The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-04
Is 1T MEANINGLESS!

DOSlllOn III Ine government, CuTTNlnS Will IL
the enormous power and influence of practi-
cally holding the legislation of one branch
of Congress, mean anything at all, and if so,
what? This question becomes pertinent, in
view of the statements made antecedent to
the nomination and election, and the pitiful
and paltry apologies already put up on every
hand by the victorious but badly-frightened
free-traders. What was the basal idea of
the Carlisle campaign? Was it not
the underlying principle of free trade, or
the n~ewly-invented, sugar-coated euphem-
sm-'a tariff for revenue only? Did not
Mr.. Watterson ring the changes on this, and
declare in maudlin rhetoric, and with every
possible variety of epithet, that 'the thiev-
ing tariff must co.? Was not the wholeline
of battle aligned upon this idea, and was not
the battle pushed to the very gates because
Mr.. Carlisle was the representative
free-trader, opposed to Mr., Randalrs
''protective' notions, and committed
thoroughly to a vigorous over
hauling of the tariff upon the basis of 'rev-
enue only? If the Carlisle canvass did not
mean this, it is then the most utterly mean
ingless movement ever known in American
politics, and the sounding of the hew-gag
and the beating of the tom-tom was the most
bare-faced impudence and fraud. Was not
made the subject of tariffs and revenues a
special study, as the chiefest apostle of the
idea opposed to a protective tariff,
which is free trade, or "a tariff for
revenue only? Did not Professor Perry
write to Mr.. Carlisle expressing the ~liveliest
hope for his election, for 'the obvious effect
it would have upon free trade?' Did not
Mr.. Carlisle reply that ain my opinion a re-
treat from our present position on tariff re-
form would be disastrous. y II " My own
position on this subject has been deliberately
taken, and will be Observation-Disclosures
Did not Mr.. Carlisle say to Governor Under
wood, after the nomination had been made,
that "he recognized the fact that it was the
principle of which he was a representative
tllub iihu CACCtCU hliiij dllO bhdG a JILL
thing to be thankful for; and that be inter-
preted his election as meaning that from this
time forth the Democratic party would go to
the people with an aggressive and definite
policy, and adhere to it because it was right,
and deserved to win?' One Of the dispatches
of congratulation received by Mr.. Carlisle
was from ex-senator Caldwell and other
leading citizens OF Louisville, and it said:
'sYou are the embodiment of an idea, the
leader of a principle, the representative of a
cause. We are with you and for you"
Let it be repeated, that the election of Mr..
Carlisle was predicated and urged upon the
sole ground that he was "the embodiment of
an idea. the leader of a principle" and that
principle and that idea, the idea and princi-
didacy was a fraud and his can vass 4 swindle.
But something has been heard to drop.
The country has accepted the nomination
and election at precisely the estimate placed
upon it by Mr., Carlisle and his hackers,
and the business interests" so much jeered
over and sneered at by the buccaneers who
pushed Mr.. Carlisle's canvass with brutal
and coarse methods, are by no means salts
fed. A rumble and grumble and roar is
heard on all hands, and pass, prestol Mr..
Carlisle and his friends proceed to swear,
take, and that his election means nothing
whatever. From being an aggressive man,
with an 'idea," committed to a definite
and determined policy" he suddenly be-
comes an absolute nobody, with no
idea, no principle, no policy. He is now
presented as the embodiment of ''conserva-
tism," the very head and rom of those vino
would not, for the world, disturb the bust
ness interests and VINO never entertained
the idea of doing anything at all except
maintaining the existing status quo. What
does it ali mean? Read Mr.. Carlisle's petit
Jogging speech on taking the chair yester-
day, in which he COOS so sweetly to the
business interests that butter would not
melt in his mouth. The News, which is
nothing II not Tor tree trade, as
serts that Carlisle's election is a
great thing, and then proceeds to
demonstrate that it means nothing at all
for its 'gurreat principle" because Mr.. Car
Isle is not a 'free-trade fanatic to speak
after the manner OF our protectionist friends.
He has expressed only conservative, states
,non1ilro xioura ,,non chic en6;aot ~ oDI -
also says "it may we'll be doubted if the