Race: The Democrats start their platform off with race baiting (in the form of "States Rights" opposition to the Republican "Force Bill" that would have guaranteed the rights of Blacks to vote in Southern elections). And of course no mention of the waves of lynching that reached their all time peak in 1891 at 231 (1934 World Almanac, p.286).
The Republicans "...demand that every citizen of the United States be allowed to cast one free and unrestricted ballot in all public elections..." "...the party will never relax its efforts until the integrity of the ballot and the purity of elections shall be fully guaranteed and protected in every State." And "... denounce the inhuman outrages perpetrated upon American citizens for political reasons in certain Southern States."
The Prohibitionists: "Lynch Law. Years of treachery and inaction on the part of the Republican and Democratic Parties have resulted in the present reign of mob law, and we demand that every citizen be protected..."
The Populists: Oppose "Federal intervention" in State elections, and say nothing about lynching.
The Socialist Labor Party: Demands abolition of the convict contract labor system (a central pillar of the Southern Democratic terror regimes), & opposes capital punishment (the only party to do so). Demands "...equal right of sufrage, without regard to color..."
Immigration: The Democrats while opposing the "dumping" on the US of the "known criminals and professional paupers of Europe" and demanding "the rigid enforcement of the laws against Chinese immigration," however emphasize "but we condemn any and all attempts to restrict the immigration of the industrious and worthy of foreign lands." And at some length condemn the oppression by Russia of its "Jewish subjects" and endorse Home Rule for Ireland.
The Republicans have a one liner opposing criminal & pauper immigration, and a one liner endorsing Home Rule in Ireland and protesting the persecution of the Jews in Russia.
The Prohibitionists hold that "[f]oreign immigration has become a burden..." and want it restricted. They don't care one whit about the Russian Jews or the Irish, other than I guess not wanting to ever see another one reel down the street.
The Populists we know, since both Doug and I posted the same Resolution about "undesirable emigration." And like the Prohibitionists evince the same lack of interest in the Irish and the Russian Jews.
The Socialist Labor Party platform has not a word on the subject.
Meself, I'm leaning towards Simon Wing, the Socialist Labor candidate. Though I expect Nathan could do a great post on what a difference it will make if Cleveland loses to Harrison or vice versa, and how insensitive I am to the Workers, Irish, Jews and/or Blacks whose lives would be totally different if only the other one had won. (Actually both won in sequence and it sure didn't matter worth a damn...) As for the Populists, sorry Max, but coming down on the wrong side on Federal intervention on behalf of the right of Southern Blacks to vote is decisive. 231 lynchings... every day it's more likely than not that there's a lynching. Doesn't that trump everything?
john mage