The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-21
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

1t has made during the last four years as
the chief reason why it should be contin-
ued in power. 1t claims that it found
business dead and industry paralyzed
when it took possession Of the govern
ment, and that by means of the gold
s andard and the Dingley tariff it has
en- the country greater osperity than
yer had before. The Republican party
seems to have overlooked the fact tina;
the hard times which eliminated in the
money panic of 1893, actually began dur
ing a Republican administration, and that
there were signs of returning prosperity
when the present administration came
into power. 1t was not to be expected,
however, that That party would remem-
Der any hing of that kind when appealing
TO the people to continue it in power.
1t says that in 1896 it promised TO restore
prosperity by two legislative measures.
namely. a protective tariff and a law
making gold the standard of value. 1t did
practically promise to change the tariff,
but it did not promise TO enact a law
making gold the standard Of value. 1t
simply said that it was opposed to the
free coinage Of silver, except by interna-
tional agreement. which it promised to
promote. It declared that until such an
agreement was obtained the gold stand
ard should be preserved. There was no
promise to enact a gold standard law.
AS for the Dingley tariff law, IT is certain
that the country would be much better
off if it had tariff for revenue. 1t is
pretty generally admitted that if il were
not for the protective tariff trusts would
not flourish as they do. Not long ago,
a Republican. declared that the tariff was
the mother Of trusts. And yet the Repub-
lican party, in its national platform, de-
clares that the country owes its prosper
ity in large degree TO the tariff.
It is worthy of notice that the Republl-
can party does not take very strong
stand against trusts. 1t says. in its plat
form. that we recognize the necessity
and propriety of the honest cooperation
Of capital to meet new business condi-
tons" 1t is true it also says I'VE con-
denim all copsplracies and combinations
intended to restrict business. to create
monopolies, 10 limit production or to con-
troll prices and favor such legislation as
will effectually restrain and prevent all
such abuses, and protect and promote
competition and secure the rights of
producers, laborers and all who are en-
gagged in industry and commerce" but it
is apparent that it has a rather kindly
feeling for trusts. What it says respecting
them is very mild in comparison with
what will be said by the Democratic par
ty. The impression made by the Repubn-
can declaration is that trusts are de-
manded by the new conditions of bust
ness; that it is to be expected that some
evils will be connected with them. ana
that it is difficult to get rid of these evils.
The declaration that the Democratic par
ty will make will leave the impression
that trust evils can be got rid Of, and
will be IL the administration of the gov
eminent is given to The Democrats.
The Republican party pretends that it
is entitled to commentator for the man
ner in which the administration has en-
forced the civil service law. 1t must have
overlooked the Nicely frauds and the ex-
travagance which has marked its adndn-
istration of affairs in Cuba. IT seems to
think that he people are not informed as
to what is going on in the country As a
matter of fact the Mckinley administra-
ton has done a great deal to bring civil
service reform into disrepute. The vast
ms Of frfr IN ~,
in our insular possessions have been made
on the principle that the spoils belong to
the dominant party. If they had bee.
based on merit and fitness there would
not have been so many scandals.
The Republican party now comes out
There is no doubt about its position Oh
the money question now. If the Demo-
cratic party reaffirms the Chicago plat
form the issue between the two parties
on that question will be so plain that there
will be no chance of misunderstanding it.
A significant feature of the platform is
the declaration in favor of an isthmian
canal. No mention is made of the Mica
ragua canal. Is this intended as warn
ing to interested parties that the Mica
ragua route will be abandoned before
vast sums will be paid for rights Of way,
orais there a scheme to purchase the
Panama canal?
What is said about the Philippines is
not very definite, but ii is sufficiently
clear 10 make it certain that it is the
policy of the Republican party to retain
the islands as colonies. There is nothing
in the platform, however to indicate that
that party is aware that the people are
afraid that these new possessions are
drawing the nation towards imperialism
What the platform says about Cuba
amounts to an announcement that the Re
publican party recognizes the fact that
the Cubans have been promised their in
dependence.
THE CALIFORNIA QUARANTINE.
The trouble that railroad and steamship