The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-19
A THREAT AGAINST BUSINESS.

The Sentinel is out with a doubleeaded
editorial decrying the nomination of Samuel
j. Randall for the speakership. Evidently
the article is in the interests of Senator Nc
Donald, whose views on the tariff question
are in direct variance with those of the dis
tinguished Pennsylvania To make capital
for the faction represented by Mr.. Mcdonald,
Mr.. Watterson and others, every tariff Demo-
crat must be slaughtered in the house of his
friends, and the power and the spoils given
over to the thinkers, who are never happy ex-
cept when tearing to pieces, keeping the
public in suspense, and imperiling
every vital interest. The programme of the
Western Democrats now is to overhaul the
tariff in conformance to the Democratic
theory of "a tariff for revenue" The Senti-
nePs article argues that Mr.. Randall is not
not; but how the Sentinel arrived at
this conclusion is beyond conjecture,
He is wise who knows what Democracy
believes on this great question. Beyond
controversy, Mr.. Randall is not in accord
with Mr.. Mcdonald and Mr.. Watterson.
Neither is Pennsylvania nor Connecticut
Democracy, nor the Democracy OF other
States and sections. The party is hopelessly
divided on this point Mr.. Mcdonald and
Mr.. VOORHEES, are as far apart as the poles,
and the party in Indiana is torn to pieces.
fl,o IN, nj
ing views that defeat each other. When the
party declares in favor OF q tariff for revenue
it cuts the throat of American industries
and then attempts TO stanch the flow of
blood by a mild postscript-"with Incl
dental protection" The Democratic leaders
are too intelligent not to know that such an
utterance is a paradox not to be reconeled
with truth. To one of these ideas it must
prove false A tariff for revenue and Incl
dental protection are contradictory They
cannot be commingled any more than can
fire and water. Give Democracy control,
and one of these must go down, to be deter
mined by whichever faction in the party
should prove the stronger.
The Sentinel gives voice to the purposes
of that wing of the Democracy which has
always shaped the party policy when it says
of the next House of Congress:
1.-The large Democratic majority in that
body should not choose a presiding officer
whose policy and rule of conduct in the
chair would impose silence and inaction
upon the subject uppermost in the hearts
and minds of their constituents"
If this means anything it means, unques-
tionably, That this great principle in our ma
for the sport of tyros in federal politics.
Comm cree and industry in general are to be
threatened and frightened by the men who
are pledged to do something or anything in
order to keep imaginary pledges to their
constituents. AS subject for their costly
jugglery they have chosen the tariff question,
and will cat-haul it hack and forth until
they tire, and then leave it possibly just
where they found it, the business interests of
the country meanwhile suffering the conse-
quences. So far as the Republican party is
OOhCSiASui SPEAKING Alohl d pulSly paItlotlH
point of view, it is willing that the Demo
cratic majority should act exactly in the
manner indicated. Without IA man in the
chair to keep these experimenters steady,
they will be certain to so alarm the commun-
ity as to insure an overwhelming defeat in
the ensuing election.
But what party the accidental success
of which at an unimportant election, puts
the whole business and industry of the ma
ton on the anxious seat, alarming and pros
trating them, and causing distress in greater
or less degree to every workingman in the
country!