A Well Defined Issue

It is gratifyiDg to note that party issues are being more and more sharply definded. The republican party is becoming the cheap whisky and tobáceo party, and the democratie party the cheap fuel, food and elothing party. This distinction is very marked in Massachusetts. Therepublicans declare squarely in favor of a high tariff and liberal appropriations. Tnen, if extravagant expenditures sliall not use up all the surplus, they favor the rediiction 011 whiskey and tobáceo. The rtpubhean policy is summed up as "tnaintenance of tuxation and increasnd expendimres. ' On the otlier hand the democratie convention iosisted on the prestrvation of the whiskey and tobáceo taxes, and a re duction of those on the uecessaries of living. In new York the attitude of the two parties is the same. The republicans resolved in favor of the tariff as it is, but he demócrata declarea for freo raw íraerialn, reduoed taxes on clothing and ther necessaries, and an immediate reuction of taxation to tho extent of one iundred millions of dollars. Henee the emooratic policy as thus formulated, is "reduction of taxation and more economical government." On this vital questiop thereceut utterances of party conventions make n elcar issue. Happily it begins to appear us iC he presidential coulest of 1S88 will be ougbt on this lina and not on miy other. It should be so, as the country las had a surfeit of "slackwater