Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-06-14
A Badly Mixed Party.

To an acute observer it begins to APP
pear as if trouble of q serious nature
was likely to engage the attention of
the Democratic warehouses before they
are able to come under the wire for the
presidential race next year. 1t is
clearly evident that peace and harmony
are not doing the lion and the lamb act
to any appreciate extent in that party
just at present. 1t is possible that
the Democratic whips may be able to
get all into line in time for the hippo
drome, but the appearances are not of the
brightest now. The heavy split appears
likely to come on the tariff ques-
ton, unusual as this may appear Yet
there are those who assume a confidence,
whether they have it or not, on this
point that considering the signs of the
times, is positively refreshing.
Mr.. Henry Watterson. who guides the
destinies of the Louisville Courier-Jour-
nal and is the leader OF the free trade
wing OF the Democracy, in recently
published New York Tribune interview,
processes to see rosy radiance hover
ing over everything. Mr. Watterson
bases his belief on the assumption that
the free trade wing is able to pilot the
Democratic craft at their own sweet
will. Mr. Carlisle is to be the next
speaker, revenue reform ways and
means committee appointed, new
tariff bill brought in, and says the Ken
lucky editor, the discussion on the bill
Twill practically go over the ground on
which the next presidential election will
be fought" Mr. Watterson, it will be
seen, IS kind enough to admit that there
will be a discussion, which is very
considerate of the gentleman. 1t is
quite probable that there will be an ex-
tremely lively discussion, should the
outlined programme carry. But there
are other ingredients which are liable
to sour the whole batch of Mr. Waiter
sons political dough- While he is talk
ing SO placidly of the prospective pro-
gramme, he utterly ignores certain sig
niiicant utterances from journals pub
lished some degrees further south than
his own. One of these Journals, in dis
cussing the prospects of Democratic
success recently, after allowing that the
president would be Democrat
which opinion alone they and their con-
temporary have but a single thought
concluded with the significant remark
that the south had CROUCH of free trade
heresies, and. in fact, could easily at
tend to the case of the squad of that
name, who were raising such a rumpus
in the ranks. In view of these outspo-
ken expressions, would it not be well
for Mr.. Watterson to remodel his plans
at least slightly.
1t is fact too patent to be denied
that the South has materially increased
in wealth and prosperity during the
past decade. This advancement is also
indisputably due mainly to the manu-
featuring interests which have sprung
up in those states. That these indus
tries have been able to thus develop
themselves is due to the protective pol
icy which has fostered their beginnings
and smoothed the ascent for their feeble
steps. 1t is natural then that these
states should have no particular relish
for the dinner of free trade. disguised
though it is under the equivocal name
of ''tariff for revenue only" which is
prepared for their consumption. The
leaders of the Watterson type may lead
the southern horse to the waters of free
trade, but they may perhaps find they
have undertaken too heavy contract
when they attempt to make him drink
He is too numerous as well as too Wig
orous. The fear is then that between
the free use of heels that will ensue
the Grand old failure will become so
sadly damaged as to be of no mortal
nse for the transaction of business.