The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-04-30
A Suggestive Spectacle.

The pending conflict in the Demo-
cratic party over the tariff issue is not
only amusing, but instructive. 1t
shows, in direct and glaring way, the
utter want OF fixed principle or well-de-
fined purpose on the part of that organ
ization which is accustomed to boast of
the fact that, amid all the mutations
and adyersities of our politics, it has
preserved its identity and gone on vot-
ing the straight ticket with unwavering
regularity and confidence. The ques-
tion with which it is now wrestling is
not new one. There has not been o
time in tho last fifty years when the
tariff was entirely outside the line of
current political discussion. 1t has been
debated more abundantly in this coun-
try than any other one topic excepting,
perhaps, the Immortality of the human
Soul. If there is anything upon which
the Democratic mind might be sup
posed to have reached a definite and
Interchangeable conclusion, it is this mat
ter OF the tariff; and yet the truth is
that it is as thoroughly at sea in that
connection as if the subject had arisen
only yesterday.
There was time when the Demo-
cratic party had tariff policy of a
coherent, harmonious and aggressive
Character. 1t was then in favor of pro-
lection to an extent never since advo-
Gated by any party, and levied the high
est duties ever imposed since the foun-
dation of the Government. Its lea ling
nen, like Martin Van Buren, Silas
Wright, James Buchanan and Andrew
Jackson, were open and vigilant OPP
ponents of free trade, and contended
for the most stringent measures to pro-
mote American manu- Factures by slut-
ting out foreign competition. So
earnest and determined was the attitude
Of the party in this respect that when
John G. Calhoun and his friends in
South Carolina raised the banner OF
"a tariff for revenue only" and claimed
that State had q right to disobey law
designed to protect home industry,
Jackson came down upon them in a
swift and positive way and crushed
them out and the parry honored him
for this courageous and effect We vindi-
cation of the highest tariff fknown to our
history, notw thstanding the fact that
Che mischieVous .'reformers" in the
case were otherwise Democrats in good
standing.
That was good while ago, however.
4 great many things have happened
since then. and the Democratic party
has been through variety OF disturb
ipg and confusing experiences. The
Van Burens and Wrights and Jacksons
have been succeeded by leaders of a
very different order; numerous expert
ments at subterfuge and double dealing
have been tried with improbable re-
suits; and the general process OF Demo-
cratic thinking has come to be loose,
variable and distracting. During the
last twenty-five years the plat orms OF
the party have been constructed to meet
temporary emergencies, to catch pass
3ng breezes, to take advantage OF tran
Gient fluctuations of public sentiment
Every former declared principle and
profession has been in turn antagonzed
or abandoned, and it is impossible for
Democrat to furnish reasonable or
salts actory statement of his political
belief. The moment that any question
Of prevailing interest comes up for
treatment, and the party undertakes to
assumea a position upon it, there is dis
agreement, uncertainty and violent
Gashing Of preferences and prejudices.
How such q party contrives to avoid
falling to pieces from sheer lack of ex-
cuse Tor holding together is one of the
mysteries of American politics; BY all
the rules Of logic and philosophy it
should have ceased long ago to vex the
course of affairs with its superhuous
and unsavory presence.
The condition OF the Republican
party, on the other hand, is that Of an
Organization with its mind made up,
md its objects plainly formulated and
announced. It's course has been con-
Gstent, and its plat orms do not reverse
and mock one another. A Republican
can tell you what his polit cal faith is.
Thy he votes as he does, and what end
30 expects to be accomplished by a
given policy NOBODY needs to be told