The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-04

Commonwealth, though severe, was Tar from
fatal; and the signs now are that, with an IN
fusion Of young blood and the guidance of
able leaders, il will resume its old influence.
But there is one difficulty in the way, as to
which we take leave to utter some earnest
words We wish what we say to be under
stood as said by 'party men to party
men," There need be no mincing matters
Plain words are always best. To the leaders,
then-such men as Judge Packer and General
Cass, and Senators Wallace and Buckalew,
and Judge Woodward and Governor Bigler.
and MIR. Foster and Mr.. Cassidy, and others,
who are not disparaged 10y our not naming
them--and to the great Democratic masses
who stand by them, is our appeal directed
It's aim is to try to extricate the party in
Pennsylvania from the false position it occu-
pies on the protection question:; for false it is
in very sense, and especially false in this
that we do not believe there is an intelligent
Democrat, from the Delaware to the Ohio,
not owning furnace or zinc
mine, who in his conscience does not
believe protection 10 be political
heresy and an economical evil. This is mani
tested in the hating, doubtful support which,
even under special local influences, the
Democratic press, city or rural, gives to legis.
lative measures of this ultra description.
There is q feverish languor in their tariff
zeal which shows the weakness and hollow
ness within. They revolt at being harnessed
in the same team with ultra-radicals, who are
pulling ahead with all their might towards
the edge of the precipice down which ultra
ism always tumbles. The Patriot and Union,
a very able paper, pulls uneasily with the
Telegrdph, organ of high radical protection,
and the JeferS0niaB will not pull at all with
the Record. In short, there is no heartiness
in the help the Democratic press gives to high
pro lection. 1t knows the whole thing is
wrong.
Then, too, in the Legislature and Congress
the subject is handled by Democratic Penn
sylvanians most gingerly or absolutely re-
jected. We hear of no high-tariff instruc-
tions, OF, except under radical auspices, of no
tariff town meetings When in Congress
resolution, such as was Mr.. Marshall's the
other day, reaffirming the ancient Democratic
truth upon this subject, was voted upon, more
than one leading Democratic avoided voting,
and Judge Woodward, the representative, too,
of the coal pits of the upper Susquehanna,
had the manliness to vote for it,; and we are
not aware that his conduct has met with aught
but praise within the Democratic ranks. 1t was
very manly, and it was very sensible. We have
lately seen in the Tribune a communication of
a threatening nature, dated Columbia, Pa, "
purporting to be protest from tariff Demo-
Gratis; but we simply note that three out of
the seven signers are of one family, grown
enormously rich by protection, and that all
are residents of an extremely enlightened
community, which believes in masonry
to this day, gives 5000 radical majority, was
the adopted and congenial home of Mr.. Ste
vens, who owned furnace, and is repre-
sented by Mr.. Dickey, who has a mine.
Such protest can have few terrors for a Lu-
zerne, or Columbia, or Clearfeld Democrat.
AS we'll might Mr.. Senator Coleman threaten
from his Lebanon palace, or Mr.. Cameron
give warning from Lochiel.
Nay, further, and taking q less elevated
view of the question as affected by considera-
tions of expediency. The roll of Pennsyl-
vanians in the Democratic ranks who have a
right to be aspirants for high position in the
future has not been finally called Those,
such as the late United States Senator and his
predecessor, Mr.. Cowan-now, we imagine,
Democratic-cannot be content to think that
their career is run. Mr.. Buckalew has shown
he does not by following the example of Mr..
Madison, long ago, in going from Congress
back to the State Legislature. With aspira-
tions so high and intelligence SO bright, they
have read too critically the record of their
own State and its public men to court the
fate of those who promote doctrines they
know to be unsound. 'Tariffs" never made
success to any man. Witness, in Pennsyl
vania, John Tod and Henry Baldwin, an6
wrecks of huge proportions which
ought to be warning to the light -draugh
craft which now flies the protection bunting
On the other hand, did anti-protection il
| former days mar the prospects of Mr.. Walker
or Mr.. Dallas or Mr.. Buchanan-all Penn.
| sylvania Democrats? Was not MIR. Clay {
willing victim and Mr.. Webster a reluctant
one, but, nevertheless, both victims to ''high
tariffism?" Do the signs of the coming
time, with the great West bursting loose from
thraldom, the South rising from ruin, again
purely agricultural community; the East
as ever, ready to make a bargain anywhere
and desert Pennsylvania in a moment;-dt
these signs of the great political revolution o.
1872 hold out any temptation to the Democra
of the Middle States to play the masquer any
longer? Do they not show that here, al
everywhere, honesty is the best policy, an(
that it is simple suicide TO fight or ever
seem to fight for a mischievous dogma an,
| longer?
We are quite aware that this ad Aonaine
view of the matter may be denounced as
low and narrow one. Such oftentimes ar
those which appeal TO the essential impulse
of poor humanity, but they are not the les
effective on that account. There is not
word we have written which will not be re
cognized in the inner heart of every homes
politician, Democratic or Republican, a
truth. That the question of a-protection
as affecting the material interests of Pennsyl
vania, might be discussed from another AM
higher standpoint, We concede. 1t would no
take much time or labor to show a Pennsyl
Vania farmer why, when his wheat has fallel
and is falling in value, his ploughshare cost
him more, as we'll as his clothing an
the necessaries of his household, and