The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1883-05-17
The Issues Of the Next Presidential Cana
paign.

paign.
We do not see what issue will divide the two DO
litieal parties in the next Presidential campaign,
unless is the chief that has divided the Repub
lieans from the Democrats in the Forty seventh
COngress-the tariff The issues that brought the
Republican party to the front in 1861 by the elec-
have ceased to excite public attention discussion
Slavery has been abolished free soil, free speech,
and free men, has long since ceased to be the rally
yeSations growing out of the Rebellion and the re-
construction of the seeding States, have passed
from the domain Of politics TO be settled in the
calmer atmosphere of judicial investigation. So
of the resumption of specie payments, and the Ma
tional banking system; SO of Ciyilseryiee Reform
and the payment Of the National debt.
The Democrats in the next House of Representa-
tives will be embarrassed with a majority SO large
that it will leave them chance to divide the re-
sponsibility with the Republicans for what is done
what shall be left undone They dare not at
tempt to NEEDLE with the National banks, nor to
stop the payment of the National debt, nor to do
any other unpopular thing, in the face Of the i'm
pending Presidential election. The Forty-eighth
Congress is the one that precees the great contest
of ISL and for certain reasons which are obvious
enough without recapituatOn, that will be one of
the hardest foug hit battles that has ever occurred
on this continent. The Democrats in the next Con
gress will have the skirmish line their side, and
they will try and omit their usual plumbers. How
well they will succeed remains to be seen.
So far as the Democratic party is concerned, it is
much worse of for popular and taking rail- lying
cry than are the Republicans. Ii has been beaten
in every National contest during the past twenty
because of its adhesion to slavery, and its dis
loyalty to the flag of the Constitution. Its record
in the past has been black and damning, that its
decent members have been compelled to initiate the
example of Noah's when the old was
found drunk and max ed in his tent
Walk backward with averted gaze
To hide the shame.
1t will try and escape if it can, all alusion 10 the
old questions growing out Of the Rebellion, and its
completely with that bloody and shameful event
and TO make the fight squarely upon issues that will
give them at least an equal chance with their oppo
nents in the result at the ballOt-box. But what
will it do with the tariff That exciting and troub
lesome subject has already rent the Democratic par
ty into two desperate factions, both intent on su
premacy, and neither of them yet recognized by
the action Of the National Convention. Possibly
the fight over the Speakership of the next House
may he the preliminary skirmish which will decide
the battle in favor of one side or the other. But
before that battle is fouget ont in the Democrat,
National Convention between absolute free trade
and IA tariff for revenue only, "a tariff for rev
enue with incidental protection, the party will be
confronted with another grave question. Congress
will meet again on the first Monday of next Deeem.
her and before the country has had chance ia
test the practical operation of the Tariff Act that
has just been enacted after fierce discussion in
both branches of Congress That act passed in
defiance of their wishes, and against their solemn
a majority of the Republicans believe it will, the
Democrats not entitled to any credit for it, and
they will not dare disturb it. lift proves TO work
badly, they will attempt to repeal modify it. and
the moment the question is reopened, then chaos
will have come again. II they repeal the present
law, which they pledged to do if it is half Ms
wicked. unjust and monstrous they claim it was
they will be held responsible by the people for the
substitution of something better. Here is the rub
IL looks at this time as if the operation of the
present Tariff Act will exert mighty influence in
the settlement of the question in the next Presiden
tial election, far the Democratic party is con
eerned. Ii it works acceptably to the country the
next tariff plank will declare for "a tariff for
nue. with incidental protection" and the radical
ree-traders will he squeched. But in any event
the questions of protection and free trade likely
to be the dominating, exciting and overshadowing
issues in the next Presidential election between the
two great eontendins political parties.-Chieagc
Journal