The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-12-29
CONSERVATISM
SHOULD BE THE POLICY OF THE
DEMOCRATS.
Our Correspondent Deprecates
the Sectional Howl.

trace journals to force an issue and
perhaps factional split in the Dem.
ocratic party on the tariff question.
The Democratic party is and ought
to be conservative on the question oil
tariff and revenue reform, and those
who attempt to force it into fractional
strife are certainly not it's friends
and do not desire it's success.
This spirit has been particularly
manifest since the election of Hon.
John G. Carlisle Speaker of the
House Of Representatives. Now it
is quite evident that the position OF
Carlisle on the tariff question is a
conservative and safe one while that
of Randall was radical and differed
little from the high protective policy
of the Republicans, and mis- election
as Speaker could at best only have
been construed as policy trick, for
no one will contend that he repre-
sents the true Democratic idea on
that question, and while controlled
by sectional interest, his views are
not broad enough for a National
party. With the fate of the party
heretofore in the Greeley nomination
and the endorsement of the Constitu.
tional Amendments it will certainly
be unwise if it does not learn lesson
from experience.
The Democratic party must have
a policy of its own and boldly pro-
claim it's conservatism.
1t cannot be protectionist in one
section and free trade in another and
it should be neither. l repeat it,
those are not its friends who attempt
to force the issue.
While these factionists are trying
to make q breach in the party, | see
that even Secretary Folger is taking
middle ground. Can it be that we
are again to see our best hope stolen
by the Republicans, while we are too
timid to announce policy of our own.
But what has worried me worst
was the howl set up by some SO called
Democrats, about the Southern Dem
ocrats electing Carlisle, he being him
self a man Of the South.
My understanding is Hon. j. G.
Carlisle was a Kentucky Unionist
and as for his location only river
separated him from the pure air of
Garfield, Sherman, Hayes and
Foster, to say nothing of the patriotic
Mclean.
But even if he had sympathized
with the South, is he any worse than
Longstreet, Mosby or Malone and
other great lights of the lost cause?
Fealty to party is the test by
which all things are tried when re-
duced in the Republican crucible,
and Brown, Key and Malone become
patriots while Mcclellan, Rosecrans
and Hancock become rebels-and the
fact of man being resident of
Southern State being called up
against him, even if his record is nm
is price of folly that
will only bring confusion to those
who are guilty of it.
/ congratulate the Democracy for
having done wisely and well in stand
ing by the man who was the best ex-
ponent of their true inwardness.
The tariff Issue can never again be
made nine days wonder to alarm the
timid voter, for our people are begin
ming to learn that it is unnecessary
to draw more revenue from the peo-
pile than an economical administra-
ton of the government requires.
They are beginning to see that GER
tain classes are benefited by protec-
ton and at the expense of others
that instead of fostering industry, it
builds up monopolies, and that the
stamp on the match box, which the
poor laborer and the sewing woman
paid, was used to make millionaires.
They will learn that all duties
placed on the necessaries of life, such
as coffee, tea, sugar, rice, &c, beyond
what is absolutely necessary, is only
paid by the consumer to put in the
purse of the capitalist.
Labor is not benefited by protec-
tion, nearly so much as we are tried
to be made believe; it is capital which
is hedged for. Simply because cap
ital now controls Legislation; fact
that is demonstrated by compari-
son of the purse and brain of many
of the statesmen of to day.
Hurrah for Carlisle!
Mr.. Editor, 1t is my honest con-
viction that if nothing else will do
the malcontents that are raising this
sectional howl and forcing tariff
issue upon the party the sooner they
are turned over to their congenial
friends the better.
All true friends ofour party will de-
precatc any such issue, but we cannot
afford to seem what we are MOTIVE will
deceive nobody more than ourselves.
We want policy-a broad, con-
sentative, national policy-and we
want to stand firmly by it, and wei
come all who endorse it, whether
from Maine or Louisiana, Ohio or
Kentucky, so they be the friends
of the people the poor as well as the
rich. ~