The San Francisco call., 1896-09-28
MOST BXORLLENT ADVICE.

John w. Mitchell of Los Angeles de-
livered himself of speech before gath
ering of Populists and Democrats at Met
ropolitan Hall in this City last Saturday
night, and he is deserving of the thanks
of all who think the honor and integrity
of the Nation should be maintained for so
delivering himself.
If there was any doubt in the minds Of
the people as to what would become of the
country if Organism should prevail, there
is no room for any now. Mr.. Mitchell
was frank enough and honest enough to
point out the dangers to our system of
government that would follow Bryan's
election, but he did not know he was call
ing attention to them.
Mr.. Mitchell said ''there are crucial tests
to which the principles of parties should
be subjected. The platform should be
carefully examined for the principles con-
tanned therein and the past history of the
party taken into consideration"
Just TO spare the feelings of Mr.. Mitch
ell and his fellow Democrats the past
history of his party will be left undis-
turbed. To stir it up would be to force un-
comfortable recollections upon the mind.
There were events leading up to aud fol-
lowing 1861 which might better be left as
though forgotten, and there have been
events in the business world during the
last three years which are painful subjects
for the Democracy TO discuss. Out of re-
spect for tie feelings OF Mr.. Mitchell and
his Democratic friends no attempt will be
made to consider the past history of his
party, Notwithstanding he invites it. Bat
we will take hlm at his word and examine
the principles contained in his Chicago
platform.
The platform whose principles Mr.. Mitch
ell so warmly and enthusiastically COM
| mends 10 the people of California demands
that the Government give UP the u2-Dem-
ocratic civilseryice notion and return to
the spoiIs system. 1t is contrary TO the
principles of the party, the Chicago plat
| form declares, to cut the ward boss off from
opportunity to plunder the public. Mr..
! BRYAN is very outspoken in his denuncia-
! ton of whatever is calculated to prevent
| the payment of campaign debts in fat
offices. That is principle of the Chicago
| platform which, as Mr.. Mitchell suggests,
might be carefully examined by the people
TO their profit.
Upon examination, and not very crit
|
form will reveal positive declaration that
| if Mr.. Bryan is electedthe Supreme Court
of the Nation will be legislated into court
that shall interpret the constitution and
the laws in the light of the principles OF
! the an.Altgeld- Tillman political firm.
1t is to be hoped that Mr.. Mitchell will
continue TO urge the people to examine the
| principles OF the party's platform.
The same platform calls for a still nearer
approach TO free trade, and workingmen
who are out of employ ymeut because of the
operation of the Wilson-Gormari tariff act
as we'll as owners of industries that are
standing idle from the same cause, should
look into that particular principle of Mr.
| MitchelPs platform. If Mr.. Mitchell would
furnish American workingmen with the
wage schedules of foreign industries they
would find it much easier to figure out the
wages they might expect if Mr.. Bryan is
elected.
Now that Mr.. Mitchell has suggested that
the platform of his party should be care,
fully examined, and the suggestion is q
good one, it is to be hoped that its princi
pies will be thoroughly analysed, especially
by those who do not want to live nnder S
ward boss system of Government; by those
who do not like the idea of converting the
Supreme bench into court that would
substitute the Chicago platform for the
constitution of the Nation, and by those
who dislike the idea of obliging our work,
the pauper labor of other countries.