Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-12-27

Democratic Dilemma.
Though thou shouldst bray a fool in
a mortar yet will not his foolishness de-
part from him. was the utterance of
the Wise Man long ago; but the saying
holds good now; it might indeed have
been written expressly for the mod
ern Democracy. The record of our
Democratic party is not one of which
to be proud, nor is 1t calculated to in
spire any remarkable degree of either
hope or courage. The retrospect of a
quarter of century reveals nothing more
exhilirating than the story of successive
and disastrous defeats in National con-
tests-due chiefly to the pigheaded folly
of assuming unnecessary and crushing
burdens. And now, so far from having
learned by past unhappy experience the
lessons of wisdom that are patent to all
the world beside this party-this handi-
capped and humpbacked old wreck
comes up smiling to the threshold of the
great campaign of 1884, and volrn-
tarily cracks its dry joints and bares its
CALLED neck to stoop for the browning
burden of Free Trade. The result of
the late Speakership contest is cheering
to Republicans, while it is as the wet
test kind of blanket thrown over the
hopes of intelligent Democrats. 1t COM
mits the party almost beyond recall to
an issue which involves defeat from the
outset. The canvass for Speaker was
protracted, earnest, open, and prose-
cuted in full view of possible and pro-
bable results. The Free Traders were
for Carlisle; those who favored rest and
a fair trial of the amended tariff of last
year, were for Randall; while Mr.. Cox
was put in with the hope that in an
emergency the Free Traders might be
induced to accept him as a compromise.
The ballot was decisive and iusignifi-
cant: Mr.. Cox took 80 votes; Randall
had only 81 supporters, while Carlisle
received log votes-a clear majority of
"a over both. This means that the Free
Traders have the whiphand, and will
push their schemes. From ne present
outlook the Democrats are Ire to I'M
dertake the work of tariff .ision and
reduction. Whatever else y may re-
duce. they will almost inev oily reduce
their chances OF success the mini
mum. Numerous journals ind party
leaders are urgent for oper war from
the start; the wiser howey advise to
go slow, while Mr. Carlis evidently
with some slight perception hat there
are dangerous breakers a i'd, is pro-
fuse with assurances that " are not
going to do anything to njure the
(which means 1--WE ~tll conceal
our hands and disguise our purposes as
far as possible until it may be deemed
safe to break cover" But it won't do;
concealment and disguise are impos-
sible. The moment active measures
are taken in behalf of Free Trade, or
''tariff REFORM" call it what you will.
the story will be out; and the result will
be the alienation of hundreds of thou
sands of voters without whose support
the success of the Democratic ticket is
impossible; men whose investment OF
muscle or money in the varied indus
tries established or springing up all
over our wide domain will prompt them
TO unite for the defense of these imper-
illed interests, regardless of party asso-
Citations or theories. The New York
sun is not advertising that ''the Repub-
lean party must go as much as it was;
instead, it contains numerous para
graphs of this character; The judg-
s.ment of sober men will be that in the
..presert temper of the public mind,
..neither New York nor Connecticut nor
New Jersey, nor Indiana can possibly
.'be carried upon the free-trade pro-
..gramme. Louisiana will certainly
..vote against it, and Georgia and North
Carolina will do likewise. Indeed the
.'only States that can surely be relied
.'upon to give Democratic majority
..under such circumstances, are Ken
..tucky and South Carolina" In enter
ing upon Free Trade campaign the
Democracy will part company with the
Sun. its most effective advocate and
supporter. Turning its back upon the
New York Sun, the Democratic party
will at the outset paralyze the very
right arm of its fighting power. The
outlook is most favorable for Republic
can success next November.