The Elbert County tribune., 1899-10-26

II being the fashion Of Democratic
state conventions in 1899 to "reafiirm
the Chicago platform Of 1896" the ST.
Louis Globe-Democrat shrewdly raises
the question whether all or any Of
these unanimous reafflrmers have ac-
iually read the declaration Of princi-
pies which they now adopt as their
own. Probably they have not. To
suppose otherwise would be to assume
degree OF asininc absurdlty quite be-
yond that which is commonly charac-
teristic OF Democratic platform max
Ing.
Take, for example. the Ohio Demo-
cratic convention OF a few days ago.
Must one believe that the committee
on resolutions knew what 1t was that
they reafirmod word for word7 Is 1t
possible that In the presence of condi-
tions which give the laugh TO calamity
croakers and which show state Of In
dividual and general prosperity far be-
yond nny that has ever been expe-
rienced by the people of the United
States. or by any other people on tho
face OF the earth--Is 1t possible that
the Buckeye Bourbons remembered
that In the Chicago platform OF 1896
which they reafiirmed It is gravely as
serted that the demonstration OF sil-
yer has resulted in ''the prostration OF
industry and the impoverishment OF
the people7" Where are the prostratc
Industries and the Impoverished peo-
pie? They existed In 1896 at the time
the Chicago platform was promul-
gated, as the result. almost wholly, OF
free-trade experiments in tariff MAX
ing. but they do not exist In 1899. after
two years OF Republican tariff-making.
Much has happened since the Chi
cago platform was written which
makes that dismal apologize look like
thirty cents" and yet the party which
never learns and never forgets" keeps
right on reafiirmlng that platform. 1t
is asserted. seriously asserted, In these
days of wonderful well-doing. that
monometallism has locked fast the
prosperity OF an Industrial people In
the paralysis OF hard times" 1t Is
such rot nc this that Democratic con-
ventions are now "reafilrming." Well
and truly the Globe-Democrat remarks
that
"Thc Chicago platform was made In
the last year OF a Democratic admins
tration, under chaotic Democratic
tariff law. and In period OF distress
ing Democratic depression. With the
passing away of the Democratic blight
the clouds vanished. When
the Chicago convention met. that
hybrid absurdity. the Wilson tariff
law. was in force. throwing out OF
balance all forms OF American Indus
try, and at the same time producing
insufficient revenue. Yet the Chicago
platform contains this clause: We
denounce as disturbing to business the
Republican threat to restore the Nc
Kinley law" Tho Dingley law has
been In operation two years. and the
people are familiar with its results.
II has revlvified our manufactures
without Expressing any one and as
sisted In bringing about an era giving
employment to all. The revenue from
the Dingley law Is a fourth larger than
that OF the Wilson law. Yet the Chi
cago platform said the Mckinley law
upon which the Dingley law is pat
termed, enriched the few Mt the ex-
pense of the many. restricted trade and
deprived the producers of the great
American staples OF access to their
natural markets. Nevertheless. oui
foreign trade for the last two years
has been enormously larger than evel
before, in manufactured articles a.
well as the products OF agriculture"
Democratic resolution writer's would
do well to read up on the platform O
1896. and cndeavor to evolve some
thing for present use that is not abso
lutely ridiculous In the light OF know
facts and conditions.