The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-27
JUDGE FIELDS OPINIONS
New York SIM.

Mr.. Justice Field of the United States
supreme court is a democrat who has for |
many years had exceptional facilities for
forming just opinions of public affairs and
public men. Set a little apart from the
confusion and the quarrels Of politics by
virtue of the great office which he fills with
so much distinction, and yet led by taste,
and perhaps by ambition to take deeper
interest in politics than most Judges do,
he is able to study the passing phases and
the permanent characteristics of political
parties with singular advantage. The
opinions of such a man are always inter
esting and valuable.
In a recent interview with u CORES pond.
ent of the Portland Press, Judge Field
displays his wonted good sense and sa-
gacity of perception. 1t might be well
for the democratic party if the majority
IN the house of representatives, would
ponder his observations:
This congress ought to be very careful
how it conducts itself on the Tree trade
policy. 1t should go slow on the tariff
reform question. Probably the tariff may
need reforming in some sense. There are
inequalities perhaps to be removed, but
don't think the people Of this country
will favor or consent to a sweeping tariff
reduction or a general free trade policy
There are COG, 900 voters interested in
keeping the manufacturing industries of
This country in such a condition that they
can earn comfortable living through
them. We have no commercial marine,
and the people of this country are de
pendent upon other countries for nothing
We can manufacture here everything that
we need, and | fear that policy or a
platform which would look to large tariff
reductions would be fatal to our party or
to any party"
Turning from the question of policy to
Il consideration of the most available
democratic candidates, Judge Field says
frankly and unreservedly," that he is
not himself one among them. This
statement ought to be as frankly and I'M
rescrvedly accepted, and it does not rem
der his opinions of others who have been
mentioned any the less valuable He
thinks well Of Bayard, Of Hancock, OF
Payne, "a pure and able man." and Of
Randall. who would have the confidence
of all and the support of those who art
opposed to interfering with the tariff.
Thurman has many warm admirers, bu
they are scattered Morrison does no
seem to him to be strong outside of Hi
nois but Mcdonald is strong in some o
the Western states and should Western
men and the free trade element contro
the convention, he would probably be thu
nominee. Judge Field, it would appeal
from this, has not read Mr. Mcdonald
PhGnician speech. Flower, Cleveland
and Dorsheimer, Judge Field calls ''mel
of great promise, but he thinks they ar
young enough to wait.
But the most interesting part OF Judg
Fields remarks relates to the most hon
ored of the living leaders of democracy
'lf Tilden had the strength to endur
u campaign, he believed he would b.
nominated by the convention by acclama
ton. The feeling is very strong through
out the whole country, reaching beyond
the lines of the democratic party, tina
Tilden was most shamefully defraudet
out of his just election eight years ago
was member of the Electoral commits
sion, and | cannot think now, or at an,
other time, of the work it did withou
feeling that a great wrong was done bot
to him and to the country. If Mr.. Til
den is able and willing to be candidate
he will undoubtedly be nominated"
A great wrong was indeed done b
Judge Fields republican associates on tn
Electoral commission Judge Field nigh
have added that the sole but all too
feeble recompense that grateful part
can now make to the illustrious patrio
in whose person free government wa
fraudulently stricken down, is to otfe
him. to adopt OF to reject, the honor o
a nomination by acclamation-