The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-06-28
The New Platform.

In specifying the items upon which
the party's appeal for reimbursement at
the polls is based, it is natural that the
money question should receive first at
tention, as the party's record in that
direction is unquestionably its best card
but what is it trying to say when it as
serts that the republican party in 1896
promised to restore prosperity by
means of two Legislative meastres-a
protective tariff and law making gold
q standard of valued" Gold was already
"a standard of value" 1t was the
standard of value. The pledge which
the party gave them was to promote an
international agreement by which both
gold and silver should be made stand
ards of value and until such agreement
could be obtained to preserve "the ex-
listing gold standard" 1t may be con-
ceeded that the pledge to promote an in
ternational agreement, while it failed,
as was inevitable, was at least carried
ont. 1t would seem that the party
might have been content this year to
plume itself on the observance of that
buncombe pledge without even midi
rectly renewing it, But was not equal
to that. No measure for the free and
unlimited coinage of silver, it says,
"could be considered which was with
out the support of the leading com
mercial countries of the world" This
is poor and unnecessary sop to the
silver republicans. Even as ''politics"
it is so thin as to serve no practical
purpose. There is absolutely no chance
for international consideration of the
question and less than none for an in
ternational agreement.
The party, however, is entitled to
boast that it has strengthened by posi-
tive legislation the gold standard. This
right it fully exercises, and in such a
spirit rs to prove that it has seen a
great light on the subject since the
days four years ago when it SHE'D at
the mere mention of gold" 1t now
not only felicitates itself on more firm
ly fixing the gold standard, but it shows
that it would welcome another fight on
the lines of 1896, if the democrats had
the power as we'll as the inclination to
galvanize the ill. starred issues Of that
campaign.
When the republicans, however,
leave the field of achievement for that
of further promise regarding the cur
rency, they soar into the boundless
ether. Their declaration that they
flavor such monetary legislation as
will enable the varying needs of the
season and of all sections to be prompt
ly met, may mean anything that any
man in the party may choose to have il
mean. 1t is bit of campaign claptrap
which is entitled to no consideration.
The policy with reference to our new
insular responsibilities is dealt with in
the same disingenuous method. Be-
yond proclamation that those response
bilities will be met in general way, in
a manner assuring the maintenance OF
our legitimate authority and securing
the islanders the largest measure OF
self-government consistent with theil
welfare and our duties, this policy is
| left for the determination of the future.
Nothing more definite than the re-
demption of the pledge of Cuban indie
pendence is promised. Everything is
RENTED to developments, just us il
has been in the past The reference is
that the republican administration will
continue, instead of urging a positive
policy of its own, to await the ascer-
tainment of public sentiment and shape
its course accordingly. This may be
deemed good politics, but it is not in.
spiriting politics in these days when
such political methods are fully under.
stood and fully discounted.
i Allegiance to the protective tariff is
renewed, and at the same time widen
ing markets are demanded. Again, as
four years ago, reciprocity is promised
but no reference is made to the slaugh
ter of reciprocity since 1896 in the house
of its professed friends.
Legislation for the stimulation of oul
merchant marine is favored, but moth
ing is said about the republican legis
latlon now pending in congress and de
ferred until after the election because
OF fear to submit it to popular approval
"We commend the policy of the re
publican party in maintaining the eff
ticiency of the civil service, is the onl,
declaration on that question. As
| straddle which may mean anything o
nothing, it is flash of genius. TIL,
republicans who commend the admin
istration's record in throwing down tn
civil service bars to the faithful, an,
d the republicans who still pretend t
believe in the merit system, may al
, find in these words comprehensiy
formula for the expression of their ap
probation. Courier j Journal.
Notice to Shippers.
On and after June 80, 1900, the o. r