manufacturer. at every employe in the
factory, and was the starting point of
the present 'hard times" This is our
opinion. When the wages of the
factory employees were cut down or cut
off then the purchases of farm products
were lessened, and thus every COM
munity felt the blows that were struck |
at the so-called tariff robbers" the |
manufacturers. A prominent Middle
town Democrat said to the writer this
week, "there is but one solution to the |
labor problem-our people must be con-
tent with the same wages that are paid |
abroad" Under free trade we believe |
that is true, but do not think it neces-
sary under protection. Our farming |
community should study this matter. |
Here are few lines from the "Ameri- |
can Agriculturist," written without |
reference to politics, which are signif- |
can't as to free trade prices in Great |
Britain:
"Farms in England are selling at only |
25 to so per cent of their former value. |
and In some cases no bids can be got
even upon the lowest basis. Farms
within two hours ride Of London are
deserted. No wonder English agri-
,ulturists bitterly complain of foreign
competition and demand government
oans at 8 per cent interest.
To the disappointment of the Demo-
cratic politician but to the satisfaction
If the sound money Democrat the st.
Louis Convention declared unequiv-
cally for the existing gold standard.
It the Democrats endorse free silver
coinage at Chicago the issue will be \
Joined and the financial policy
must enter most largely into tn ecam-
,aign. -
The other planks of the platform we
most heartily endorse with one excep-
ion. We know that civil service is a
raud and a humbug as it is practiced,
nd did the people of this country but
thoroughly understand 1t they would
enomce it. That America should
ave an ofice-holding class, pensioners
n the government. is foreign to our
Institutions, and the enforcement Of
be civil service law is neither thorough
or honest. But this is . small evil
nd We hope to live to zee ii righted,
nd by tho Republican Party.