The San Francisco call., 1904-07-10
THE CAMPAIGN.

residential campaign therefore made clearly
is possible for them to be expressed in words
embodied in the personalities of leaders; nevertheless
foreigner studying the situation would find difficult
determine what is to be the issue of the campaign.
There indeed particular point OF national policy
involved in the The real issue of charac
ter rather than of any single political feature of the
times The differences of the characters of the two
parties noted in the personnel of the conven-
tons, in their methods of procedure in the platforms
adopted and in the candidates named 1t matters not
from what point of the situation is considered nor
toward what aspect of attention is directed will ap
pear every observer that the Republican party pre-
sents clearly defined and positive policy represented by
who have record for craftsmanship, while the
Democratic party presents nothing but opposition
which, while vehement and wordy, remains always
vague, discordant and confused.
The Republican platform states specifically and clear
y the policies for which it stands and which it promises
the people to carry if ntrusted with the adinstra
ton of the government These policies are not only in
accord with another but they consistent with the
record of the party since it organized fifty
ago. No has any doubt of what Republi-
administration will do with respect to the mante
of protection and sound money the extension of
internal improvements, the upbuilding of and pros
perlty of all lines Of industry at home the enforcement
of the Monroe doctrine throughout this hemisphere and
the conservation of national prestige abroad
reading of the Democratic platform will on the other
all these points will leave the reader utterly at loss
to understand what the promise of the party or what
could be expected if it entrusted with the gov
crnment
The omission of any reference the gold standard is
perhaps the most notable feature of the Democratic
platform and it strange that Judge Parker has pro-
tested against it, but it is by the most signif-
can't The statements of the party with respect revision
of the tariff, the upbuding of American merchant ma
rine, the of the Philippine Islands and egs-
lation with respect to trusts all couded with
multitude of words that will be able draw from
them clear and positive declaration concerning single
one of those important issues.
The vagueness and uncertainty of the platform is en-
phasized by the character of the nominated for the
Presidency. No knows what policy what princi-
pie of government is represented by Judge Parker In
discussion the platform in committee Mr. BRYAN
said that if David B. Hill were going to nominate
goldstandard candidate for the Presidency he should
have godstandard platform. and Mr.. Hill replied that
he did not know whether Judge Parker is for the gold
standard not. When Bryan with an amazement
shared by the country, asked whether Mr.. Hill had
never learned Judge Parkers views finance. Hill re-
Piled he had never done Here then is man whose
political views colorless and indefinite that his
personal friend and political hackers not only do not
know what his opinions are upon one of the most i'm
portant questions of the day, but have so
much thought it worth while to ask. The message
from him. coming to the convention after the nomination
was made but another illustration of the con-
fusion in the minds of all concerned.
In presenting his name to the convention candi-
date for the Presidency Mr. Martin Lteton who nomi-
mated Judge Parker, very careful not to promise
anything in his to upon even an intima
tion of what his political principles may be- In endeav-
oring to evade question which Mr. Litteton must have
known was the lips of every he said: "If YOU
ask why he has been silent you it is because he
does not claim to be the master of the Democratic
party, but is content to be its If you ask me
why he has not outlined policy for this convention
tell that he does believe that policies should be
dictated but that sovereignty of the party is in the un
trammeled judgment and wisdom of its members If
you ask me what his policy will be if elected tell Won
Will be that policy which finds expression in the platform
of his party"
That is all that the country of the Democratic
candidate for the Presidency when he was nominated
If ever people were presented with "a Mo
in poke" the American people had that pre-
sentation made to them in this instance Here
is political organization without harmony in its
ranks without consistency in its promises or in its
record without single definite statement in its plat
FORM presenting to the American people as candidate
for the chief executive Office of the republic man who
absolutely without record upon anv no1i+ico
issue that his before the people were not able
say for him anything than the plattude that he
poets to be Servant of the people"
1t IS hardly possible that majority Of Americans will
vote for such candidate such platform backed bv
such party. This country of positive ideas whose
people believe in action and who like to have clear CON
cepton of what they going to undertake II NAV he
put down foregone conclusion that the series of Re-
publican victories which began Immediately upon te
panic years of the Democratic tariff will go on unbroken
and that the administration of this country for the next
four IL.