Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1902 — THE PLATFORM [ARTICLE]

THE PLATFORM

8. E. Moras Presents Some Pertinent Thoughts on the Subject. The address of S. E. Morss. editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel, dealing with. the state platform, was one of the features of the occasion. The paper was read by Mr. A. D. Moffett of the Elwood Record, in the absence of Mr. Mores. Among other things it contained: “My idea of the Democratic platforms is that, like whisky, they are all good, but some are better than others. And the Democratic platform of this year is one of that kind—it is better than some others that have been made in this and other states. It is better because it is confined chiefly to fundamental principles. And it deals with them in no uncertain way. There is no trimming anywhere, no dodging, no equivocation. When the Democratic convention adopted that platform ft said what it meant, and meant what ft said. There is not a word in it to which any man with a drop of Democratic blood In his veins may justly take exception, and no one has, to my knowledge. It is a clear-cut, strong, vigorous, manly statement of De-.no cratic principles: a truthful and es fectlve arraignment of Republican policies. There are things I should like to have had tn the platform which are not there, and doubtless some other Democrats feel the same way. But there is not a word In it which I do not Indorse from the bottom of my heart, end very little which, in my opinion, could be omitted without seriously impairing it. “The platform is Democratic to the core at every point. The oftener you read it the better you’ll like it. You can’t dissent from Its view of the Philippine question without going back on the Declaration of Independence. Roosevelt may do that, and Fairbanks and Beveridge and th? whole Republican party, but no true Democrat can or will do so. The platform reiterates the good old Democratic doctrine of a tariff for revenue only, upon which the party has repeatedly marched to victory. Equal taxation for public purposes only is. and always has been, one of the cardinal articles of the Democratic creed. It is always in order to reaffirm it. “The platform denounces the Ding ley law as the breeder of trusts and monopolies: it denounces the Republican party as their ally, and It demands the enactment and enforcement of effectitve laws for their suppression. It condemns the infamous ship subsidy steal, for which both the Republican senators from this state voted, and for which all the Republican candidates for congress will also vote if they ever have the opportunity. It declares for the construction of sn isthmian canal and the election of United States senators by the peo pie. both of them accepted Democratic measures. On state issues it Is frank and outspoken and Demo rratic. standing squarely on the magnificent record of the Democratic party tn the administration of the state government and arraigning the Republican party for Its notorious maladministration. “Here is a platform upon which all Democrats, however much they may have disagreed upon Issues which no longer exist, may stand with a clear conscience and without any mental reiervaotion whatsoever. It is bold. It la frank. It is patriotic, it Is statesmanlike. It Is ssaentially Democratic

In its letter and in its spirit U Is free from the quibblfnga, the subterfuges and the cowardice of the Republican platform. It Is, I believe, a winning platform. I am sure a majority of the people are in sympathy with it, and certainly no citizen of Indiana can oppose It, or the excellent ticket which the convention made, without forfeiting all rights to be considered a Democrat.”