St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-14
THE PLATFORM.

The platform adopted by the Demo-
cratic convention yesterday is worthy
Of the ticket that was placed upon it.
1t is in marked contrast to the weak
evasions and the trembling attempts
to conceal thought and negative and
qualify assertion that make up the
average platform. This part of q con-
vention's work counts for more in a
city than in state or nation. For the
issues are direct and local; the peo-
pie have them under their very eye
and responsibility cannot be shirked
If candidates are elected who have
pledged themselves in advance to par
ticular acts or policies. 1t is for this
reason that platforms in municipal
conventions are usually notable for
their brevity and vagueness 1t is in
these respects that the Democrats of
this city once more showed themselves
worthy of their high ambition
The Democratic platform contains q
detailed, positive, unambiguous declar-
alton Of what will be the policy of it's
candidates if chosen to office. There
is no skulking and no fencing with
words about it. And it is sound and
right from beginning to end. To what
do Democrats pledge themselves? To
reduce municipal expenditures, begin
ming at the top and working down.
ward, so that they whose labor is most
arduous and whose compensation
smallest shall be the last to suffer To
public accounting for public officers.
To civil service reform in all municipal
| offices. To the erection of a library
building, when that can be done with
out increased debt or taxation. To the
submission of a choice of charters to
the decision Of the people. Finally,
let us quote entire the most important
and the boldest plank of all: 1--WE are
in entire sympathy with the people
who believe that public gambling and
| the so-called wine rooms should be
suppressed; and we declare that all
laws and ordinances tending to the
maintaining Of morality and good or
| der should be enforced" To every
| word of which the G o b says, Amen.
1t is an ideal platform for our mag
nificent ticket. Nor can we nor should
we forbear to contrast this manly and
outspoken declaration Of Democracy
with the published vacillation, cow
ardice and ins!ncerity Of the Repub-
lican delegates. Republicans call De-
| mocracy IAN organized appetite;" it
answers by declaring for civil service
reform, while the only speech that
elected enthusiasm in the Republican
convention was a laudation Of the
spoils system and an attack upon re-
form, by a little state officeholder who
secured his place at the crib by the
sacrifice of the chief justice of the
supreme court to his greedy ambition.
The Republican party, they tell us,
Is the party of moral ideas" and of
general high-tonedness. And here a
Democratic convention declares in
plain words against recognized public
evils and practices, while the Repub-
| lican convention reconsiders it's whole
platform, against the vehement protests
Of a clerical delegate, in order that it
may strike out two words which it
was thought might jar upon the SEN
| sibilities of Republican saloonkeepers.
Put the platforms, put the parties side
by side, and then abide the issue. BY
its code Of principles as by the men
whom it has chosen to represent it,
| the Democracy of st. Paul will com
mand success, because it has de-
| served 1T.