The evening times., 1900-07-11
OLD PARTY PLATFORMS.
Vigorous One Was That Which
Tiiden and Hendricks stood.


During an idle hour at Democratic Con-
gre al headquarters today, a group a
visitors there fell to discussing yigoI Gus
party platforms. those in which the at
form makers laid about them with a str-ng
hand. and ii was aFTeed that one of tie
most notable declaration OF princip es,
coming within this category. was that
adopted by the Democratic Convention at
St. Louis June 27-2s, 1876. which nomina-
ted Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A Hen
bricks In the section on civil service re-
form that platform recited as follows.
Reform is necessary. even in the high
er grades OF the public service. President,
Vice President judges. Senators, Repre-
sentatiyes. Cabinet officers, these and all
others in authority are the peoples SER
wants. Their Offices not private per-
quisite; they are a public trust
When the annals OF this Republic show
the disgrace and censure Of Vice Presi-
dent; late Speaker OF the House of Rep
resentatives marketing his rulings as a
presiding officer; three Senator's profting
secretly by their votes as lawmakers; FIVE
chairmen Of the leading committees Of the
late House OF Representative exposed in
loboery; late Secretary OF the Treasury
forcing balances in the public accounts; a
late Attorney General misapprOpriating
public funds; Secretary Of the Navy en-
riched or enriehing friends by percentages
levied on the profits OF contractors with
ms department; an Ambassador to Eng
land censured in a dishonorable specula-
tioni the Presidents Private Secretary
barely escaping conviction upon trial for
guilty completely in frauds upon the rev
enue; Secre-..ry of War impeached for
nigh crimes and misdemeanOrs-the dem
onstration Is complete that the first step
IN reform must be the peoples choice Of
honest men from another party. lest the
disease OF one political organization infect
the body polite and lest by making no
change OF m"l or parties We get no change
oi measures and ne real reform.
All these abuses. wrongs. and crimes
The product OF sixteen years ascendancv
OF the Republican party, create necessity
Tor reform confessed by Republicans them
selves: but their reformers are voted down
IN convention and displaced from the Cab
lent The party's mass OF honest voters
is poNerless 10 resist the so 600 oficehold-
ers, its leaders and guides"
IL Wss admitted that among the vigorous
platforms should be classed that ADOPTED
oy the National Peoples Convention Il
Omaha in 1882, when James B. Weaver
and James G. Field were nominated The
second paragraph Of this platform follows
The conditions which surround US best
Justiiy our cooperation. we meet in the
midst OF a naticn brought TO the verge Of
moral, political, aud material ruin. Cor
ruption dominates the ballot box. the Leg
islatures. the Congress. and touches even
the ermine OF the bench. The people arc
demOTalized; most of the States have been
compelled 10 isolate the voters at lie poEs.
Ing places 70 prevent universal bribery
i1timidatiqp- -
The newspapers are largely subsidized
or muzzled. public opinion silenced. basi-
ness prostrated. our homes covered with
mortgages. labor impoverished. and the
land concentrating il the hands Of the
capitalists. The urban workuen are de-
nied the right OF organizing for self-pro-
lection; imported paUperized labor beats
down their wages; a hireling standing
army. unrecOgnized by our laws is estab-
nshed 20 shoot them down. and they are
rapidly degeneratng TO European condi-
tons The fruits OF the toll OF the mix
lions are boldly stolen 70 build Up colossal
fortunes for few. unprecedented in the
history Of mankind. and the possessors Of
these in turn. desEise the Republic and en-
danger liberty. From the same prolific
womb OF governmental injustice We breed
the Two great -lssses -tramps aad million
aires"
Vigorous language was employed also IN
the platforms adopted BY the Know Moth
ing Convention held AZ Philadelphia Feb
ruary 22-25. 1856. and by the Free Soil
Convention held al Pittsburg August Il,
1852