The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-14
wllsEtINO, ". VA, APRIL u, lssa,
The Democratic 0uandnry ut Wash
intIOn.

luENuuS
1t seems by our dispatches TINT the
Democrats in Congress are discussing
among themselves whether they shall
make tariff issue this year in the Con-
gressional aud State elections, with view
Of feeling the public pulse prior to the
more important elections for President in
1881. They are divided in opinion as TO
what is best to be done, The great Water
son, Of the Louisville COurisr.JOur1IGl, is
probably responsible for this mixed up
state Of mind at Washington. lie has
lately been there lobbying with the party
on behalf Of his notorious plank in the
platform Of lSsO-"a tariff for revenue
only" He wants to try the fight over
again, to the end that Waterson may be
yindlcated as party plank manufacturer.
He Is belaboring the question vigorously
just now In his paper, and is
almost persuaded to proclaim his
plank Of 1880 us n dogma OF
faith and morals necessary 10 salvation.
He has the support Of the two Kentucky
Senators, and Of the entire delegation in
Congress, but outside Of Kentucky he is
in the midst Of wilderness Of thorns.
There is Voorhees,, Of Indiana, recently
converted; and there is Brown, Of GeOr.
gin, also somewhat converted and there
are other Southern Senators who want rice
and sugar protected, There are the two
West Virginia Senators who could not, by
any known machinery, be jackscrewed up
to the point Of declaring for party fight
this year on the tariff platform Of 1850.
Colonel Ben. Wilson would take "pizen :"
before he would do 1t, and Kenna, even in
the face Of his support Of the Wood tariff
bill, would kick like a mule at such q
proposition.
WaHeBon can't corral the party on any
such issue this year, lamentable us the fact
may be. They heard something drop in
1880, and they haven't forgot the sound
thereof. 1t is very provoking, rs the dis
patch says, to have one-half Of the party
fighting the other half in Congress, but pro-
yoking as it is the breach cannot behealed
by the forCible and heroic policy suggested,
viz: reading everybody out Of the party
who will not espouse the free trade idea.
Our prediction is that the Tariff Com
mission bill passed by the Senate is the
measure that will finally pass the House,
and II necessary it will get number
OF Democratic votes. The member
from this district will vote for it ten
times over before he will vote for any tariff
bill that the majority Of his party can agree
on in Congress The Tariff Commission
will let him out Of his present embarrass-
ment as regards the campaign this year,
and with Col. Ben. Sufficient unto the day
is the evil thereof" The Commission will
not report until January, 1883, and that is
full as early as the Col. cares to DO called
to assume any responsibility on this sub
iect. Both our Senators were in favor OF
the bill in the Senate. They too do not
want any embarrassment to arise between
this and the election of a Senator next win
ter,
In view Of these discouragements the
bold man mentioned in the dispatches,
who proposes to attempt the defamation Of
the darty by communicating all who
will not rally round the Wattcrson flag, has
abig contract on hand. Let the work, how
ever, Of expungation commence, so that it
may be known to the world which end Of the
Democratic party is the head and which
the tail. 1t is about time for the party to
be getting ready for one OF its chronic and
inevitable biunders.