Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-12-15

is Of much interest 10 Democrats. and,
in fact, to the whole country. Mr. Dana
affects to believe that the election OF Mr..
Carlisle to the Speakership over Mr..
Randall is tantamount to Democratic
defeat in the next Presidential election,
because 1t foresbadows policy Of free
trade upon tho part Of the Democratic
House Of Representatives. We agree
with the Sun that the adoption OF a rad
ieal free trade policy would mean
Democratic discomfture. However ad.
mirablc free trade may be in the alb.
stract, in the concrete, rs applied to tho
concerns OF the nation to-day, it will de.
feat any party which adopts it. We de-
sire 1t to be distinctly understood that we
are arguing from the point Of view of OK.
pediency and not Of principle--of facts
as they are, instead Of as we would have
them. We comprehend in their entirety
the reasonings which enable the advo-
Gates Of free trade to construct logical
and symmetrical system. Sir Thom.
as More, in his Utopia, achieved sim
liar success. II oil rivers ran up hill and
all mountains were valleys, we should
have world very much differing from
the sublnnary sphere on which we live.
As II is, all practical people will adjust
their ideas on the philosophical princi-
pie that water will seek its level, and
that vegetation ceases at certain alti
tudes.
Probably the World agrees with the
Sun that the adoption Of FREQ trade
policy by the Democratic House Of Rep
rentatives would be fatal to all hopes
Of our electing the next President,
for II is at great pains to point
out the fact that Mr.. Carlisle, on
assuming the Speakers chair, outlined
a very conservative policy, and utterly
repndiated the idea Of any radical change
in the tariff. This is tme,, and
il Is somewhat singular, to say the least,
that Mr.. Dana steadily ignores 1t. The
olsmor to olect Mr. Carlisle came main
" from States which can add nothing to
the Democratic strength in Presiden-
tial year. II was either from States like
Kentucky, which cast their electoral
voter for the Democratic nominee as a
matter of course, or from States like
Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan,
which have never voted for q Demo
cratic candidate since the war and which
are unlikely to do so next year,
The fact is that Mr.. Carlisle's election,
In the eyes OF many Democrats, was a
grave error. From the point OF good
taste alone such men as Randall and
Cox, who have fought the party's battles
in Congress for nearly a quarter OF n
century, ought not to have been thrown
over for comparatively new man. But
the country will form its Judgment
Of tho Democratic House Of Representa-
tives not upon point Of taste, but upon
q dispassionate review Of tho work done
by it.
II seems to us that the election Of Car
isle will have one excellent effect. 1t
has resulted in such clear and
emphatic expression of public opinion
upon the tariff that no body of
intelligent men, such as the majority
of the Democratic House undoubtedly is,
will venture to disregard it. 1t has
set the keynote, and what to many fore
beding Democrats has seemed to be
disaster will really prove to be bless.
ing in disguise. s
1t is to be regretted that that excep-
tionally able Democratic paper takes
such a gloomy view of the situation,
but we are inclined to think that much
of 1t is for effect Mr.. Dana probably
desires to apply the brake, and he is
only holding out the danger signal. The
truth is that the time has arrived for
tho exercise Of extreme circumspec.
ton upon the part Of Democrats,
both in and out of Congress All our
plans should be adjusted to carrying
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, In.
diana and the Pacific Coast States. 1t
is more prudent to assume that States
which have uniformly voted the Repub.
lican ticket during the past twenty years
in Presidential elections will continue to
do SO. With prudent councils in the
ascendant the Democracy have every
reason to believe that they can carry
nearly ali of tho States named. We
should bend all our efforts to this great
desideratum.
1t is pleasant to note that that wise
and able Democrat, Senator Dan Voor-
hees, is taking in the Senate position
antagonistic to the elatter of Henry
Watterson and his associates. who, to
many people who have the well.being Of
the Democratic party at heart, figure in
the role Of political "wreckers. Able
and honest they undoubtedly are, but in
practical politics they seem to be little
better than marplots. Mr. Voorhees,
has introduced into the Senate a bill
which looks 10 the payment OF the ma
iional debt as soon as possible, and which
will involve a continuance OF substan.
TALLY the present scheme of protective
duties to render the carrying out of his
programme possible. II was Mr., Voor.
hees who, when the tariff for revenue
only" plank was introduced into the
Cincinnati platform, on which General
Hancock went down, said "That loses us
Indiana From having been an origi-
nal free trader the Tall Sycamore of the
Wabash has become pronounced pro-
tectionist Democrat.
1t is to he hoped, for the purposes Of
the coming Presidential campaign, that
his tribe may increase.
Fortunate indeed is it for the Demo
cratic party that the issue has been
raised thus early, and with every oppor-
tnnity for wise and conservative action.
Ii it had been postponed to the meeting Of
the next National Democratic Conven-
ton we should have had upon our hands
process equivalent to shooting the
rapids, and without time enough to
make our vessel ship.shape before dar.
ing the ordeal
THE New York Sun notes a little de-
tail OF the organization OF tho House.
On assuming the Speakers chair Mr..
Carlisle said, "The next business is to
proceed to the election of a Clerk A
clear voice was uplifted on the Demo-