New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-06
David 4. WELLS F0R CONGRESS.

1t is reckoned n good sign by Connecticut
Republicans when the Democrats begin talking
about nominating the Hon. David y. Wells for
any Office Whenever there's any show for
Democratic success there are always plenty
of earnest and hard working Democrats ready
to take nominations and nobody who is not
a "workcr" has the slightest chance. Mr..
Wells, it is hardly necessary to say, is not
Democratic "worker." Being something of a
theorist and political reformer, he naturally falls
into opposition to the party in power, which he
holds responsible for all existing political evils
and administrative abuses y free-trader on
principle and one of the leading agitators of
what is called "Tevenue REFORM" he is by
reason thereof still further drawn away from
his old associations with Republicans and Pro-
tectionists But he finds so little i'll the pro-
fessons Of the Democratic party to encourage
the hope Of reform from them, and so much in
their practice to give the lie to the little they
profess, that rs a political ref0rmer lac can
hardly persuade himself TO cast in his LOT with
them while the uncertain attitude of the party
on economic questions and the dishonest treat
mcnt they have given them alike repel him as
free-t trader from such Il connection. In this
state of things he may be said to be politi
elan without party. During the past ten years
we presume he has Oftcner voted the DEM
ocratic than the Republican ticket but never
except upon what he deemed choice OF evils
amt although he has sometimes been del
cgate rs Democratic conventions, he has been
VIGOROUSLY so little in accord with the party
or in sympathy with the leaders that he has
cXertcd no influence whatever in the party
councils.
Yethe has been "talked of as a Democratic
candidate for various offices, two or three times
for Member of Congress from the Hid Dis
trct III which he resides. IT is considered a
sign of encouragement on the part of the DEM
ocrats when he is talked of =: it would be
taken rs sign of despair if he should ever be
nominated. We are gratilied to learn from Il
Connecticut letter in Democratic contem-
porary that he is again talked of " for the
Democratic nomination for Congress in his
district We hail it rs an indication that Con-
necticut Democrats are in Il proper frame of
mind to encounter defeat and that they are not
entertaining hopes destined to be disappointed.
We should be very glad to see Mr.. Wells nom
mated for Congress as well as talked Of"
though we have small hope that he will
be. He is as has been remarked, free trader
on principle, thorough believer in the doc
trinc, and one of the few who advocate max
ing it the leading issue in American politics.
As delegate to the last Democratic National
Convention, he assisted Mr. Henry Watterson
in carrying through the resolution destined
to make so much disturbance, committing the
party TO the support of tariff for revenue
onlyn: resolution which he had the NOR
tifcaton to see repudialcd a little later by the
candidates, and to which great many Dem
ocrals attributed the subsequent defeat of
the ticket. His nomination would present
very fairly to "A constituency deeply interested
in the subject the plain issue OF Free Trade
versus Protection. His residence at Norwich
is the centre of large manufacturing district,
and the two counties comprising the Congress
sional district are largely devoted to manufac-
turing enterprises. He could hardly have
better field for an aggressive campaign and
fair fight
One of the reasons offered for the candidacy
OF Mr.. Wells Is that it would express the DEM
ocratc opposition to the River and llarbor bill,
for which Colonel Wait, who is the present
member and will undoubtedly be renominatcd,
voted. IL would be IA somewhat interesting spec
taclc to Mr. Wells runningas Democratic
candidate for Congress in Il district where he
had no chance Whatever Of an election upon the
grounds Of his being free trader and an Oh.