Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-09-18
THE TWO PLATFORMS.
SOME OF THE DEMOCRAT AND
REPUBLICAN, UTTERANCES.
Long Array of Things Omitted from the
Democratic Pronouncement - Revolu-
tionary sentIments-No Declaration Of
Foreign Policy.


of the Republican and Democratic plat
forms deservedly have large share OF
the public attention, there are certain
other differences between them that
ought not TO be overlooked. The pres
ence of a large Populist, and even an
archist, element in the Chicago con
vention was noted at the time, and
had its influence in debating the plat
form and making the nominations. 1t
found plain expression in the following
paragraph o. he platfor n adopted.
1--WE denounCc arbitrary interference
by federal auth 1rities in local affairs
as violation of the constitution OF the
United States and crime against free
institutions, and we especially object
to government by injunction as new
and highly dangerous form of oppres
sion, by which federal judges, in con
tempt of the laws of the states and the
rights of citizens. become at once leg
islators, judges and executioners.
The plain intent Of this is to deny to
the general government the right topro-
tcct us own fix d property or its postal
service when interstate commerce is
imperilcd by riots. 1t is simply a re-
Election of Governor Altgeldt's protest
against the use of government troops
TO protect the mails and public prop
erty at the time of the Chicago strike
riots, after Altgeldt himself had shown
his incapacity to deal with the mob,
and when not only the railroad and gov
eminent property, but the city itself
was in danger.
The same hostility to the constitu-
tional and orderly conduct of public
affairs is found in the covert threat,
found in the Chicago platform, TO re-
organize the supreme court. After de-
ploring the decision of he supreme
court on the income taA, the platform,
continues: 1--WE declare that it is the
duty of congress to use all coustitu-
tional power which remains after that
decision, or which may come from its
reversal by the court as it may here
after be constituted, so that the bur
dens Of taxation may be equally and
impartially laid"
This means nothing less than that
the men who made the platform pro
pose, if they come into power, TO force
designations from the present bench
and to fill the vacancies with Judges
appointed with a special view to over
turning the income taY decision. or
else TO accomplish the same purpose by
increasing the number of judges. the
new ones TO be appointed with the
same design. In either case the pur.
pose is essentially revolutionary in its
character.
The omissions of the Demo
cratic platform are hardly less of
fcnsive to the patriotic voter than its
ute" aces. With the exception Of a
single mild sentence of sympathy to
the people of Cuba in their heroic
struggle for liberty and independence.
it II" not "A single word upon our for
cign relations nothing about the la
waiian =" ire which ~hc present add
mnistration so badly bungled: moth
ing about the attempted British ag-
grcssions in Venezuela; nothing about
the application of the Monroe doctrine
TO that affair; nothing about our inter
estS in Nicaragua and the West Indies.
The Republican platform, on the
other hand. reaSsertS the Monroe doc
trne toits full extent, and reaflirms the
right of the United States to give the
doctrine effect by responding to the APP
pcalSof any American state for friendly
Intervention in cases of European
encroachment. 1t gives generous eX-
preston of sympathy to the Gu
bans in their determined contest
for liberty and declares that tn,
United States should actively use
its influence and good Offices TO re
store peace and give independence to
the island. it declares that the Mica
ragua canal should be built, owncG
and operated by the United States
and that by the purchase Of the Danish
islands we should secure much
needed naval station in the West In
dies Finally, referring to the de
struction of American property in
Armenia, it declares that, there ano
everywhere, American citizens and
American property must be absolutely
protected at e. ny hazard and at any
cost The one platform, as if ashamed
of the colorless and unpatriotic policy
of the present administration. is al
ulOSJ dbSOIubtIg SLlCub On foreign al
fairs. The other gives clear enuncia.
tion of our claims and demands as =
self-respecting power among the ma
tions of the earth.
The Republican platform also de
clarcs IN favor Of the early American
policy of discriminating duties for the
upbuilding Of our merchant marine, foI
tn continued enlargement of our navy
and for complete system of harboI
and scacoast dcfcnses; for a free ano
unrestricted ballot for every American
citizen, with fair count of the ballot
thus cast; favors Il national board OF
arbitration for the settlement of diff
fercnces between employers and en-
ploycd engaged in interstate commerce
favors an immediate return TO the fire,
homestead policy Of the Republican
party, and dcnounces the uncivilizcC
and barbarous practice of lynching
ITpOn all these questions of iuterna