The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-07
Issues.

the Democratic platform 10 vi "'""'
respects an admirable document, but
II could hardly have been written upon
a postcard in the manner favored by
the vice president. II Is even longer
than the Republican platform, which
received so much attention for its pro-
Iixity.
There Is a certain style about the
Democratic platform not found in the
Republican. The pen OF Princeton has
created a tradition in the Democratic
party and there are numbers OF apt
scholars who are credit to the source
of their inspiration. The Republican
utterance is better at billingsgate,
style more becoming to party attack
ing, but the Democratic drauGhsmen
IRE more versatile, and particularly su-
perior in the liberal and idealistic vo-
cabulary.
Half Of each platform Is taken up
with matters OF the record, The two
parties recount recent history In most
cases remolding II TO the hearts de-
sire, each one dwelling upon the sins
or the other in having done the things
II ought not to have done, and having
left undone the things it ought to have
done.
This part OF a platform is a mere
formality.
As TO the issues the Democrats are
heartily 10 be congratulated on having
stuck to the main track and refused
far 81. 30 hn n al N n
declaring spurious issues and making 4
lot of promises that ctuld never have
meant anything, except defeat at the
polls.
On an Armenian policy the Demo
Gratis and the Republicans are as like
ms two peas dwelling In sisterly atfec-
tion within the same pod
on the Irish question the Democrats
confine themselves TO speaking with
In the limitations Of International com
ity and usage" and so that question Is
out Of politics.
As for free speech, Asiatie exclusion
and woman suffrage, the two platforms
are identical.
The Democrats managed to stay off
the subject OF liquor, in spite OF the
fanatics OF either extreme who refused
to let the dead bury its dead, on this
point the two platforms are both as ST.
lent as the grave in which reposes the
body OF John Barleycorn,
The Democrats had the deoency and
the public spirit to refuse TO make po-
litical capital out OF the soldier bonus
proposal which the Republican congress
had wisely allowed TO die somewhere In
. senatorial committee. This is patriot.
lam for both parties.
And as for the league OF nations:
leaving the question OF history aside,
about which there will never be agree
ment till Mexico has swallowed up this
country and annihilated Rspubiicanism
and Democracy alike, the plauks Of
the two parties are worded so cunning
~ that the league will be no more Of
an issue than the candidates will see
lit to make it. When the Democrats
favor the league but do not oppose
the acceptance OF any reservations
making clearer or ore specific the OBJ
legations OF the United States TO the
league associates and when the Re-
publican nominee announces as he has
done that he favors the league with
the Lodge reservations, tho basis
Of an agreement is there and the
moderate maJorities OF both parties are
not going TO fall out over nothing,
There are some positive issues be.
tween the parties. though these are
few and critical. Among these the most
important are tho Mexican question,
Industrial relations, and the high cost
Of living, These are great enough to
induce the full streams OF campaign
oratory which the nation has right to
expect.
Now let tho doctors act busy en-
Tightening the people on these. the real
Issues.