The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-09-30

their seal of condemnation upon it,
The resolution demanding reason
able'' rigid economy is farce Either
the party should favor rigid economy or
the plank was unnecessary. We ac-
cuse the platform writer OF seeking in
this resolution to say something which
would read we'll" before the people,
but which would not commit the demo-
cratic party to any measure of reform,
The word reasonable was purposely
inserted to let down the bars, and is of |
itself a prima facie evidence of the i
fraudulent intent. The same may be
said of the remainder of the plank
which declares in a bombastic way for
the frequent and close scrutiny of the
conduct OF public servants occupying
positions of trust, or profit in the
county,"
Either the foregoing plank was nee
essary or it was not. III the conduct of
the affairs of this county made such
resolution necessary, then the fault
must lie with the party which has been
in power, and whose officials are now
asking for reelection. If the plank was
inserted with honest intent and be-
cause existing evils made it necessity
the democratic party should not pass
resolutions, but act This is the glor-
ious opportunity to show themselves
sincere, to show that the platform is
not mere drag-net for votes, but an
honest expression of principles upon
matters upon which action should be
taken. The democratic party has every
thing practically in it's own hands.
There is but one republican county of
fetal. There is no obstructing mi
nority to Illustrate them in carrying
out the reforms which their platform
demands. AS school-master Squeers
said when he sent the boy out to weed
the garden, s'when boy knows that
bottiney is a knowledge of plants, he
goes and knows 'em." If close and fire.
quent scrutiny" is a good thing, why
don't they scrutinize? If reasonable
rigid economy is good thing, why
don't they practice it? There are but
two horns of the dilemma. The sup
porters of this platform must either adj
NIT that the plank was uncalled for by
existing facts, and was inserted to be-
fool the people, or they must admit
that the conduct of their own officials
has been such rs to make some meas
ure of reform necessary. Which will
they do? They will do neither, they
will simply continue to fight for Office
on the principle that platform utter
ances amount to nothing, are intended
! to amount to nothing, and are only
passed in compliance with time worn
, usage.
The republican party has declared
for rigid economy There is no play
ing fast and loose in its utterance. 1t
throws out no ray of hope for official
extravaganza. 1t believes that there is
no reason why this county with its high
assessed valuation should pay a higher
rate of taxation than almost any other
county In the state with like surround
ings and necessities.
The last plank of this platform is
, directed against the conduct of the
war. The demand for an investigation
OF the plumbers made during the war,
we heartily commend, and so does
every republican, and so does President
Mckinley. But President Mckinley
has given the democrats a lesson in
honesty which they might we'll emulate
in their county affairs, He not only
favors investigation, but he investi-
gates. If the democrats would do this
in relation to their county officers no
one could accuse them of dishonesty of
purpose. Will they do this as McKin-
ley has done? Will they investigate,
let the blame fall where it will? They
admit by their inaction that they did
not mean a word they said. To use
the words of Hon. M. F. Healy before
the last democratic state convention,
''Will they be mice or men?'
For more than month the REVIEW
has been asking the platform writer
and his friends to defend their plat
form. We have called upon the can
dldates to come to its defense. We
have urged the democratic paper to
rally to the support of the flag under
which it processes to march. Not one
word of defense has been uttered by
any democrat. Many have admitted
that they were ashamed of it. Others
will say nothing. During this time
the only real enunciation of principles
which the Bulletin has made has been
to call the editor of the REVIEW liar.
a coward and thief. For shame's sake
defend your platform or make the hon
est confession that you do not believe
in its doctrines. And to the democrats
of the county who had nothing to do
with the framing of this preposterous
6Opnnonf IN Won vua or,,ooI 70 ~,voo,