The Elk Mountain pilot., 1899-10-31
WORN OUT; USELESS.
OBSOLETE DECLARATION OF
CAMPAIGN ISSUES.
Democrats Arc ReamrminE the Chicago
Platform of 1895, In Disregard of Its
Many Absurdities and InconRruities
Out for Bryan and Free Silver.

It being the fashion OF Democratic
state conventions in 1899 to "reaftirm
the Chicago platform of 1896" the st.
Louis Globe-Democrat shrewdly raises
the question whether all or any OF
these unanimous reafiirmers have ac-
tually read the declaration of princi-
tples which they now adopt as their
own. Probably they have not. To
suppose otherwise would be to assume
a degree OF asinine absurdity 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 it was that
they reaffirmed word for word? Is 1t
possible that in the presence of condi-
tons which give the laugh to calamity
croakers and which show state of in
dividual and general prosperity far be-
yoad any that has ever been expe-
rienced by the people of the United
States, or by any other people on the
face Of the earth-is it possible that
the Buckeye Bourbons remembered
that in the Chicago platform of 1896
which they reaffirmed It is gravely as
serted that the decentralization of sill
yer has resulted in "the prostration of
Industry and the impoverishment OF
the people?" Where are the PROSTATE
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 1898, 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 reaffirming 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 as this that Democratic con-
ventions are now "reafirming." Well
and truly the Globe-Democrat remarks
that
The Chicago platform was made in
the last year OF Democratic admins
tration, under a chaotic Democratic
tariff law, and in a 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 tarin
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" The Dingley law has
been in operation two years, and the
people are familiar with its results.
IT has revivifled our manufactures
without depressing any one and as
sisted in bringing about an era giving
employment to all. The revenue from
the Dingley law is 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 at the ex-
pense OF the many, restricted trade and
deprived the producers of the great
American staples of access to their
natural markets. Nevertheless, our
foreign trade for the last two years
has been enormously larger than ever
before. in manufactured articles as
well as the products of agriculture"
Democratic resolution writer's would
do well to read up on the platform OF
1896, and endeavor to evolve some
thing for present use that is not abso-
lutely ridiculous in the light of known
facts and conditions.