Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1885 — The Iowa Republicans. [ARTICLE]

The Iowa Republicans.

The Republican platform in lowa is a most remarkable document. The State has a population of 1,750,000, an assessed valuation of $298,000,000, farms valued att $567,000,000, with an annual farm production of $136,000,000; over 7,000 manufacturing establishments, with a capital of $34,000,000 and upward, a product of $71,000,000, and an annual outlay of $10,000,000 for wages; an immense product of bituminous coal, and some lead. Yet with all this variety and magnitude of State interests there is scarcely anything, according to the Republican Convention, that is of any importance but the appointment of “a State Board of Arbitration for the adjustment and settlement of disputes between labor and capital, including the question ol screening coal, and other peculiar mining interests of the State.” Judging by its platform, the issues which the party regards as of burning and overshadowing importance in lowa are those “growing out oi the war for the Union.” They invite people to vote for the Republican candidate because of “the adhesion of the Democratic party to the doctrine of State’s rights, as evidenced by the character of the diplomatic appointments made by Cleveland;” because it is important that there should be “such modification of the pension laws as shall secure equal treatment to all soldiers entitled to pensions;” because “the old-world theory cf classes is abhorrent to the American mind;” because we need “closer commercial intercourse with all nations;” and “the increase of American shipping by all practical means.”

What bearing the election or defeat of a Republican candidate for Governor in lowa can have on these questions or results the platform does not indicate. It would puzzle its framer very much to show that a Republican Governor, if elected, is likely to affect “the character of the diplomatic appointments made by Cleveland;” or that a Republican Legislature will modify the pension laws or abrogate the old-world theory of classes. They are not likely, however, to puzzle themselves with the attempt to make any suoh showing. The platform was not framed with any such idea. It was framed simply and solely"*as it shows in every instance and every line to arouse and inflame the partisan feeling and rekindle, if possible, the sectional animosity and bitterness of the war time. Like the platform of the Ohio Republicans, it is an appeal to passion and not to reason. In every intelligent aspect, such a platform is a mistake. It is so from the purely partisan point of view. The ashes of the rebellion have been dead and cold too long for any hope of revival even in lowa. The attempt to revive them is a lamentable confession of inability to come before the people with any real claim to their confidence and support. With the dying message of Grant still ringing in their ears the people of lowa cannot be excited into a wordy renewal of the conflict so long ago fought out and finished Ten years ago such a platform might have been acceptable to tolerably rabid partisans. To-day it is an anachronism. —Detroit Free Press.