The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-27

bear | would urge the republicans to adj
Vocate revenue reform, and save them
selves in the near future by doing it !"
And If they don't do that?''
We'll, if they won't do that and go
overheard | shall be very sorry; but l
amt going overheard with them"
"You mean that you will become a
democrat?"
i certainly shall not help any candi-
date in the republican party by an advo-
eacy or seemingly advocacy Of protect
ion, You know exactly how that would
be. If had any influence at all it would
necessarily be adverse to those who up
held protection,
But would you go over to fine democ-
racy?'
If the democrats should come out for
raw materials free and a sliding scale
from year to year of reduction of the
whole tariG-an even cuff they should
do that, the democratic party would come
to my ground, responded Mr., Baecher
with a smile. But with me it is not a
question Of party, although I have my
affiliations, am not politician and my
thought is purely and simply what is best
fer the country. ] have got no office to
keep and none to solicit have got no
political influence that l am afraid of
damaging. | stand as u spectator and
look on"
DO you think the election of Carlisle
has defined the democratic position and
improved the prospects of the party?"
"The election of Carlisle has had de
eided influence, and beneficial one
But the democratic party is a peculiar
institution. Because it did q thing last
yelr is no reason why it should do the
same thing this year. 1t has never been
willing to sacrifice a single thing to show
that it had conviction on any one point ]"
There are thousands of republic ms,
Mr.. Beecher, who think as you do on this
question. What do you expect they will
do if the democracy stands squarely on the
issue of the tariff reform?"
Il think there are vast number of
men who have heretofore been republicans
and would prefer TO vote with republi-
cans, but who will certainly vote the
democratic ticket in that event. The
silent voters, think, are increasing in
number | think the publication of This
discussion in the Herald is an eye opener.
1t is good thing to agitate the Ques-
ton. The Herald is doing a great
work Just now, and | hope it
won't get wearied in well doing. have
heard a great many men speak of that
interview with Mr. Low, for instance,
and such a thing as that is very pcrsua-
sive to men who are not committed to any
party affiliations Mr.. Hewitts speech
last year in the house was fine thing.
Being himself very heavy iron man,
there could be no imPutation that he was
making a sfecial plea in his own interest.
The speech was statesnanIike for the main
part. and a good many things of that kind
have happened and are happening. The
excessive amount of revenue we are get
ting in and don't. know what to do with
is attracting attention more and more As
remedy came that proposition which is
more like the proposition of 4 drunkea
man than of a man in his senses, that we
should take off the internal tax on whIsk-
ey and tobacco in order to save the Import
at our ports Consider how vast a nun
Der of temperance voters there are in this
country and how such thing as that
would strike them. For Mr.. Kelly to
propose that was political insanity Men
Torh Hcrald