The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-12-28
THE IRONY OF POLITICS.

Last Tuesdays New York Sun has
a leading editorial under the above
caption, portions of which would
appear sinful to lose on good many
Minnesota Democrats. 1t is well un.
derstood that the Sun Is nothing if
not Democratic. but unlike many
marty organs of its ilk the editor is
not wholly blinded to plain facts.
Speaker Carlisle selected as Ohios
representative, Hon. Frank Hurd in
the committee Of Ways and Means,
and the san proceeds to say:
This would be very well indeed, if
that committee were expressly organ.
.zed i'm the interest of free trade
opinions; and for the purpose of
bringing about the transformation of
the tariff OH a strict revenue basis.
If the Ways and Means committee
could be composed entirely of free
traders, and if, in making their tariff
bill, they would do their best to bring
il as nearly as possible to the free
trade line; and if the House of Re
representatives. would adopt that bill
so that it might 60 to the Senate and
he rejected there; and then II the
Democratic National Convention
would adopt it in their platform, 80
that the issue of free trade and pro-
lection could be brought squarely be.
fore the people and voted upon in the
Presidential election of 1884, there
would be this good in it, that the
question would be settled for twenty.
tive years at least. and then the Dem
ocratic party might once more attend
to its duty of refOrmii g the Govern
ment and restoring the principles OF
Jefferson to their proper place as the
centre and well.spring of our polity.
OF course everybody understands
that such a measure would he attend
ed by the overthrow of the Democra.
cy in the election of 1884; and it may
well be doubted whether the pro-
ceedings of the party have not nj.
ready been carried SO far by the en-
thusiastic and passionate apostles of
free trade, such as Mr.. WatterSon.
Mr.. Morrison, Mr.. Hurd, Mr.. Mills.
and, to a certain extent, Mr.. Carlisle
himself. that il is already impossible
to prevent u result 50 crushing and 81
calamitouS; while, as the case now
appears, we are in danger of having
to endure the overthrow without the
corresponding benefit of a settlement
of this peStilent question. Such Is
sometimes the effect of impossible
situations and QuixOtic leadership.
The irony comes in when MIR. Hurd
is taken us the representative of the
Democrats of Ohio. Only three
months ago they carried their State
election IL most gallant and surpris
ing manner. Their chief candidate
WAS not only sick and broken down,
but in his appearances before the peO
pie upon the stump, it was evident
that this name ana personality added
little to the strength of the party
Bet against all obstacles, and in the
face of immense discouragements
they brought the State back into the
Democratic fold. In doing this did
they receive any help FROM Mr.
Hurd! None whatever. lie was toe
exclusively Il free trader to take part
in their labOis. lie refused even t.
make "a speech unless he could be
permitted TO denOunce the platform
upon which they were making their
fight. Accordingly they went
through it without the least aid
from him; and il is to be said in his
behalf that if he had appeared in the
canvass, he might have done injury
to his party; and it is equally certain
that, although he was elected by the
party, he would have been beaten ii
he had gone before the people alone
upon his own merits and as the advO
cate OF ais own ideas.
/ Well, now that it Is all over, Mr.
| Hurd is chosen to speak and act fol
| Ohio in this most important and in
nuential committee of the House
Can anything surpass the irony OF
such a selection and such Il prefer
ence!
1t is not too much to say that il
under such circumstances a State
election were held in Ohio tomorrow
the Democrats would be beaten by ;
majority of fifty thousand.
Poor, stricken, hapless Democracy
divine in ideas, most impotent in con
duct, what fatalities beset thee
what fOllies are committed IN tn!
name!