New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-20
DARE THEY DO TT

There are signs or great agluallOn among
the Democrats over the Tariff problem. They
want to come out openly for Free Trade, but
many of them are afraid of the consequences
The attitude of their representatives in Con-
gress at the close of the session left the party
squarely committed against Protection, and the
bothersome problem now is whether to stand
by that position or let the question drop till
after the Presidential election. The hOt-heads OF
the party are all in favor of reyiving the ques-
ton as soon as Congress meets, and OF cutting
down the tariff until none is levied save for
purposes of revenue. The conservative portion
is opposed to this course, not because they are
at heart against it, but because they are afraid
il will ruin their chances of success in 1884.
The whole question, therefore, is whether or
not the party will have the courage of its bad
convictions. Were it any other party
than the Democracy we should feel no
doubt in predicting that ordinary political
sagacity would prevail and they would
leave the subject severely alone till after 1884 !;
but judging their capacity for laundering by
past achievements, we are inclined TO think
they will take the question up promptly upon
the Resembling of Congress.
| The strongest Democratic journals are urg-
ing this course now. They are attacking Mr..
Randall as a candidate for Speaker on the
ground that he is too much of a PrOtectionist
to properly represent the Tariff position of
his party. They claim that when he was
| Speaker before he so constructed the COM
mittees that the Free Traders were in the
minority, and could not accomplish anything.
This is q true Indictment. Mr.. Ran
| dali has been Just that kind Of man.
| He is a Protectonist in Pennsylvania and a
Free Trader in Washington, so far as his
| speeches 90. But talk at Washington does
| him no harm at home so long as his acts are
in accordance with his home position. His
Free Trade utterances are useful in getting
him votes for Speaker but he knows that
it is not them but his PrOtectionist acts which
give him votes enough in Pennsylvania to make
him Congressman. If he is elected Speaker
again he will be very likely to pursue his former
course, and he is so well known now that if he
is elected a. all it will be with that understand
ing The Free Trade hostility to him, therefore,
is easily understood, and if it is strong enough
to defeat him we shall have Free Trade ses-
sion of Congress- with all the uncertainty and
disaster which the term implies.
1t is perfectly safe to predict the political
effect of such Congress. Long before it adj
iourned there would not be fighting chance
left for the Democracy in 1884. The popular
interest in the Tariff question is more intense
and more intelligent now than it has been Tor
many years. The people are waking up to
the tremendous importance of the question, and
the endless possibilities of disaster and iinan-
cial disorder which a careless and partisan
mcddIing with the subject would entail. The
careful work of the last Congress in revising the
present system showed them this. Even with
the best intention and with the best abilities
brought to bear in the work of revision, the
business interests of the country were unsettled
until the work was ended. With a Democratic
Congress ignOrantly and maliciously assailmg
all the great industries OF the country, it is
easy to see what chaos would be created.
The popular dread of such course is very
strong, and everybody except the Free Trade
Democratic leaders is able TO perceive it.
Their talk is, if possible, wilder than ever.
They declare that the bill passed by the last
Congress was fraud and a humbug and that
a new one must be passed as soon as Congress
assemblies again. Mr. Watterson, for example,
| thus lays down the course for the Democrats
| to follow
1t is TO sugmatize the doctrine Of Protection the
threshold thief and liar 1t IL 10 array against IL
the constitutional doctrine that shall be levied
clusively for and that revenu shall be
collected than is required TO support Government
economically administered IL to show that there has
been reform at all, but that the thevng tariff is
the old robber war tariff warmed over. II 10 TO dem
onstrate fortyseven millions Of people are being
pillaged TO enable three millions to precarious
livelihood; whilst few thousand autocrats. who are
able buy Congressman pile up the wealth Of the count
try stolen from the wes and South In tho East 1t is 10
accept ths issue Of the People against the ogsrc aud
press On every htop N the land To the bitter epd