The Republican journal., 1870-12-15
THE FREE TRADE COALITION.
OF the Boston Post

Correspondence OF the Boston Post.
New York. Nov. 80.
Our Republican friends appear to be con
siderably frightened by the Free Trade coal-
ton movement. They know it will increase
the decentralization of their party, and they
tear that it will carry their best men into the
Democratic ranks, whittier many have he
taken themselves already. The great Free
Trade banquet at Delmonico's was attended
by some of the most substantial citizens of
New 1ork-men whose sympathios have al
ways been with the Republican party, even
though they did not take an active part in its
management. When such citizens as David
Dudley Field, Robert b. Minturn, Lloyd As
pnwall Stewart Brown, Z. S. Jatfray,
Charles II. Marshall, David A. Wells. Will
liam Cullen Bryant, DR. Joshua Leavtt. Sam
uel Cabot, Samuel Ward. and others Of
equal distinction and weight, heartily Join
hands with prominent Democrats in an effort
to accomplish revenue reform, against the
declared policy of the party with which they
have sympathized, ii not labored, the mana
gers of that party certainly have much reason
to fear the consequences. And they do fear
The Tribune. for instance, brings all the
force it can command to the work of resist
ing the tide rising against its party on this
question: and slashes about quite wildly in
the hope of neutralizing the efforts of the re-
formers Almost all other subjects are laid
aside while this is attended to, Mr. Greedy ey
idently regarding it as the only one of real
importance now on the political programme.
OF course he loses his temper in discussing
it, or athor, in trying to refute the argu-
ments of the -protectonists, but his great
interest in it shows how much he fears the
consequence of the new movement. But Mr.
Greeley's resistance is ye,y much like that of
Don Quixote to the wind-mills. The free
trade tide is rising rapidly all over the count
ry, and will soon overYhelm any party or
faction that attempts to hold out against it.
The only thing that keeps many of the Re-
publican leaders in New York and other
parts OF the East from falling into line with
fhe Reformers is reluctance to sever all con-
nection with their party. But when they see
the people moving, they will move, even
though they have to enlist under the banner
of Democracy.
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL SAY.
Gov Hoffman, Mayor Hall, Messrs Tweed
and Sweeney, and pretty much all the active
men of the Democratic party, are favorably
disposed toward the revenue reform move
ment They do not, however, encourage
the idea of forming a new party This, they
think is not necessary because the standard
principles Of the Democratic party cover the
whole ground now taken by reform Republic
cans, and it is not practicable, because the
Democratic masses will not march under any
banner but their own. If Republicans who
are dissatisfied with the course of their par
ty see fit to leave it and Join the Democracy,
they will be heartily welcomed, and even re-
warded according to their merit, but it is I'M
reasonable, if not preposterous, TO ask the
Democratic party to give up housekeeping,
so to speak, and 90 to board with few Re
puhlcans. This is practically what the ad-
vocates of new organization propose, The
free trade principle is q Democratic principle,
and must be asserted and carried into effect
under Democratic auspices. There is no
need whatever of forming a new party to ac
complish the reform that the free trade Re-
pubiicans demand. A coalition in Congress
is. of course, under present circumstances.
highly desirable, but this would not necessi-
tate any abandonment of principle or Of par
ty by the Democratic members. At any rate,
it is quite certain that the bone-and- sinew ell
ement of the Democracy would kick against
any transfer project, They could not be
made to see the wisdom OF aban doning the
field in which they have struggled so bravely
and so long. az the very moment when COM
plere victory promises to shine upon their
arms Mahomet may go to the mountain,
but the mountain will not 90 to him.