The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-09
The Net Result.

to the reader of both is striking diff
ference in their treatment of party
history. The republican platform is
first long recital Of things accom-
plished by the republican party since
it was organized. 1t is a wonderful
story and, made up with admirable
skill, it constitutes a forcible argu-
ment in favor of continued republic
can ascendency. The democrats have
little to offer in the way of things
achieved during that period, but
much to cover up. They must go
back to earlier years and resusci-
tate some old, we'll established and
undisputed principles which they,
with amusing solemnity, undertake to
monopolize.
The most interesting and signifl-
cant fact with regard to the platform
adopted at st. Louis is the omission
of any financial plank. Upon the
particular question which the coun-
try wished to hear them the demo-
cratic leaders are dumb. The dis
patches have already told the history
Of that plank. Mr.. Hill committed
the party in his original draft to the
gold standard. But this would have
been fiat reputation Of the declara-
tons Of the party in 1896 and 1900
and a rebuke to Bryan and Organism
which Mr.. Bryan and his followers
would not submit to. On this Issue
Mr.. Bryan made a brilliant fight in
the committee and succeeded in
throwing out the gold standard plank
by vote Of 35 to Is. But while able
to incorporate in the platform any
declaration in favor Of free silver, so
that the platform remains silent on
the money question. In this result,
however, the silver people seem to
have the advantage In that the last
declaration Of the democratic party
on the money question Is found in
the platform Of 1900. Uutil that dec
laration Is repudiated specifically it
may be fairly claimed by it's trainers
as the last and, therefore, up to date,
the only authorized utterance Of the
party on that issue.
The sound money democrats sup
porting Judge Parker undertake to ex-
cuse the action Of the convention by
stating that the omission of financial
! plank will be corrected by the candi-
date in his letter Of acceptance. We
have it, however, from the gentleman
| who nominated him, that the reason
| for Mr.. Parker's failure to express
| any views prior to the nomination is
that "he has not attempted to be the
master of the party, but is content to
be its servant" In other words, he
carefully withheld expression of his
own sentiments that the convention
might define his principles for him
If he is to be consistent in this policy
he will not attempt to make up for
deficiencies in the action Of the con-
vention. He will not attempt to be
| its master"
AS to the tariff, the st. Louis conven-
ton is more moderate than some Of its
predecessors have been. There is the
stereotyped phrase about protection
and robbery, of course, but there is
also an admission that protection has
built up great American industries anc
democratic proprietors of these indus
tries are assured that the modification
of the tariff will be effected witt
proper consideration for existing con.
ditions. The democrats have writer
one phase in this connection which
1T must be conceded is we'll conceived
They favor revision and a gradual re-
duction Of the tariff by the friends O.
the masses and for the common wea
and not by the friends of it's abuses
it's extortions and it's Determinations.
There is q pretty good offset for IRE
vision Of the protective tariff by it
friends and not by its enemies which
the republicans have coined anc
pressed into common use.
AS an instance of democratic con
sistency, the party which killed all tn,
reciprocity treaties in 1898 now de
clares for reciprocity with Canada an,
other countries.
AS to the trusts and combinations
the democrats are little more agi
tated, perhaps, because they know
that they have done nothing to abat,
the excuses of oppressive trusts
: while the history of trusts in thi
country shows that republican legisla
ton has compelled Industrial AM
other combinations suppressive 0
competition to change their form
four times for law-evading purposes
and the final merger decision Of TIL
federal supreme court decidedly mar
rows the possibilities Of unlawful
combination.
The convention declares in favo
! Of the construction Of the Panam
canal, but Of course, deprecates tn
: policy under which it's constructio
was made possible. AS some one ha
! put it, democracy is in favor Of
canal but is opposed to getting it,
Another anticipated declaration j
one in favor of the independence Q
: the Philippines. A comparison /
made with the action Of our govern
: ment towards Cuba regardless of tn
fact that conditions are so differen
in the two countries as to make pur
: suit of the same policy as to both i'm
possible and absurd.
On the whole the platform bear
evidence in it's literary form of fire
} quent revision and amendment. ]
is the result of compromise and cor