Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-02-28
lancaster .1ntrlIigenctr.
rHtInspAY -, pvEnrNa, FEB. ae. iee4'
Nat the Only Issue.

The New York World, which stoutly
supported Mr.. Carlisle for speaker, and
which has been friendly to Mr. Morrison
a. public man, warns them that the
pivotal state of New York can best be
carried for the Democrats now as it was
carried by them, against greater odds
than now exist, In 1868 upon tariff
platform something like this "a tariff
for revenue upon foreign imports, and
such equal taxation under the internal
revenue laws as will afford Incidental
protection to domestic manufactures,
and as will, without impairing the rev.
enue, impose the least burden upon and
best promote and encourage the great
industrial interests of the country"
In considering the tariff expressions of
party platforms in the past and their
relations to party success, 1t is well to
not lose sight of the fact that in some
campaigns this issue was more conspicu.
GUS than in others. In the fight Of 1868,
for instance, it was discussed very little;
and although in 1876 the Democratic
platform favored a tariff for revenue
only and violently assaulted the existing
rate Of tariff duties, the question was
hardly mentioned, all interest centering
in the issue of administrative reform,
which Mr.. Tilden's candidacy embodied
by reason Of the record he had made in
his own state, In 1880, the tariff issue
was only raised, it will be remembered,
after the Maine election, and it was skill
fully handled by the opposition to carry
the states of Indiana and New York,
where an increase of manufacturing in
terests had brought about some change
Of sentiment on this question.
No observant mind can fail to appre
ciate that with the growth of manufac
lures In the South and West there has
been general conservation of public
opinion on the tariff question. Few now
favor absolute free trade and equally few
would support the notion Of prohibitory
protective tariff, calculated to foster
monopolies the question is not properly
aparty nor sectional one and if its con.
sideration could be freed from the
bitterness and selfishness Of partisan
discussion, we believe 1t could be settled
on business principles in a manner that
would give to the country peace and
secure to its business that degree oI
quiet and freedom from periodical dis
turbance which it most Of all needs
There is by no means such real difference
between the theories of the leading
debaters on this subject as the public l.
led to believe A; their chief divergence d
as to methods by which certain ends ar,
to be reached.
a considerable number of the Demo
cratic party leaders seem to be of tn,
opinion that tariff revision is the onl,
vital issue before the country this il
too much of surrender of Democratic
principle to be acceptable. The demand
for administrative reform is more ur
gent now than when Mr.. Seymour car
Tled New I ork, not so much because OF
the tariff plank on which he st, Cd, AZ
because of his high character and wide
reputation for integrity there is more
need now of a nomination that will com
mand the popular confidence which was
inspired by Mr.. Tilden's in 1876, than
there was then. The Republican party
has not reformed itself nor the public
service; the people are not satisfied will
it !; the iniquities and inequalities of al
unjust tariff are only one phase of ii
abuses to make them the exclusive OBJ
ject of assault is to neglect other anC
equally, II not more important consider
ations. What the country demands is &
man big enough and broad enough to
grapple with all the evils that afilct the
body polite, not hobby rider nor spe
cialist. Economic and revenue reform
is only a single branch of the subject
the man for the times must to large
extent be his own platform.
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