The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-11-01
THE ROCKS AHEAD.
What Correspondent Thinks Of the
Political Situation.
werds Of . Advice from washing
fton speciai---What Democracy
Must DO and Must
Not DO.

CINCINNATI, Nov. 1.-The Enquirer's
Washington correspondent says: Although
in a month later Washington will hold good
space in the political eye, SO to speak, it wears
almost its summer dnflness. Occasionally a
struggling politician invades its confines, but
only long enough to get through some routine
matter. After the November elections are
over the hurly-burly will begin, the over
ture to be- of course, the fight for the
speakeiship There is one thing which is
cropping out, and that is that the sue
cess of the Democracy is inspiring the
rank and file with over-confidence-so much
so that it may lead to mistakes from which it
will be hard to recover Only a. few nights
ago prominent Virvinia politician dropped
the remark that the national Democracy
could elect any candidate it might nominate
for the presidency.
!. Now, as matter of fact, the Democratic
party will have need to exercise due care e-ld
wisdom as to its line of policy. -4ore espe-
eially so with reference to legislation IN the
approaching congress
Upon the Organization Of the next house of
representatives much will depend. The con-
test for the speakelship and its solution will
determine whether or not a policy is to be
pursued which will invite the support or the
antagonism of the business men Of this coun-
try If the house is organized on the plan
suggested by the bowling Watterson, and is
committed in its committee make up to
policy of useless agitation of tariff, the
exuberant Democrats who think even a
waller dog could be elected president will
find the old enemy encouraged, inspired and
in good fighting trim, ready to dispute it. 1t
will be the policy of the alert Republican
leaders to force the Democrats, if possible, TO
reopen the tariff question. Even the most
radical protectionists will lend encourage
ment, because they know they have nothing
to lose, for, the senate being Republican, it
will defeat any bill which might epassed by
the house of representatives.
What the Republicans want is an open rup-
ture between those who believe in tariff FOR
revenue, with incidental protection to guard
the interests of labor, and the out and out
free traders They will work zealously to egg
it on, and not a few Democrats who have
more wind than discretion will walk
straightway into the pit. ....
The candidates who seek the distinguished
honor of presiding over the next house Of
representatives have views ON the question Of
the tariff. Randall is in favor of the Ohio
platform. Cox leans to free trade, after
one or two special interests have been
provided for; and the b lief is that Car
Isle is even more radically a free trader
His friends deay this, but those who
speak as those having authority
have certainly dragged him into their
free trade camp, even if against his will. The
election of Carlisle as speaker would demand
of him an organization so constituted that all
other interests would perforce be subordinated
| to that of radical modification of the tariff.
The election Of Cox would scarcely mean less.
The election Of Randall would mean, mas
much as the Democrats are powerless to ac-
complish revenue reform, a postponement of
its modification until they had captured the
United States senate and installed Demo
cratic president.
For the Democracy to succeed, it must
carry in the presidential election the states OF
New York. New Jersey and Connecticut and
have a contest not handicapped in Ohio and
Indiana If the national platform is for q
tariff for revenue only, four of these states
are at once jeopardized. The wisest Demo
cratic leaders-those who have foresight a:
we'll as hindsight-favor the Ohio platform
| as to the tariff