The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-01-16
With Its Mask on.

With Its Mask on.
If is said at Washington that Demo
cratic eyes begin to open. "We have
elected a Speaker" said one Southern
Democrat, "but we have lost the Presi-
dency." But that is narrow view of
the matter. Out of power for time,
the Democratic party had labored to
make people forget its nature and pur-
pose. In the election of Speaker it
was compelled to show something of it.
self. The real difficulty is that the
party is offensive to q majority Of the
people, no matter which phase of itself
1t presents. Whatever it did was GER
tain to remind men of much that the
party would gladly have had forgotten.
To prefer Randallism was to bring to
mind long career Of hollow professions
and false promises, of trickery and
evasion on questions OF vital impor-
tance. The choice OF Mr.. Carlisle dis
closed the South in full control, with
its sleepless sectionalism, its unchanged
prejudices and beliefs, its Southern in
terests and hatreds. The party had q
Southern face and a Northern mask,
and the mask had long ceased to hide
the utter insincerity of professions
made to please Northern voters. To
wear the mask again would have been
disgusting; to take it off was offensive.
But the party had TO do one or the
other.
Having chosen the more candid
course, the Democratic party can gain
nothing now by dallying. In every part
Of the country the election of MIR. Car
Isle was hailed by those who want a
radical reconstruction of the tariff. II
the party does nothing, with him as
Speaker, it will justify these people in
declaring it incapable or insincere. 1t
can hardly Afford TO offend them, as it
has already offended the friends Of the
present tariff. Nor can IL afford to give
business men new reason for believing
that it is not competent for the details
of legislative duty. That reproach has
cost the Democrats very much already;
they can Judge what chance they would
have in commercial or manufacturing
regions, If, after months of anxiety and
apprehension, and consequent embar-
rassment of industries, they should
prove unable to propose any practical
modification of the tariff II that is to
be the end. it would have been infinite
ly wiser and safer for them to elect Mr..
Randall and cork up the whole question
for two years more. BY electing Mr..
Carlisle, they have declared their in
tention to do something; now it re-
mains TO see whether they have the ca
pacity even ID propose anything.
The same difficulty arises with regard
to other questions. The Democrats
have been berating Republicans incess-
antly because the interests of the peO-
pie, IL is alleged, have not been regard
ed in legislation about railroads, banks,
currency, coinage and other matters.
Mr.. Carlisle has been elected because
his opinions on those subjects have
been made known by his acts and
votes. II there has been any sincerity
in these complaints Of Democrats, they
will now proceed to frame measures
embodying their ideas. The Republic
ans will probably stop such measures,
II by them regarded dangerous, in the
Senate, and definite issues for the peo-
pie to consider will thus be made. II
may as well be said that this is Just
what the Republicans desire. They be.
lieve their course has been wise and
right, and want the people to de-
eide between them and those who
accuse them OF monopoly" OF
favoritism, or subserviency to corpora.
tions, or disregard OF popular interests,
They challenge the Democratic party tc
show wherein il would have change. II
it fails it will show that it is insincere OIL
incapable. II its members of Congress:
have not the practical capacity to frame
measure, what will be. the use of elect.
ing another Democratic Housep Ii they
have no beliefs or purposes which they
dare to embody in practical measures
before Presidential election, what
reason will the people have for trusting
themp
1t is the old story. To sit on the banl
and snarl is much easier than to pul
the boat up stream. But this country
does not want TO be governed by party
merely because IL can snarl. II wants
party in power that can pull the boat
my Tribune.