New-York tribune., 1870-02-05
Com6,Apfs by The Tribune.

We are little ashamed of The EUening Post,
even while we second its motion. That journal
has earned an honorable fame by manly direct
ness-by striking out squarely from the shoui-
der. 1t is Free Trade Organ-made so by lts
convictions, its traditions, and its interests
Why, then, not frankly say "Free-Traders 7"
WHY burrow and skulk under such a clcensy
subterfuge as the phrase "revenue-reformersY !"
What is to be made by sticking your ostrich
head only into the sand, leaving the rest OF
your frame exposed after that preposterous
fashion2 The Post is as thoroughly Tor free
Trade as THE TRIBUNE is for Protection. II
any one has been bought over to subserve the
importers interest, The Post surely has not, ana
is under no obligation to shield whoever has.
Having done nothing to be ashamed OF, why
not walk erecty and court the light of day.
We have no right to restrict the Free-Traders
in Congress to Mr.. Wellss or any ones bill
but we do ask them to take in essence the
manly course commended by The Post. Let
them meet and appoint their own Committee
to draft such bill as will fairly cmbody their
principle, and then authorize Mr.. Brooks, or
some one else, to submit it to the House as
substitute for Gen. Schenck's BILL have day
set in advance for taking the vote upon 1t,
and the Yeas and Nays duly recorded thereon,
giving notice beforehand that they will not be
concluded by any adverse decision of the House,
but will appeal therefrom directly to the con-
stituencies in the approaching election for the
next House.
How much nobler and better this would be
than to attempt a guerrilla warfare III Com
mittee of the Whole, in the hope that they
may there disfgure and mutilate Gen. Schencks
bill until it shall have no distinctive character,
subserve no interest, and satisfy no oneY DO
let lis unite to discourage picket-firing and in
sist on a charge along the whole line of battle
But The Posts friends in Congress will be
careful not to meet us in this way. They
think they can do better by carping, and
dodging, and quibbling-by voting severally
for Protection to Iron, or Wool, or Sugar, or
whatever interest may be strong in their re-
spectve districts, and against every other, so
as to pretend in the next election that they
are ProtcctoDsts for their constituents, but
Free Traders for all beside. This is the course
which they will adopt, and The Post will
chuckle over any petty advantage they may
gain by it.
We challenge them to do what The Post sug
gests-frame the bill that they approve, submit
it to the House as n substitute for Gen.
Schenck's, decide its fate by Yeas and Nays On
a set day whereof a weeks notice shall be
given, and if beaten, let Gen. Schenck's bill
pass and appeal to the cOuntry-nOt in vague
grumbling and fault-fnding, but asking a ver
diet for their bill through the choice of House
pledged to pass it. If they beat us, we will
take the course we have just commended to
them. The country will then be called to de-
eide between two radically opposite measures,
embodying antagonistic principles We shall
all proceed to discuss those measures in jour
nails, on the stump, 10y the fireside, and thus
enable the public to decide intelligently be-
tween them Shall it be so?