The record-union., 1898-08-20
AN AMAZING PLATFORM FAIL
UREA

who drew it, and surprise at the same
time that they should indulge the hope
that a discerning people will fail to
discover its lamentable weakness ana
pitiful pretense.
That which will strike the reader or
the document as most significant is its
painful struggle to join issue along
some lines with an opposing party that
may give the Democracy a parual
chance for victory. This failure TO
make an issue is due to the wretched
program that compelled the con-
structors of the ridiculous document to
follow the instruction Of the shifty can
didate, who straddles from the Democ-
racy he has denounced as so corrupt
that a self respecting man could not
approach it with open nostrils, to the
Populisrn which he has mounted with
in-concealed dislike.
There must be no conflict between
the platforms, was the Maguirean or
der, and it was followed to the letter.
Expediency elbowed principle out OF
the way, that hunger for the official
teat might be satisfied. 1t is note
worthy that in presenting the Populist
platform to Mr.. Mcguire for acceptance,
Cornell. the committee spokesman, took
occasion to smooth the way for excuse
of Maguire's assault upon the Democ-
racy he now woos, by saying that since
the Populist party was organized the
Democratic party has completely
changed it's platform of principles"
which sneer is commended to old-line
Democrats and Jeffersonian stand-bys
for reflection.
In all sincerity and soberness, and
after diligent search and judicial weigh
ing, we are prepared to say that there
is no issue made in the platform worthy
of consideration by the Republican
party. It is as complete and pitiful
failure as the ticket will prove to be
that is built upon it. It reaffirms
basis upon which Mr.. Bryan dragged
the party to ruin, and that cannot be
galvanized into an issue in the coming
campaign by any sort of political leger-
from the success of Americas citizen
soldiers, and lauds the prowess Of the
very men one Of the convention nom
inees for Congress denounced as blue
coated hirelings, the tools of corpora
tions and the trucGlent servitors of cor
rupt masters, the same brutal candi-
date declaring that the National Guard
ought to be abolished and blotted out
of existence.
It favors the fullest investigation Of
the Philippine Question-as in heaven $
name who does not-an investigation
originated and already ordered by a
Republican Administration.
Opposing aggressive territorial ex-
pansion-if any one knows just what
that means-in the same breath it de-
clares that the flag must never be low
cred where once it is raised, but it is
deadly, deathly silent about the accom-
plIshed acquisition Of Hawaii, the mem
ory Of the flag having been lowered on
that territory by a Democratic Presi-
dent being quite too fresh. Indeed, it
is notable that while the convention
dared not condemn, it likewise dared
not approve the annexation Of Hawaii,
and therefore it sought safety in indis-
Greet silence.
This wondrous platform, so lacking
in every essential of craftsmanship, dig
nifty, positiveness and vigor, opposes
any payment of the Cuban debt. Has
any one in all the land advised or urged
such payment? 1t commends the course
Of those Of the party who fought the
war revenue measure on the fallacy
that 1t was vieiously intended to favor
the rich and oppress the poor.
Construction Of the Nicaragua Ca
nal is favored in a. way to suggest the
falsehood that there is arrayed against
It some political party which the De-
mooracy is commissioned to overthrow
for that reason. It denounces the "re-
cent passage Of a. railroad debt fund
ing bill, when no such bill has been
passed by Congress, thus attempting
mendaciously TO convey the idea that
a funding bill was introduced and
duoptSN II COIAeHlllS lIiS COil5 ASSSLOllet4
installment plan Of collecting the debt
due the Government from the railroad,
when that measure was originated by
a Democratic leader, passed by Demo-
cratic votes, amended at the suggestion
of Mr.. Mcguire, and passed the House
by his vote, since by his single and
unsupported objection it would have
been killed; measure that has been
accepted by Congress, and men of all
shades in It, as absolutely securing
payment to the Government Of every
cent of principal and interest due to
1t from the railroad. AS an issue
therefore this clap-trap clause goes for
nothing.
The platform commends the failure
of the present Railroad Commission to
prove it's usefulness, and in general and
meaningless terms mouths over the
worn recitations concerning reduction
of rates Of freights and fares, ignoring
the record of steady, rapid and contin-
uous decline Of rates for the past
twenty years under the operation OF
natural forces and commercial adjust
ments, until they stand lower in Cali
fornia IN nearly all respects than in the
schedule of the great and thickly pop
ulated East.
But this bit of comfort may be grant
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