faith,  and  reaffirms  the  platform  adopted  by  its  representatives  in
the  convention  of  1884,  and  endorses  the  views  expressed  by  Presi-
dent Cleveland  in  his  last  Annual  Message  to  Congress  as  the  cor-
rect interpretation  of  that  platform  upon  the  question  of  tariff  re-
duction, and  also  endorses  the  effort  of  our  Democratic  representa-
tives in  Congress  to  secure  a  reduction  of  excessive  taxation."

The  third  section  of  the  platform  was  as  follows  :

"  The  Democratic  Party  welcomes  an  exacting  scrutiny  of  the
administration  of  the  executive  power  which  four  years  ago  was
committed  to  its  trust  in  the  election  of  Grovcr  Cleveland  for
President  of  the  United  States,  and  it  challenges  the  most  search-
ing inquiry  concerning  its  fidelity  and  devotion  to  the  pledges
which  then  invited  the  suffrages  of  the  people.  During  a  most
critical  period  of  our  financial  affairs,  resulting  from  overtaxation,
the  anomalous  condition  of  our  currency  and  a  public  debt  unma-
tured, it  has,  by  the  adoption  of  a  wise  and  conservative  course,
not  only  averted  a  disaster,  but  greatly  promoted  the  prosperity  of
the  people."

Whatever  else  was  added  in  assertion  of  legislative
attainments  or  in  criticisms  of  the  past  and  present
course  of  the  Republican  Party,  these  two  "  planks"
and  the  nomination  itself  constituted  the  platform
upon  which  the  party  was  prepared  to  go  before  the
people.  Its  political  history  prior  to  1884  was  well
represented  by  the  nomination  of  the  veteran  states-
man, Allen  G.  Thurman,  of  Ohio,  for  Vice-President.
