The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-29
The Issue Clearly and %squarcly Made,

The platform upon which the United
Democracy nominated Henry GEoRGEfo for
Mayor at the Lenox Lyccum. on Monday
evening, has the great merit of courageous
directness. That is both a merit morally
and oun in political policy.
At all times such frank declaration Is
requisite, but at this time more especially
IL behooves all parties to define positively
and with a clearness which is absolute their
standing with reference to the issues raised
by the Chicago platform, if they expect to
command the attention and the respect of
agreat body of citizens. Those issues are
still before the people, and they must con-
tinue to furnish the grounds on which every
election, State or municipal, is contested
until they are at last fought out in the
great and general engagement of a national
election. All attempts to smother them or
evade them will prove futile. They over.
ride all other questions in their momentous
Importance and render them petty and pal.
try in the eyes of the people and actually
by comparative measurement.
Hence when a party like the United De.
mocracy of New York makes known it's
exact attitude toward the Chicago plat
AoAibs II SuuSC HChtIdl III III
piles certain precise applications to the
particular situation of the great municipal.
ity to be created here next January, it per.
forms a public service. The moro clearly
n precisely these issues are presented
the more certain we are to obtain an en-
phatic popular judgment upon them, which
will he valuable as a guide for the future.
Such a presentation of them, moreover,
enables their opponents to become the more
familiar with the deformity of the doctrine
and its revolutionary character, arousing
them to the resistance which will ulti.
mately crush 1t out as the dangerous and
u~n-Democratic and un.American political
heresy it is.
Now let us see what is the declaration of
principles of this United Democracy. First,
the Chicago platform is adopted and re-
affirmed wholly and specifically. This
gives to the party incontestible Demo-
cratic regularity, and 50 far as Tammany
Hall departs from such unreserved and un-
equivocal reaffirmation it will sacrifice it's
regularity as n Democratic organization,
and leave HENRY GEORGE the sole authen-
tic Democratic candidate for Mayor in the
field. Next, unalterable opposition to the
Republican party is proclaimed, though
unnecessarily for the principles announced
are of themselves sufficient proof enough of
1t. 1.-THE faction known as the National
Democratic party " is also opposed, but
that, too, is surplusage. The faction Is not
worth discussion, and a declaration against
1t gives no distinction to the United De-
mocracy. 1t has no friends anywhere out
side of It's own beggarly ranks.
The United Democracy favors an income
tax on incomes Of $4,000 and upward.
though it has been pronounced unconsti.
tutional and therefore impossible by the
Supreme Court of the United States. It
demand "the acquisition, ownership,
and operation of all municipal street
franchises" though the complete fail.
ure Of the plan has only lately been
demonstrated in the experience of the
Philadelphia gas works. II demands
"alnpls school, accommodations" obviously
requisite to carry out our free school sys.
tenn, for which great appropriations of
public money have already been made, the
ipsuhiciency inferred being rather a cnnse.
quepce OF Their present territorial distribu.
t;cr h in The actual supply. Parks
anil Fairgrounds In the thickly inliub.
itec districts or the town, and a LIQUOR
law which will not restrict the people from
spending their holidays and holy days as
they see ut" are demanded. The Raiues
law is not opposed specifically. and therein
the declaration is polite, for its successful
revenue-raisins feature assures its popular.
ity and its Legislative perlnancncc.
These municipal propositions generally
call for an enormous additional burden of
expenditure by the city, which would
make the provision OF the socialistIc in.
novatlons a costly luxury for the poor,
who. OF course, would have to pay for them