Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-10
From An Occasional Correspondent.

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western farmers would take such shape
that We could count on gains in that Re-
publican section of the country sufficient
to offset any losses to be encountered in
the East.
So far as my own opinions were concern.
ed, shey were not at all affected by such
speculaiions as these. Regarding the tariff
as a question necessarily to be determined
by the wishes and conclusions Of constit-
uencies rather than controlled by sn author.
itative declaration of a party platform,
deprecated the effort to make the ortho-
dOXy of every Democrat dependent upon
The Test Sought TO be Applied
in the election of the Speaker. But l said
little upon this point, being willing to
await the result Of an unexpected oppor
tunity by which the truth of any prOphe-
cies IN regard to tine Republicans OF the
northwest could be thoroughly aScertained.
The Kansas districs represented by the late
&r Haskell, was supposed to be, oy large
majority, opposed to the protection
theory; aud 1t was the expectation OF
sore, Il not many, members Of Congress
thst tie special election OF his successor
would result in a formal and practical
Il al portion of the great Northwest. Well.
the fight IS on and the issue, fairly and
sUuartly n sGe up, has been tried. Your
readers know the result. Funston, the
Republican candidate, in addition to his
strong party Slilliations, was pronounced
rrotscliouiSt, as his predecessor had been.
His opponent was free trade Democrat,
supported by the Greenback vote and su5'
tanned by the aid which number OF anti.
- Pam h1ipana m hfQ contest and
yet Funston was elected Oy more than
1000 msjority. No one here pretends to
misinterpret the moral Of this result. No
explanations are made TO lessen its force.
On the contrary il is accepted as full de-
feat upon a field which, though unexpect-
edly presented, offered fair chance to
Determine the Very Important Ques-
ton
whether the hostility of the Northwestern
Republicans to q system which they be-
lieYed most oppressive TO their interests,
was strong enough to weaken in any degree
their party allegiance and detach them, in
the Presidential election, from the stand
ard which they have so long and so obsti-
nately followed.
1t is easy to see that the original question
now recurs and must be net. What effect
will the position of the Democratic ma ORR
| " in Congress have upon the doubtful
| States of the East? To this is to be added
| another-Fai,ing to obtain them can the
| Democrats elect their candidate next No.
yember? | shall endeavor to reflect the
| opinions Of others rather than give my own
| IN answering the first question; the second
| will answer itself.
| There can be no doubt OF the fact that
| the unknown quantity in politics indicated
| by a declaration in favor OF q revision oil
4 Al. -, trifhnnt Gnap1firQtinn detail.
was alarming to both financial and manu-
featuring interests. Like any other in.
stance of sudden and radical change in
public policy, it's effect ultimately would
| have been serious disturbance OF estao-
| iished investments and values. The inn
| rorter, the mill owner and the capitalist
| had
Reason for Apprehension,
because all enterprises which deal with the
| future naturally become feverish anu ex-
| cited WHEN cropping in uncertainty. Aud
| the evil which they encounter IS shared by
| a greater interest tar less able to bear the
| burden, the skilled and unskilled labor OF
| The country. 1t would seem, Therefore, TIT
| psrt OF wisdom to have postponed the
| whole subject of tariff revision to another
| Congress. This would have involved no
| ssCrihce OF principle-no approval or the
| tariff Of 1883. 1t would simply nave
| given it time to develop its defects aud
1 thus made the task of revision more intel
| lieent and more practical. 1t would as a
/ measure of policy RENTED the Pfeslden'
| rial canvass TO the discussion OF questions
| of grave Importance. mean questions
| relating to the nature Of the government
/ as transmitted to us from the fathers; the
| character of its past administration; the
| tendencies toward Capitalization; the dis
| regard of the rights of the States, and the
| confusion of the lines which once were
| supposed 10 be distinctly enough defined
| to mark the limits beyond which neither
| Congressional assumption or Executive
usurpaton could safely De permlttso' lne
| popular mind Is
More Ready 90 Discuss
! questions like these than to accept, as
paramount issue, that OF the degree OF pro
| lection or the measure Of import duties, FOL
the plain reason that questions of principle
appeal more directly to popular intelli
! gpnce than measures OF policy.
Four months have passed and the unessl'
| ness of which have spoken has, in meas
| urP. been slIlayed, because thus far nothing
| has been done to fulfill the promises the
| friends of Mr. Carlisle made to themselves
and their sympathizers 1t is true Mr.
Morrison's bill has been accepted oy the
| Committee on Ways and Means and will be
duly reported to the House, but few, II
| auy, anticipate its passage by that body
| none its adoption by the Senate. 1t will
| not become law, and ought not, upon its
| own merits, apart from other considera-
| tiops. | do not propose TO discuss it further
than to say its provisions look rather to q
| reduction of revenue than to q judicious re
vision of duties. A horizontal scale Of re
duction, applied arbitrarily TO ali imports,
whether luxuries or necessities, cannot be
claimed to be in the direction OF lnteIli
| gent tsriff reform. Besides, the purpose to
pet rid of a redundant revenue seems OF
| doubtful accomplishment If the horn book
| sxiom be true that
Reduced Duties Increase Importation
| The precise character and effect OF this
messurs will, however, be abur rdantly
I She Wn in the debate which will follow its
| introduction. We can await that, but IN
the meantime it is important that public
| sentiment should take some form OF ex
| preston for the guidance of the conven-
| lions which will soon be held in all tn
States. Cnmistakable indications should
not be wanting OF the popular opinion
which is to find its formal expression In
| the Democratic platform OF 1884 Shall
| the fatal words, "a tariff for revsnue, only"
he Incorporated into it as q Democratic
teret, dissent from which is to be branded
IS heresy? Or shall the true, broad aud
| reasonable declarations of the Ohio aud
New Jersey Democrats be repeated? Toe
snswer to these questions at Chicago will
determine the votes Of States and the re-
suit Of The Presidential contest wisely
answered victory is within easy grasp. But
il The abstract idea Of mere doctrinsirss be
employed tn misrepresent the practical
sentiment OF a practical people, that libsrty
Of opinion which should always exist upon
nOneSsendSl questions will be destroyed
The canvass 1pon the part of the Demo-
Gratis Of the Union is tn be
Fouxhi Upon Principle.
IL will deal With essentisls-upou which
there should be absolute unity at sympathy
and sentiment. An Indictment against
the Republican rule OF aquartsr of q zen