Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-04-19
DEMOCRATIC POLICY.


DEMOCRATIC POLICY.
As a faithful chronicler of passing
events, and more especially as a DEM
ocratic journal, the LEDGER would
be derilect in its duty, if it failed to
call attention to what transplred at
the meeting Of the Chicago Iroquois
Club on Jefferson's birthday. The
question, raised by such prominent
democrats as Bayard, Broadhead,
Breckenridge, Wheeler, Hurlbert &
Co., on the one side, and Mayor Car
ter H. Harrison, on the other, was
"What is present Democratic poll
iey?'' The LEDGER, unfortunately,
has not space to reproduce . 1.-THE OF
what was said, and therefore its
readers must be content with al
Few brief sketches of what was adj
vanced by individual speakers. Mr..
Wheeler, the president Of the free
trade league. advocated the gradual
introduction of free trade and said
the first step in this direction should
be the election of a pronounced free
trade man as speaker Of the next
house of representatives. This, in
his opinion, would lead to the putting
of free trade into the next democratic
platform. Mr.. Hurlbert said that
democratic opinion was converging
and focusing itself upon a great ma
tional demand for a reduction of tax
alton, state and national, and for a
greater freedom of trade between
this and all other countries in the
world. The American free trade,
which binds this whole Union togeth-
er from the Atlantic to the Pacific
and from the lakes to the gulf, is as old
in the thought, passion and purpose
of the American people as impotence
of taxation. Republicans tell us that
tariff commissions and congressional
committees must be left to devise
plans for cheapening production in
America and for lettering the condi-
ton of Americans. Really! sup
pose the government were reduced to
its original functions of raising just
enough money to meet its necessi'
ties would manufacturers, merchants
and railroad men and their workmer
think that the end of the world had
come and sit down and suck theil
thumbs until another protective con
gress was elected to teach us how
to cheaper production and compete
with European pauperism? Th'
present duty of the democratic pres
therefore is to take up this issue, ant
discuss it, not by experts and com
missioners alone or chiefly, but b,
the whole people, consumers as wei
as producers, by all the men and wo
men it affects every day of thei
lives in their business and homes
In concluding the debate Mayo
Harrison said: Protection is
hydra-headed monster, but there i
something still more hideous in poll
tics and that something is greed Q
Office. 1t is only a little while ag
that greed of Office assassinated
president. Not three years ago
man got up in a republican CONVEX
ton and asked, IF offices are nc
what we are here for, in the name {
God what are We here for!' I 50
you may make your tariff for revenu
a plank In your next resolutions an
you may split the democratic party
The interests of the country do nj
demand it. The people are not "
educated up to it. They stick to Ii
party that gives them patronag'
You will drive even some of our pc,
pie from our ranks, and probabl
again have a presidential candida
writing q letter at the wrong momel
that kills your platform. Let it
known that every democratic offici
looks to the question whether thor
he appoints are honest, are capab
and true to the constitution and ye
will win in the confidence Of the pc
people,"
Perhaps Mayor Harrison's sugge
tions were untimely inasmuch
those that preceded him did not a
ticipate such criticisms at his hand
but OF the same time before u re
resentatiyes enter upon a contest
the election of a speaker for the ne
house upon any other grounds thu
that Of superior fitness for the pc:
ton, they had better pause and THU
of the consequences Of such actio
True democracy is not protectio
neither is it free trade. What Dug
to be insisted on in the next congre
is reduction Of taxation in any dire
ton and in any mode in which it c.
be obtained through alteration Of t
tariff or abolishment Of the intern
revenue. From defeat on such
issue the democracy can appeal
the people successfully In the ne
presidential election without divisi
OF any sort in its ranks.
A Minister with Half q Shirt.
One sultry Sunday a minister "
laundering away at his drowsy &C
gregation, the majority Of wht
would go to sleep in spite of all