South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-04-18
The Main Issue in the National
Campaign.


or the democratic party than st resent.
The last congressional elections indica-
TED that he country was growing weary
Of republican rule. Tue oil ectional
Issues were worn out. Bitter antago-
nisms were splitting the republicans par.
ty into factions. The largo democratic
majority elected To the House OF Rep
Eesentat;ves was the outcome of these
qaarrels among republican leaders, back
ca by the hope to Obtain in q change OF
administration more definite policy
and relief from the burdens that Ire
tariff hat put upon the people. Three
things they asked for. Tn SO were, q
reform of the civil service "a means of
getting rib Of the abuses that had crcpt
int, the departments through the influ-
encc OF tie 81 oils system; economy in
public expenditure, and finally, such n
modification OF the tariff 80 by reducing
tao surplus revenue would take away
TIE opportunity for eX,ravagant ap'
preparations, open to manufacturers the
market of the world now closed against
them by tariff which prevents them
from competing with tho product OF for
| eign industries, and by so doin5 give TO
the o'king classes steady labor, instead
ct being subject TO the fluctuations caus.
ell by home competition, aud the ire
quont accumulation o! stocks OF manu-
tactured goods in excess OF the domes-
tic demand. To bring about thorough
reform in tho civil service is work that
can only be accomplished by slow de-
gree9, but The entering wedge has been
placed in position, 6 It's for the people,
through their representatives, to drive it
ir. The democratic party has declared
itself In favor Of an economical almin-
istration OF the affairs of government,
and even when the majority in Con-
gress was against it sought and on occa-
s'ons succeeded in reducing tho amount
| OF those layish appropriations which the
dominant party advocated. Apart from
these questions, the democrats are now
| confronted with what is destined TO b,
the paramount ISSUE OF the approaching
| presidential campaign. Free trade is
not that issse. The plain issue is tariff
reform, to obtain a reduction Of the tax
ca upon things needle IN every day life.
The republicans Gre committed to the
policy OF high taxes upon impotts, and
will inscribe pro ectve tariff on their
campaign banners and make il the sta
| pie Of their speeches. Arc the demo-
c. ats ready TO Dea. them on this issue
If they arc the keynote must ccmc from
tho House of representative aud it
must oe clear and dis.inc', in order that
IL may DC e.cchoed with 10 uncertain
sound in the platform to be adopted by
the national convention. II will not do
to shun the fight in Congress and Dc
pend tor victory upon the mere plat.
tude5 OF a platform. The Fabian poll.
cy IN politics is not the policy to win
unless there is an evidence of pluck to
| inspire faith in the Courage and SINGER
ity Of leaders when tie pitched battle be.
gils. Thus far there appears to be
waveriDg and uncertainty, divided coun.
sells, y Yielding OF little here and n lit
tie there to hatmonize opposing views,
with graduoI recession from that van
tage ground Inc majority held a, tho
opening OF Congre :. II is not i'll this
way that successful battles ara fought.
II Is certainly not in this way that pop
ular confidence can be secured. The
American people, sal rough old Ben
Vale, like pluck and it is pluck that
- now wanted-thc courage to take res~
olutely hold Of the tariff and reform IL
iii tue interest Of tho people. Gov.
Hoadly, of Ohio, in recent letter states
that be does no. consider this q iavora-
be opportunity for tariff Legislation.
Gov. Jackson, of West Virginia, be, ewes
the tariff should be modified, but is op-
posed 20 the Morrison bill. Tx Gov.
Hendricks, of Indians, while doubtful
whether the present House Of Rep,e-
seDtatives may be atle to agree upon a
measure of revenue reform that WI pass
both houses q. congress, il of opinion
Tat tho revenue ought to be reduced
and that In tho reduction the greatest
care should be taken that unequal bur-
dens shall not DC imposed on some and
special advantage given to Others. lie
recog nizes the difficult position of the
democratic party, AMI rightly maintains
that il cannot be held responsible for
the failure of reform measures with
strong minority il tue House and ma
jOr!tv in the Senate against it. None
OF these utterances. however, meet the
point. But Gov. CfiLtender, Of Mis-
souri,, does meet the point when he ur-
ges the democrats Of the House 20 dare
the issue, anil prove that they have the
courage ortheir convictions. Free ira Q
is 10 longer test OF any mans dcmoc-
racy, but clear record in favor Of a
modification of the tariff. 10 an absolute
necessity Of tue democratic situation.
IL IS the paramount practical isauc.
without which the campaign will bo We
ry apt TO degenerate into nero mud.
throwing contost. Charges and coun-
tcichargs7 ordinations and reCrmina-
lions sre but empty sound "a compared
with staunch principles anl strong sin
ows. No preceding Cong, cas- has, no
succeeding Congress can more thor
ongh'y reptoeent she popular will upon
This qncsticn than tie present II came
10 upon n Tilal wave from tho very
honr5 Of the people, and 10 should &C,
no" promptly Tor aud with the people.
Hall measure arc signs ~ weakness,
and any weakness at this unciure would