Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-12-12
The REAL DEMOCRATIC ISSUE.
viii It he ,Seyenue Reform and Redde-
tIon OF Take with the Democrats
Next Year:-rhe views of Mcclellan.
mour. Cleveland and " hcDonaId.

Next Gear:-fhe views oil hcJieiinp,
eymour. C,evcIand and Mcdonald.
NEw NosK. Pee Der ll.-General
George b. Mcclellan was Eorni by re-
p, rter in the study Of his house on Wash
ing;oa Square.
IL Gave come" .ad he reporter, ITO ask
your opinion on ;ar;g reform as aa issue
in the next Presidential election. Do you
think the Democrats will have the courage
10 make it square issue on the tarijt!'
"Yes do, said Genera! Mcclellan with
earnestneSs; the time was not many
months ago when it would have cost any
Congressman MS election 10 have spoken
favorsbly Ct iiee trade. To-day, while free
trade is 10. thoughtiof by any politician as
of in mediate application, there are many
mec. bers Of Congress who preach its doc
ty:nss as al ultimately good thing for the
tinted States, and many more who are
gs.nirs political strength who are lighting
ior w tariff. In this connection may
quote 10 you what a prominent member OF
Congress from Illinois told me last spring
lie sasd that not only in Illinois, but FUR
tIer northwest and west, in the last cleo
ii, y the winning men in both the Dcmo-
cratic and Republican parties were
Those Who Preached Low Tariff:
TEese alone met vi sympathy from the
peO:..e, ard that sympathy | believe is
grow Hsi:s.
Where will the strength OF ths !os
tsriE party lie!
Mainly in the Wss;. 1t is there that
the u.ht will be fought, aud 1t IL there
that we shall learn shortly whether We are
10 remain in existence as Democratic
psrty with ell our excellent traditions or
whether we are to be forever wiped out OF
existence through our own cowardice in
falling TO meet this issue. Ii is an inevIta-
bic one, ana will give the victory TO any set
OF men that will take it up"
What makes you think SO:
Well, look around and tell me what the
pFop.e are thinking about. Is It the eman-
cipation Of the negro? Is II tne straSgLe 10
| destroy the confeoersCy? Is u the paying
| Of our Obligations? Is il the tight against
| the UrscubsCk craze?
These Jhings Are of the Past.
| stun for the historian and matter for a
Repu bfcau hack county politician. But
whep you 90 among the men who are
builC NJ the country on its real founda-
lions, who have stopped raking up sec
| of p: Ogress by sill the means civilization
sfFor,is-our men of business, our farmers,
our urOduce men, our miners, our pioneers
on he new land-whst do thev care for
names of parties Not tasnap. What they
DO cars for is whether they are being
cheated out OF share of their earnings by
| 3 mil! owner or au iron master thousand
miles from where they work. These men
out West want to know how much OF the
tax they pay goes straight TO Uncle Sam,
and Row much to the men who get the
tariff tirkered 10 suit the infant INDUS
tries
"But will cot the Democrats loose great
| lv by sntsgoniz,ug the protectonists in
..Verv well. if there is any section OF
the party that calls itself Democratic, and
does not telievs in the cardinal principle OF
Democracy-egusl tsxation-let that sec
ton OF the psrty
Seek n Congenial Fellowship With the
Republicans
who preach that one class OF the communi-
ty NAV be taxed tor the benefit Of another.
We want no such support. Oar Positiol is
| a sound one The Democratic party Is
| identified with local self Govern ment, hard
money and revenue reform. ON that pat
fern we make q square issue with the Re-
We will gather under the Democratic nag
great number of Western and Eastern Re-
publicans, who feel the injustice OF the
high tariff, but who have not in the past
been convinced that the Democrats are
sincere in their advocacy OF a tariff for
revenue only
"is il not likely that the infant indus
tries of the South will, as they have IN
Ohio. encourage q desire for protection
among those who have hitherto been low
tariff men?'
From representative Southerners, aud
WesterDers toe, or that matter, that have
talked to on this subject chiefly
During the Tariff Discussion
in Washington last winter, and many OF
the manufacturers in the South-notably
| the iron men of Birmingham, Alsbams-
are so fayorably situated that they would
| be able to thrive under low tariff. that
| would pinch Massachusetts, and Pennsyl-
vapia badly"
"What bearing do you think the ascu-
mutation in the treasury Of our present
enormous surplus Mill have on the auss-
| tion?'
"A very important one that will be un'
derstood by men in business perhaps batter
than by Others, The rapid paying of oi