The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-04-18
The Democratic Dilemma.

| The Democratic Dilemma.
It is announced on good Democratic
authority that movement is on foot In
this State to secure the support of the
New York Democratic Representatives in
the next House for Mr.. Randall as Speak.
er. Of the strength of the movement il
is too soon to judge, but it is in the
hands of shrewd and experienced men,
and, what is not without Importance
with Democratic politicians in this State,
1t is backed by large amC INT of mon.
ey. Mr.. Randall, it is understood, will
stand on a conservative platform
with reference to revenue legislation.
He will plead that what the country
needs Is quiet, and that it docs not make
SO much difference what the import
duties are so long as they are allowed
to remain unchanged. He and his
friends will deprecate agitation, and he
will be made the special champion OF
the interests of capital and business.
The platform is chosen with good deal
of astuteness, but there are circum-
stances which will make it somewhat
shaky before. the next Congress shall
meet in December.
Mr.. Carlisle, on the other hand, is put
forward as the, representative of tho
Democrats who desire still further re-
duction and still more radical reform
OF the tariff than anything that has vet
been distinctly proposed in, Congress
be Will have the support of the. most
able men in the Democratic party, and
particularly in Congress and in the press.
Those Democrats who have any convic-
tions, and who perceive that principles
are OF some value, and even Imperative
ly necessary to political organization,
VIII give him their earnest advocacy.
he is Southern man, and very much
beloved and admired in the South, as
well as in some parts of the North and
the West. His election and the adop-
ton of the policy for which he stands
will be hailed by all intelligent Demo-
Gratis as step out of the slough of DO
Itical imbecility and confusion in which
the party has long been f1ounderino. 1t
viii be accepted as giving the party an
g issue" not connected with the unfor-
tunatef past, and free from the bitter
prejudices which still survive, neither
unnaturally nor unjustly, from the war.
Though one might not suspect it from
the general tone of the party declara-.
tions and of the utterances of the party
leaders, there are many Democrats who
are heartily sick of the narrow, ignorant
and foolish course to which the party
has been confined, and who long for a
chance to exert their political energies
Tor something better than the .s1ost7
cause or the spoils of office. The
breath Of independence which has swept
over the country, and has thrown down
many of the oldest and most conspicuous
of the Republican leaders, has been felt
in the Democratic party as well, and
thousands of the young men of that
party are bent on turning toward the
future and trying to achieve something
better than the mean and petty objects
to which the party has been so long de-
voted. 1t is this element in the. party
which gives Mr.. Carlisle-by far the
most respectable figure on the Demo
cratic side in the next House-his really
strength.
But while this is true, it is very far
from being certain that Mr.. Carlisle
will win in the contest for the Speaker
ship The fact that he is in every way
the better man-better in point of char |
acter and ability-is not altogether an
advantage for him. Mr.. Randall is |
backed by forces which have long had |
control in the Democracy. He is an |
acute and unscrupulous politician. He |
9 unembarrassed by any serious con-
7ictions. He fully appreciates the value |
of the trickery, the subterfuge, the pre-
ense, the management which have been
he recognized weapons in the armory
II Democracy for so many years, and I
he can unquestionably count on the un-
ailing support of most of the intriguers
ind the jobbers in the Democratic |
'anks. Above all, he is in close alliance
With those favored interests which de-
'end so largely on legislation for their
profits and their power, and which will
'xert the utmost influence they can
command to secure his election to the
'peakership and any other advance
nent he may ask as bulwark against
he reform to which Mr.. Carlisle is
pledged. These interests in the past
AVE been devoted to Republican
Iscendency. That, for the time
'eipg, is lost. They will now
ally about Mr.. Randall, and with
hat impartial zeal which wealth inya-
iably shows toward those who can serve /
T protect it. The contest, therefore, is
oubtful, but its result viii have a very
owerful influence, not only upon the
lture of the Democratic party, but on
hat of American politics Were we to j
onsider merely temporary partisan ad- /,
antage, we should desire the success of g
ir: Randall and the policy of intrigue
nd makeshift which he represents, for ]
nch success would tend to make the re-
ention of power by the Democrats and {
heir complete possession of the Ma s
onal Government very difficult, if not {
npossible. But as the real interests of {
le Nation are best served when each t
arty does its best, we hope that the S
emocracy will have the courage and {
isdom to place its ablest and strongest c
ZEN at its head, and try to secure the q
doption of a practical, vigorous and
ncere policy. When it shall have done .
}, We have entire confidence in the ca v
acity OF the Republican party to make
still stronger claim.o .on the confidence
the country - " Y Times i q