The herald., 1898-09-06
FALSE AND PHARISAICAL

No one will dispute the right Of po-
ltical party to adopt any kind of plat
form 1t wishes. The fact Is that as
parties and politics are conducted with
us, the platform is an essential feature.
The uses, however, to which the party
platform has been put we'll illustrate
the evolution Of politics and show the
extent to which one party, at least. has
j degenerated from principle to bombast
and personal abuse.
In former days the party platform was
a declaration Of principles. 1t was the
means by which political parties pre-
sented to the people, that is to the voters,
the issues of the campaign, and declared
themselves upon those issues. 1t was not
a stump speech. filled with catchy phrases
and glittering generalities, nor was 1t
made the means of libeling candidates Of
opposing parties.
1t has remained for the Republican
party of the state Of California to es-
tablsh a new precedent by presenting
a platform, filling four columns Of news
paper space, which absolutely fails to
present one principle or declaration
(not copied from the Democratic state
i platform) that is not garbled into mass
Of meaningless words, not to mention the
fact that 1t disgraces the Republican
party In the minds Of all fair-minded
men by unjustly attacking Mr.. Mcguire.
~ v1lo he rkS nf
a well-known Fourth of July orator who
has evidently taken his cue from the
boiler-plate matter which is being dis
tributed gratis to Republican newspa-
pers throughout the state for campaign
purposes.
It cunningly attempts to appropriate
to the Republican party all credit
for our army and navy upon sea
and land in the war Just triumph
antly concluded with Spain. Under cover
of the American flag 1t strives to distract
the attention OF the patriotic people of
this state from its bosses, its programs,
its nominees, ard the trusts and monop-
olies which have made n their tool.
!
people had laid down their arms. had
taken the oath of allegiance and had
become peaceful, loyal and dutlful citi-
zens, a kindred argument was made and
issue raised to subserve the purpose Of
winning Republican campaign victories
and keeping the Republican party in
power.
The present Republican platform is
not so bold and bitter as the models of the
seventies. 1t congratulates the army and
navy heroes for their valor. 1t mentions
Joe Wheeler of the gray and Schley of
the blue, but it ingeniously and covertly
informs its readers and partisans that
it was and is a Republican war.
A political party that seeks to make
political capital out of the war with Spain
deserves rebuke, and the party that hopes
to gain victory by playing upon the
sentiments of the people and stealing
honors to which it Is not entitled, merits
! defeat.
To the casual reader this stump
speech upon the war may seem to be the
patriotic effusion Of sincere hearts melt
ing into honest devotion to country.
But the voter who Is familiar with Re-
publican politics for the last thirty
years will perhaps discover that 1t is
mere trick to distract attention from
the real issue in this campaign. Special
privileges, monopolies and railroad DOM
| nation are the monsters that are sought
to be concealed by turning on the blind
ing zearchlight of pilfered partisan pat
| riotism.
| If further evidence be required to sub
stantiate this accusation the Republican
platform will furnish conclusive proof.
This platform descends to the baseness
Of indulging in personalities and repea-
ting falsehoods. 1t says:
We repudiate with indignation the ac-
cusaton made by the Democratic can
didate for governor Of this state, at the
commencement of the late war, that .
the seizure as prizes Of war by the gal
liant sailors of our navy Of certain Span
ish vessels was no better than piracy
In his speech at the pavilion in this
city Mr.. Mcguire branded this accusa-
tion as false. He denied ever having
made this or any other statement of
similar import, and he charged the Re-
publican platform makers with knowing,
at the time this libel was written and in.