The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-20

THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
With the exception Of the declaration
upon finance. there is hardly a proposition
in the Republican platform that Is not
odious TO a true Democrat and to
patriot also. II he understands the real
interests Of his country. II begins with
repeating the Republican fad Of policy
n "nrofection rs the bulwark Of American
industrial independence and the iounda~
ton OF American Development Extend
cd comment by The Times upon this de-
tcstable doctrine would be words thrown
away. It's meaning is that the citizen s
business can be attended TO for him by
the Government better than 1t can be
by himself, and its ultimate result IS 10
make the population look to the Govern
mont as n great food-pile upon which
all may rest and enjoy themselves. IL
is onoryating. corrupting. and utterly de-
structive in its tendencies and influences
TO that spirit Of independence and self
reliance in the individual upon which all
real progress and prosperity must rest.
Next. and quite logically IL declares
that the Government Of the United States
ought to tax all the people to raise
fund TO pay out in gratuides to Ameri-
cans who want TO raise sugar. There is
absolutely nothing I'm the whole Republ-
can scheme of atrocities more odious 10
us than this. IL is positively revolving 10
tell citizen that he is 10 give mp part
of his hard-carned substance TO make
presents 10 sugar raiscrs. Why should
money be given to them any more than
10 raisors Of horses or COWS or potatoes
or flax or tobacco? II is entirely logical
that a party that believes in the idea of
protection should adopt an outrageous
hercsy Of this sort, but it seems strange
that when IL turns its back upon a propo-
sition 10 buy the product Of the American
silver miners at two prices it should de-
clare itself willing 20 huy the product Of
a sugar farm at more than its value.
The declarations Of the platform regard
ing our foreign relations are utterly oD-
posed TO the theories that rave heretofore
prevailed i'm this country ana TO the true
interests Of the country. Il wants us
10 take up the quarrels OF all the turbu-
lent communities that call themselves
States in this hemisphere. It wants Us TO
annex Hawaii, and have another SEMI
barharous state TO add TO our internal
disorders, and it wants MS to acquire ISL
ands in the ocean for sarusons Of a
Standing army: and. as a natural compile
ment TO all this fanfaronade of nom
sense it wants us to build a great navy
that will be a grioyous burden upon our
tax-pavers. and that will be at all times
tempting our jingoes to involve as in
foreign wars.
We. of course approve Of What the plat
form says Of fair elections and Of lynch
ing. and yet the meaning of the
platform is that the Federal Congress
shall pass laws to operate upon the South
crn states in the direction of them. We
can hardly believe that the Republican
party really means to again inaugurate a
policy Of this sort. hut If IT does. we tell
il right out that all possibility for it TO
make any progress i'm the South will be
thrown away the moment II makes that
fact clear.
Yet. Notwithstanding I'll the infamous
doctrines OF the Republican platform.
with its jellyhsh candidate. hundreds Of
thousands of straieht-out Democrats will
vote for Mckinley if the Democratic
party ties itself to free silver. on. that
our grand old party would come out for
the single gold standard and turn its back
upon free silver.