New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-03
TIE MASSACHUSETTS, DEMOCRATS.

The Democrats OF Massachusetts managed
to construct q State platform at Boston last
Thursday without the counsellor even the
critcism--of George Fred Williams. The
resolutions adopted themselves testify to the
Dedham leaders absence, They no longer
echo the socialistic extravagances with which
Mr.. Williams saturated himself some years
ago at the feet of John p. Altgeld They do
not preach the undiluted doctrine OF State
ownership which the Dedham philosopher
taught and dreamed of some day putting into
practice This years platform SHES at social
lstic experiments. 1t has no positive and def
mite programme of reforms to offer. 1t takes
refuge in negation, in denunciation, in rhetoric.
1t "reaffrms the principles OF Democracy, which
are eternal and immutable," but which con-
venienly wary IN their application and eI-
preston as the needs and dangers Of our
country demand"
For what they lack IN substance the reso-
lutions try to make UP in compass and in rhet-
oric The complaints they voice are infinite
from the horrors of imperialism" in the
Philippines and the crime Of tariffs against
Canada TO the failure of the Massachusetts
Legislature to build 4 canal across Cape Cod
or to keep hands off the police administration
in Boston. So carried away with feryor were
the platform makers that they even charged
back" the duty on anthracite coal after hav-
ing once abolished It. And so keen were they
for the direct election Of United States SEN
ators that they demanded that great reform,
mot by the vain pretence Of asking for n con-
"stitutional amendment but by State legisla-
'tion allowing the people TO express their
choice Of Senatorial candidates at the polls"
What this meant probably no one in the con-
vention knew. But incoherencies like these
could hardly count in a document which
charged the present administration with sac
riicing the Monroe Doctrine and "corrupting
American manhood"
The most singular and significant portion Of
the Massachusetts platform is, however, this
closing declaration:
Equal rights for all men, be they black
white, Christian or Hebrew, colOnist or con-
tinental, is the Democratic watchword which
we still hope our country may carry through
the world Hence we favor an early dec
laration Of our purpose IN the Philippines, and
oppose the repeal of the Fourteenth and Fiji
teenth amendments.
Is this intended to be a challenge on the part
of Massachusetts, to the Democracy which
hourishes in Maryland and in the Democratic
States which stretch from the Gulf to the
Potomac7 Less than a month ago the Mary
land Democratic StatesConvention4 una nimously
adopted this resolution:
We believe that the political destnies Of
Maryland should be shaped and controlled by
the white people OF the State. and while dis
claim any purpose to do any injustice whatever
TO our colored population. declare without
reserve resolute purpose to preserve in
every conservative and constitutional way the
political ascendency Of our race.
Democratic 'watchwOrds' seem to differ ac~
cording TO latitude. But If Massachusetts is
right Maryland must be wrong. THE Spring
field Republican" exults in the issue thus
Joined. Equal rights for all men, be they
black or white" it exclaims; what says the
German party to that, or the party further
SOUTH Do they expect TO operate a Demo
cratic party any other basis without pre-
"senting It TO the people as n sham and n
fraud richly deserving OF being beaten to
DEATH"
The Massachusetts, convention declined to
put forward a candidate Of its own for the
Democratic Presidential nomination but it
seems TO have been willing, and even eager,
TO stab a Presidential candidate from Mary
land in the back.