The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-04-26
The Democratic Position.

The Democratic Position.
me fate.of The Morrison tariff bill
is p5actically sekIed by the vote on
the, auesti0n o consideration, but
ting vote ue4 4erfheless indicates the
aiEz'end desire 81 the Democratic ma
Jori It shows tllatofthe 1856 DEM
ocfals n the House Of Representa-
tlyes only thirty-nine, or about one
nfthsof the party's representatives are
opposed to a bill which, if made a
laws would paralyze the industries of
the country. impoyerish the work
inghlen. embarrass capital and pro-
ducesa panic unps ralleled in the his
torpsof the nation. The femairing
four,6fths of the Democratic party
throagh their representatives In Com
gresS are committed to the snpport
q Tbs fuihohs doctrine .and will 40
,slSers .fsug In their power to put ft
into active practice.
Admitting that the 135 Democrats
who voted to take up the bill are sure
to be unwaVeTing in their allegiance,
the bill is yet four votes short of the
requisite majority, for it can be laid
down as almost absolutely certain
that the five Republicans who voted
to take up the bill will promptly and
willingly vote against it on final pas
sage. One of these Republicans is
from the great wheat growing State
of Kansas, three are from Minnesota
and one from New York. Whether
the Morrison bill passes the Houses
or is defeated, it is platform upon
which the Democratic party will
stand before the people in the coming
Presidential campaign.
1t is as the advocates of free trade
that they will ask for the support of
the Democrats fNew York, doubt
tul state, eighteen of whose represen-
tatiyes favor protection while only
twelve favor free trade ; of the people
Of Connecticut, doubtful state and
manufacturing one of the people of
California, doubtful state, only one
OF whose representatives faYorS free
trade; of Florida, a doubtful state,
whose vote is divided of Indiana,
doubtful state; of Massachusetts,
doubtful state, only three of whose
representatives favor free trade: of
Ohio, doubtful state, only three of
whose representatives favor free trade;
and of Virginia, a doubtful state, on
ly one of whose representatives favor
FREE trade.
1t is to these states that the Demo-
Gratis must look for recruits.
Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina,
North Carolina, Missouri, MISSISSIPPI
pi, Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas
and Alabama, the strongholds of De-
mocracy, where there is need to gain
nothing and fear of losing nothing,
are practically unanimous for free
trade, thus further proving that it is
essentially Democratic doctrine.
In other words, the Democratic
party, which needs above alf things
a war-cry TO attract recruits. has
adopted one which is only satisfac-
tory to the blindest and most bigot-
ed of its own party; to those who
would vote for Judas Iscariot if he
were aliye and a nominee on the reg
ular Democratic ticket, and who
would endorse any crime if a Demo-
cratic platform recommended it.
Where there is no need of further
strength this principle commands
unanimous support. Where aid and
encouragement are needed and eX-
pected it repels instead of attracts.
The Democratic party, which took
up free trade because there was no
other issue left it, finds itself, there
fore, handicapped by that upon
which it placed the most dependence
to bring it victory. Its attempt to
be honest and fearless has profited it
nothing on the contrary. it has put
it in worse plight than it was be-
fore, if such thing were possible.
For this blundering it can blame
no one but its Incorporate leaders.
The men who advocate a principle
which threatens to bankrupt a great
country are not safe leaders for par
ty which depends for life and power
upon the votes of those whose pros
perity 1t Observation-Disclosures Her.
aid.
What it Means.
The meaning of the work of Tues
daV in the HOuSn nnuSt not ha lost