New-York tribune., 1881-12-03
EEw-YoRK DAILY TRIBUNE SATURDAY DECEMBER j. 1881

he resta his title to do go upon his recognized
position as a leader of his party aud his VIDE
influence as editor OF one OF the aDiest anu
most extensively circulated Democratic news
papers in the country. OF course his rlght 10
read men out of the party will be disputed.
But that makes no difference with him. Upon
n question of principle he has such stubborn
ness and persistence that he would not hesi-
tate TO read out majority of the party IL
necessary. in order to establish q consistent
record. That is, he would do it between cam
paiens when it comes to the pinch of an cleo
ton, when votes are wanted, it is quite dit-
ferenS matter. No election being now at hand,
lie dismisses MesSrs. Voorhees, and Kan
dali in most positive and impressive man
ner And the general order in which he does
il is not without a touch of sentiment. "Ihe
march of men, he says, "cannot stop, even tor
the valiant. The weak, the wounded and the
"dyinc-no matter how brave and meritOrlous-
"a are sent TO the rearn These gentlemen, he
saws. "must keep up with the column, else
tbey shall be left by the roadside, and must
" cen take their chances of getting to place OF
safety il the rear. 1t is the law OF war; hard,
unfeeling, but inexOrabe." OF course there Is
another law of war; which goes in force in pO-
litical parties just before election and that is,
that every recruit and every vote counts,
whether il be of the sick, wounded, dying,
cowardly, lame or lazy; ; but he makes no al
lusion to that at this time. Just now it is in
order only to raise the standard and purify the
party. 1t is good thing to do. Nothing
could be more proper than to send Voorhees,
and Randall and the other PrOtectionists to
the rear.
And this reminds us that there is anoTher
eminent leader of the party who deserves no.
ticc from Mr.. Watterson for having incurred
party discipline. The Hon. William II. Bar
mum, of Connecticut, chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee, has gone even fur
ther than Voorhees, or Randall. The name OF
this gentleman, who, it will be remembered,
moved heaven and earth in the last Presidential
campaign TO elect General Hancock on Free
Trade platform, appeared the other day az a vice.
president of the Tariff Convention. This con-
meets him openly and avowedly with the Pro-
tectonsts. During his service IN the House
and Senate he was found always supporting
protective measures and opposing anything
that had the appearance Of tariff for rev.
enue only" so there was no great doubt about
his position, but this places him so openly on
the Protection side that we do not see how
he can escape discipline. Mr.. Watterson re-
Gently accounted for the discontinue OF the
Democrats on the tariff Issue last year upon
the ground that the party was unprepared for
the issue, and it was unprepared he said,
"because the highest flights of imagination
(Which irradiated the Democratic brain power
were exhausted in seeking the author of the
"Morey letter and in attempting the collection
" of promlssOry note said to be still due from
"an Indiana gentleman of distinction" This is
somewhat plausible, but it seems much more
reasonable to attribute the failure of the
National Committee to meet the tariff issue to
the fact that Chairman Barnum was and is
an out-and-out Protectionist. 1t strikes lis
that Mr.. Watterson is derelict in not putting
the Chairman of the National Committee under
discipline and, if necessary, sending him to the
rear. Let the good work go on, Dir. Waiter
son, and don't forget Barnum.