New-York tribune., 1870-04-25

II the NewJersey Republicans do not nominate rcvchue
reformers they will next Fall give these districts to tho
Democrats, who will
Naturally, the chief question which would arise in
any meeting Of reformers at this time Is how to
make the subject the leading issue I'm the Fall elections
Fortunately the Negro question is out of the way The
longer available political ISSUE W elther
Republican Democrat SO far as know, the deteri-
nation Of leading reformers is to support no men
for Congress Fall rho not distinctly pedged 10
this cause and 10 insist that the parties ph which they
act shall make rereue reform platform. There Is rea-
son TO believe that the Democrats in most OF the States
except Pennsylvania will place themselves very squarey
on this ISSUE and Republican politicians and platform
maker, will do well to take notice Of this fact.
"The Republicans who made up the larger part OF the
gathering of which have spoken showed sincere devo
ton TO their party, and generally expressed the belief
that II would retain for many years its hold upon the
country They evidently prefer to work within the
party; and believe that the party which liberated the
black slaves will also, 1t ought, hberate commerce
from its shackes and to the laborng people the
right which the monoposts have robbed them Of buy
ing where they can buy TO the best advantage"
Comments By The Tribune.
I. The simple fact that these people sneak
and cover under the cloak of Revenue Re-
"form," proves not merely that they are on
the unpopular side, but that they knOw it.
They are Free-Traders-t is to say their
distinguishing tenet is known to the world as
Free Trade. They mean that no duty should
be imposed on the importation of foreign pro-
ducts except for revenue, and that the highest
rate on any article shall be that which
will put most money into the Treasury. That
is a distinct, definite principle, and is every
where known as Free-Trade. When, therefore,
its champions eschew that term and cOncOct
another to take its place, they betray their
consciousness that the thing is unpopular-that
it must be commended as something else than
what it is to make it go. Not by us but by
them, is it proclaimed that they must cheat to
win.
III. Their plan is very simple. If they can
bully the party of which they form small
minority into surTendering its convictions to
their demands, they will condescend to remain
with it while longer; if not, they will beat
it in the ensuing elections for the next Con-
gress. And, as its majorities are quite small
in many districts, they calculate that they can
easily defeat Gen. Schenck, Messrs. Bingham,
Hill, &C., and elect Free-Trade Democrats in
their stead.
III. The mistake of these gentlemen inhereS
in their failure to realize that their game is
one that two can play at. John Hill, for ex-
ample, represents district that is very close
as between the two great parties, but which,
on square issue of Protection against Free
Trade, would give at least 5000 majority for
Protection. So with regard to Gen. Haights
district, Old New-Jersey) Gen. Haight is
Democrat; his district (sinee the ratification
of the XVIII Amendment,) is Republican; bat,
if he be run next Fall as a Protectionist against
a Free Trader, it will take az least four figures
to express his majority. For New-Jersey
always very evenly divided in politics-was
always nearly a unit for Protection. The New
ark and Jersey City district is represented by
Orestes Cleveland, Democratic Protectionist.
1t is very doubtful which party has now a
majority in his district but there is no doubt
at all of its being for Protection against Free
Trade by majority of thousands. The HId
(Middlesex) District is Democratic but it is
nevertheless for Protection, rs its vote will
prove.
". Tic vaunts Of these Fee Traders about
their strength in the Vest reminds us Of that
prodigy of valOr, Bob Acres, who wished it
understood that he 'was called Fighting
" Bob IN an the country. They did their
worst to elect u S. Senator from Iowa last
Winter, and were handsomely thrashed-the
Hon. George G.. Wright, who will take Gov.
Grimes's place or the 4th of March next, being
an avOwed Proteetionist. So is Gov. McClurg
of Missouri so are large propOrton-we
think o majority-of the Members from that
State. No demonstration from the Legislature
of any Western State justfes the Free
Traders in claiming a preponderapcei in the
Northwest
V. Certain Wooden manufacturers would like
to import Wool free of dnty, and have so told
Congress. We have MT doubt Of their sim
cerity. Too many people are as selfish and
sho1t t-sighted as they. But not one of them
has yet said, 'In order to get my Wool free,
" would agree to reduction of the duties
" On WoOlens to twenty-five per cent" When
they say that, their avowal will have signid
canoe which it has not now.
vi. Ghs Erening Post, which thus gives itself
TO the work Of dislocating and destroying the
Republican party, has not 80 treated other par
ties with which it formerly acted. When Mar
tin Van Buren, Silas Wright. Michael Hoffman,
Jonas Earll, John Magee Sec, voted for the
Tariff of 1S28-the only Tariff that ever taxed
Pig Iron more chan $40 per tuna Tariff
avOwedly imposed for Protection and for nothing
else-Ihe Post did not denOunee them as it now
denounces Republicans, who are Protectionists
did not advise the people to vote against
them. On the contrary, it supported Van Buren
for Governor directly after he had voted
for the Tariff of 1898, as it supported Silas
Wright soon after he had voted also for that
of 1912. IL wished to preserve the Democratic
party; it seeks to destroy the Republican,
that is the difference.
VII. Gentlemen opposite! you are welcome
to draw the lines on the Tariff question so
soon as you please! If Gen. Joseph r. Haw-