A MYSTIC PLATFOliM. WHAT DOES THE MINNEAPOLIS MAN IFESTO MEANf A Bar Collection of Glittering Generali ties ud Platitude of Ancient Vintage Tha Trne Inwardness of the Monopo llitlo Idea Exposed. The Republican platform prod need at Minneapolis is a document of rare in terest to the student of opinions and to the critic of style. It combines the di rect and almost iufantile simplicity of the chap book with the mystic mistiness of the second story back clairvoyant No one man can understand it. To take it in comprehensively and interpret it Intelligently would require the best en deavors of a joint session of a kinder garten and a Browning club. No one man wrote it No one man could have written it, not even Colonel Abe Slupsky himself. Wonder ceases when we remember that this masterpiece of political litera ture is the achievement of a committee of forty-eight, operating through five subcommittees of five each, and all . imder the immediate and active ruper intendesce of Joseph Benson Foraker. There was no subcommittee on the preamble. The point-with-pride de partment was evidently managed by Foraker in person and alone. The well known firo alarm rhetoric is here in un diluted strength: "The representatives of the Repub licans of the United States, assembled In general convention on the shores of the Mississippi river, the everlasting bond of an indestructible republic, whose most glorious chapter of history is the record of the Republican party, congratulate their countrymen on the majestic march of the nation under the banners inscribed with the principles of our platform of 1888, vindicated by vic tory at the polls and prosperity in our fields, workshops and mines." Is the everlasting' bond of an inde structible republic the Mississippi river or the general convention on its ehores? Is the record of the Republican party the most glorious chapter of the Missis sippi river, or of the general convention, or of the indestructible republic, or of the everlasting bond? Is the majestic march of the nation vindicated by the Democratic victories at the polls in 1800; and why should it need vindication, in asmuch as the nation walks right along, whichever party wins? Is the agricul tural, manufacturing and subterranean prosperity referred to by Foraker a vin dication of the majestic march, or of the Republican party's banners, or of the beaten force bill, or of the billion, or of what? Foraker knows and could telL Probably Colonel Abe Slupsky knows likewise. But this is only the whipped cream on the pudding. We come next to the tariff plank. It reaffirms the American doc trine of protection. It points to the benefits of a policy which was the policy of the Democratic party while the Re publican party was still unseen in the mists of the future. It declares that the duties levied on imports coming into competition with American products should be "equal to the differences be tween wages at homo and abroad." This is a distinct and specific declaration, al most the only one in the Foraker plat form. It is taken directly from the Demo cratic national platform of 1884, the platform on which Grover Cleveland was elected, but it is not exactly the principle inscribed on the Republican banners of 1888 or embodied in the Mo Kinley revision. Then the platform goes on to prediot that Mr. Blaine's bril liant reciprocity idea, something not in scribed on the banners of 1888, and 'therefore not vindicated by victory at the polls and prosperity in our fields, workshops and mines, will eventually give us control of the trade of the world. And it is silent, silent as the tomb, con cerning the reduction of the national revenuo by the repeal of the internal revenue taxes, or of any part of them. That was distinctly inscribed on the banners of 1888. Since 1683 the Repub lican billion congress discovered another and an easier way to reduce the surplus. Among the meaningless platitudes poured into the pot by the gentlemen who had a hand in compounding the Republican platform of 18'J2 are these: We demand that every citizen of the United State (ball be allowed to cast ono free and un t reatrtoted ballot In aU public elections. W favor the extension of onr foreign com meroe, the restoration of our mercantile ma rine by home built ihlpa. We reaffirm our approval of the Monroe doctrine. The ultimate reliance of free popular gov ernment 1 the intelligence of tbe ieople and the maintenance of freedom among men. We declare anew our devotion to liberty of thought and conscience, of speech and press. W are opposed to any uulon of cburcb and state. We sympathize) with all wlso and legitimate effort to lessen and prevent tlio ovilBof intern perance and to promote morality. Colonel Abe Slupsky, we repeat, would never have written such trash or such cant as this and offered it to the country as a formal and curef ul decla ration of principles made by a party professing to be a party of principles. But Colonel Slupsky, worse luck, was not intrusted with the great and mo mentous job. New York Sun. The Republican Platform. The platform adopted by the Repub licans at Minneapolis is u sweeping drag net of glittering generalities. Every thing within the range of political dis putation is brought iuto it, most of them in a perfunctory way, and some sort of indefinite promise given to enable the Republican 1-ikWs to deal with all shades of all questions. The plunks cullim.' for larn loaWhi. tion to protect employees of corporu- wousf declaring lu lavoror the oppressed of Ireland and Kuhh:; denouncing trusts and combines; duiiianding free mail de liveries; approving of the civil service system, the Nicaragua canal, the admis sion of territories ilk stiits. fh reunion of arid lands to (Kates and territories, the Columbian exposition and temper once are all just eo nn:oU surplusage for all considerate voters. There are three planks in the platform which will attract general attention and be more carefully considered by intelli gent voters than even the leaders of the convention anticipate. These are the planks in favor of protection and reci procity, and of bimetallism and the practical approval and recommendation of the force election bill for the south. These questions are vital, and as the party has made a positive record on all of them they will be regarded as meas ures which must stand or fall with the success or failuro of the Minneapolis ticket. The force bill was beaten by a Re publican senate that was then a stronger partisan body than it is today or is like ly to be during the next administration. That issue will be a dead weight on the party in the coming contest The plank on bimetallism is a very adroit straddle of the silver issue. What the Minneapolis convention calls protection is simply protection of mo nopoly and of oppressien to labor. The McKinley bill needlessly taxes the neces saries of industry and of life, and its du ties are levied without any regard to the differences between wages abroad and at home. They are levied solely for em ployers, not for working-men. They protect capital in some instances enor mously, but no actual protection is given to labor. Under such a tariff reciprocity is sim ply a contradiction of the principles of the party. Reciprocity is either free trade or fair trade, and if separated from an unjust tariff policy it would greatly aid the industry and trade of the nation. The platform on this point is simply a snare, and the farmers of the west and the working people of all sections seem pretty thoroughly to understand it. The time was when national platforms meant something, but they are general ly now regarded as meaningless, mere tubs to whales or baits to gudgeons, and they have ceased to be accepted as an honest expression of what a party will do if successful in gaining power. If platforms were intended to mean what they say, the Minneapolis plat form might be summed up as a bundle of contradiction and absurdity; but as they practically mean just nothing at all, it is of little consequence what is put into them or what is omitted. Philadelphia Times. A Remorseless Republican, Mr. Harrison is in every way repre sentative of his party as it is in these latter years. He is in hearty sympathy with its policy, its traditions and its purposes. He has stopped at nothing to promote its ideas. His administration has ably and unflinchingly perhaps some would say unscrupulously served its desires. He has managed to do with dignity much that the party wanted done which would have subjected a less adroit self respect to a good deal of embarrassment He has succeeded in rewarding the col lector of a corruption fund with a cab inet office without offending the better sentiment of his party beyond forgive ness. He has saved his personal dignity by cutting Dudley's acquaintance, ana at the same time he has rendered Dud ley's "dynamite" innocuous by protect ing him from prosecution. He has turned foreign complications to account by blustering when it was safe to bluster, and by reporting his pereuptory demands upon foreign governments only when he had in formation that those demands had been complied with. It must be frankly admitted also that his administration, so far as the routine business is concerned, has been success ful. He has approved the squandering of the surplus and the extravagance of the billion dollar congress, and he has put a man at tbe head of the treasury who knows how to juggle the figures so as to hide the deficiency till after the election. And for the future. Mr. Harrison's aims are those of his party. He believes in the control of elections by an army of "Johnny" Davenports under a force LilL He favors such use of the pension list for party purposes as Raum has made. Those who desire such use of the Gov ernment's bounty will be more than satisfied with his nomination. He approves the maintenance of worse than war taxes in time of peace for the sake of turning tho earnings of the many into the coffers of the favored few. Those who desire to see the rule of the trusts and monopolies made permanent will rejoice in his renomination as a step in that direction. New York World. They Like Taxation. The Republican party has forgotten nothing but its promises and learned nothing from its discipline of defeat It reiterates its preposterous claim that the country has been mode prosperous by taxation, which is equivalent to saying that if crops grow in spite of frosts, frost is good for crops. New. York World. A nigh Priced Iluuble. It cost Colonel Shepard $10,000 to get to Minneapolis, and ho traveled on a Vanderbilt free pass at that. Calling upon him to preside over the fag end of the convention was a very small recom pense for his liberal outlay. The colo nel has been shabbily treated. New York Advertiser. An Edifying Spectacle. Senator Hiscock walking oil from Minneapolis with Tom Piatt hanging out of his coattail pocket is a charming symbol of the harmony which we Bhall now be told animates the G. O. P. New York World. A Time fur Toddle. If Mr. Carnegie has been thoughtful enough to renew that keg of Scotch whisky, now is the time to tap it.--New xork Advertiser. A I'ersoiiul Machine. Benjamin Harrison has made of the public service a partisan and personal luuclilne. New ork World, THE OFFICE HOLDERS' CANDIDATE. They Nominated Harrison In Exporta tion of Future Kavor. President Harrison is nominated for a secoud term as the result of his own per sistent seeking and by means of the free nse of the opportunities of the office he holds. His campaign was ably planned, splendidly managed and firmly and courageously conducted to the end at Minneapolis. The old guard of his army in the convention was a horde of federal office holders, led by federal of fice holders and inspired with the teal born of benefits received and fostered by the hope of favors yet to come. But for the office holding delegates and the delegates secured by the nse of federal patronage at the south, tto Hon. Benja min Harrison vould not be the candi date of his party. The success of General Harrison's campaign, directed from the White House in his Own interest, is a publio misfortune. It will impel and encour age every president of the second or third or fourth rate of ability to make a desperate straggle to retain the power which he has once gained by political accident It illustrates with uncommon force the dangers pointed out by William Henry Harrison in his inaugural address. "When this corrupting passion," said that sago and honest old patriot, "once takes possession of the human mind, like the love of gold it becomes insatiable. It is tho never dying worm in his bosom, grows with his growth and strengthens with the declining years of its victim." The worm took possession of the breast of William Henry Harrison's grandson long ago, and now the worm has pre vailed. New York Sun. THE SLAM BANG POLICY. The Man with the Hat Wanted a For eign War. So fur as onr relations with other gov ernments ure concerned Mr. Harrison has adopted and energetically pursued a policy of slam ban;;. He has an impression that the country is prosperous only when it is on the rag ged edge of a quarrel with some one, no matter whom it may b, Chili or Great Britain or any one else. He is either forgetful or ignorant of the fact that we are not a belligerent people and desire to live in peace with the whole world so far as is possible. He also forgets that no nation on earth wants war neither England nor France nor Germany nor Russia nor Italy nor Spain nor even lit tle Chili. It is curious, therefore, to note tliat while all other powers are doing their utmost to avoid a conflict Mr. Harrison seems to have bent his efforts to create some opportunity to use our battleships. The conspicuous incidents of the last three years consist of threatening com plications with some foreign nation, and if it shall be our misfortune to give him a second term there is ample reason to believe that we may have serious trou ble on our hands in the near future. New York Herald. A Pasty Miller. One of the most melancholy figures in the Republican convention is Warner Miller. A short time since he was lying honorably outside the breastworks where Piatt put him and where Harrison found him. When Piatt wanted to use him, however, he pulled him in or bunkoed him and need him as he would. Miller was a respectable and worthy person so long as he maintained his hostility to the man who defeated his aspirations for governor and who tolerated his lead ership as much apparently for his own amusement as for anything else, but bis surrender makes him simply one of Piatt's followers and subjects. As a leader he has passed away. New York World. . An Amusing Fiction. One of the amusing fictions of the nomi nating speeches was the assertion that not one of the "honored leaders" was seeking the presidency. For a lot of people who wero harmoniously engaged in dragging statesmen from their modest retirement for patriotic uses there was a strangely inexplicable amount of ran cor exhibited by the delegates. New York World. They Won't Take Notice Though. The Republican senators will take notice that their party platform favors the admission of the remaining terri tories at the earliest practicable date. New Mexico and Arizona may accord ingly be given an opportunity to cast their first electoral votes for the Demo cratic presidential candidate. Philadel phia Record. It Adds to the Cumpalgn Fund. The nomination of Mr. Whitelaw Reid for vice president in place of Levi P. Morton is a peculiar concession to the one great state in the union which Mr. Harrison could not control. If it adds strength to the ticket it must be of a peculiar quality not at present visible. New York Advertiser. Votes That Will Not Elect. Mr. Harrison received in convention 230 votes from the representatives of southern states and eleven from terri tories. Not one of these votes repre sents a vote in the electoral college for the Republican candidate. Now York Advertiser. lUulne'a Hoodoo. Messrs. Quay, Piatt, Clarkson and Reed can now resume, their former feel ing of antipathy to the ex-6ecretary of state and blame each other as his hoo doo, Philadelphia Ledger. Now Inside the Breastworks. Piatt has a wonderful digestion. He gobbled up Miller and it didn't even make him torpid. Mr. Evarts in his best days was not capable of such a feat. New York World. 14' t Democrat Remember. Benjamin Harrison used the whole power of his office to compel congrosa to pass the odious force bill. New York World. . .. . "HOW 010 I LOOK, AND NOT YET THIRTY I" Many women fade early, limply Wausa they do not take proper care of themselves. Whirled along In tlieeinltementsof fih (en able Ufa, they overlook those minor ailment that, if not checked In time, will rob them of Health and Beauty. At the first symptom of Vital weakness, us LYDUE.PINKKIIM'Sev.X. The roses will return to your cheek, sallow looks depart, spirit brighten, your step t eoiBo firm, and back and head aches will be known no more. Your appetite will gn(n, and the food nourish you. The Compound it fold by all Drugglsta a a standard artlele, or sent by mail, in font el I'll la or Loienget, on receipt of $1.00. For the cure of Kidney Complaints, either sex, the Compound has bo rival. (tans' two Itsnl.t.ms.tsr Mr. Plnkhim'tV btsulllul fta-tsgt llluitntts soak, entitles "GUIDE TO HEALTH AND ETIQUETTE." I It centalnt a lus el valuable Information. M It ha iasd Witt, and way aa jour, r iydia K Plnkham MeU Oe( Lynn, Mais, 'E CCT A mill in Hie LINKS OF COMPETITION. Si eering laate Steel is the CHEAPEST because it The Beerm; M0IEE S are Light, Strong, &SM Immense Ci i i Don't lorget we give P. S. We are still QBLIABIE Comes to the front with the LARGEST ASSORTMENT AND MAKING AND FITTING .OF THE.-. Best, tlic Newest and Most Stylish, Lowest in Price ; and to prove Satisfactiosi is on i Endeavor The best value for Money is to buy your Clothing, Hats, Shirts, Neckwear, Trunks and Valises of Corner of Main and Centre Streets, BLOOMSBURG, PA. &NE2Z&ELEBB QMOTSIMG MA3E TO QEBEB, Largest Clothing and Hat House in Columbia and Montour Counties J. R.Smith &Co. LIMITED. MILTON. Pa., DEALEH8 I.f PIANOS, By tbe following well-known Bakers i Chickcrincf. Knnbc, Weber, Hnllet & Davis. . Can aleo furnish any of the cheaper makes at manufact urers' prices. Do not buy a piano before getting our prices. Ctlcgue and Price Lists On application. H fllMgrg good value lor your money. vc are Duty, uut nave time to wait upon you. W. KITCHE1T. on Earth and at present -THE- ill CLOTHING THOMAS GORRKf mm d mm. Plans and Estimates on all kinds of buildings. Repairing and carpenter work promptly attended to. Dealer in Sailder's Supplis:. Inside Hardwood finishes a specialty. Fersons of limited means wU desire to build can pay part and secure balance by mortgage PATENTS. Caveata and Trade Murks obtained, and a 1'hktiI bum urns conducted lor Modkkati FEES. (U K OFFICE IS OPPOSITE THIS U. a i.iT ENT OF KICK. We have no ub-Hirrn..i.,., . business direct, hence can transact pnt,.ni ' . noss In less time and at Less Cost than those rL mote from Washington. . Hend model, drawing or photo, with dVscrln tlnn. We advise. If pstentHble or not, free of chsiye. onr fee not due till patent mrurcd. A book. "How to Obtain Patents." with re fer onoes to artniil clients in your State, county or town, sent free. Address C. A. know co Washtnston, u. it (Opposite U. H. Patent uniue.) is the BEST. -"Uli" I sssnf Ti W A -. in BLOOMSBURG. IT DOUSE
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers