Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-09-29
NO DODGING THE TARIFF.
from the Macon. Mo. Times, /,


The St. Joseph Gazette thinks the
democratic party ought to dodge the
tariff question. This is strange COM
ing from a paper edited by the bold
and aggressive Major John N. Ed
wards. True, II is understood that the
Gazette is principally owned by Col. j.
N. Burnes, congressman Of the St.
Joseph district, but if this is true, it
makes the position of the Gazette more
mystery, for while in Washington
last winter beforecongressed adjourned,
Col. Burnes was in several democratic
conferences for Carlisle for speaker, and
is understood to be for Carlisle, while
the Gazette is for Randall.
The Gazette does not pretend that the
tariff needs no reforming but says:
''The tariff cannot be national issue.
1t will split the democratic party if it
is. The weak in the faith will go helt-
er-skelter into the ranks of the republic
can party, while the friends of constitu-
tional liberty will be left utterly un-
dOne."
We repeat, we cannot understand
such talk from democrat. The very
idea that the democratic party cannot
afford to take stand OH q great nation
al issue must send q cold chill over
every democrat who thinks of it.
If the present monopoly tariff foisted
upon us as war measure by the re-
publican party is right, let's hear no
more about it, but if it needs changing
and reforming, then let the democratic
party say so, and stick to it if it loses
us every state in the union.
This dodging policy is cowardly, and
we have, we rgret to say, had justa lit
tie too much 'policy" in the national
democratic management. We admit
the grand old party has had to struggle
against terrible odds, for the republican
party, the best organized the world
ever knew, has built up one monopoly
after another which now contribute
money to its election fund, until it has
unlimited cash and never fails to carry
an election when money will do it.
So we are not disposed to criticise
the democratic party for any of its fail
ures in the past, but for the future we
want no lodging. Let US have an. old
fashioned, square-teed platform of no
uncertain sound, and capable of but one
construction; and let one of its planks
be an unequivocal declaration for a re-
form of the present monopoly tariff by
which the masses of this country are
robbed of millions annually for the
benefit of few.
Such a platform, and bold and ag-
gressive campaign, would sweep the
country. But if we should go down,
we wnuld have the consolation Of
knowing that we had not been defeated
while lodging.
Yes, let us have a democratic plat
form, and if we can't carry New York,
or any other state, on that kind of q
platform, then let all such states go.
In this connection we may add that
this talk of the Gazette that Randall
ought to be elected speaker of the lower
house of congress in order to pacify and
harmonic the party in the east is dis
gushing. 1t has been just such policy
strokesas this that have told most terri
bly, against the party on more than one
occasion during the past 20 years. 1t
is not pretended that the great heart of
the democratic party does not favor
tariff reform; it is not suggested that
such is not needed, still the party and
reform must be sacrificed and Mr..
Randall, who is in sympathy with the
present tariff, and thus at variance with
the democratic party, must be elected
speaker of democratic house to please
q few eastern democrats who are from
pecuniary interests high protectionists!
Such proposition is toe cewardly and
humiliating to be entertained for mo-
ment ! True, Mr.. Randall is an excel
lent man-none stand higher in our
estimation. He is able, and is brave as
lion in his onsloughts against the re-
publicans, but, unfortunately, on this
great tariff issue he is at variance
with the democratic party. Besides,
he holds nothing over Mr.. Carlisle in,
peint of ability, except his experience
as speaker, and certainly because
man has been speaker is no reason he
should be speaker always.
Mr.. Carlisle is in full sympathy with
the democratic party OH every national
issue, and his election to the speaker
ship will do much to encourage the
rank and draw new converts. 1t would
look like the democratic party possess
Ell the courage of its cOnvictiOns