The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-08
TIE HEADLESS TARIFF BILL.
Press Comments on the Defeat of Mr.. Nor
risOn's Great 20-Per-Cent. Measure.
THE VAIL OF A LOST SOUL.

NAN1A baI III lhAA a. VI NC CutiDNt NCliuS
under strict and unmistlkable orders from the
people, a few Democrats deserted their colors,
and in conjunction with the united forces of the
hePubilcans brought upon the party a singing
and most disgraceful defeat.
The vote on the Morrison bill was close, but
the bill was beaten, and beaten by the votes of
renegade Democrats. 1t was a compromise
measure offered in good faith to those who keep
no faith. --. .-
A small guerrilla band within the lines of the
party has, since the opening of the session, acted
under orders from the Republican
leaders. 1t il? a coalition as disggraeeful
The party has been betrayed-betrayed by those
whom it has delighted TO honor.
1t will not do any longer to plead the past
services of Mr.. Randall and Mr.. Eaton; the same
plea was recently made by Mr. Eaton for Bene-
dict Arnold. They have plainly determined to
rule or to ruin the Democratic party. They
have from the beginning of the session worked
to thwart the wishes of the people and to mako
our recent victories at the polls barren and val
ueless. By their course, refusing every offer Of
compromise, they have caused a breach in the
party which is as irreconcilable as it was unnec-
essary. Men who can not support so moderate
a measure as the Morrison bill should be brave
enough and frank enough to readjust their party
relations.
The Democratic party to-day is in disgrace.
Placed by an overwhelming popular vote in CON
troll of the House of Representatives, it has ac-
complished nothing. To attempt to turn it aside
from tariff agitation was folly; to suppose that
the party itself will for a moment submit to the
direction and control of O handful of bashi-ba-
zouks is sheer idiocy. The caucus may not DO
able to control Messrs. Eaton, Converse and
Randall, but an appeal lies from them TO the ma
tional convention, and from the convention to
the people. Party discipline, as far as this Con.
gress is concerned, has been destroyed. Insub.
ordination and instruction have for a moment
triumphed, but only for a moment. The people
are in advance Of their leaders, as they will soon
discover. The fruits of our last victory have
been frittered away, but the national convention
must ~reorganize the party, punish deserters.
and order towards to the rear.
CRUSHED STATESMEN.
o. o. Stealey, in Louisville Courier-JournaI.
Your correspondent has seen his party defeat
ed right straight along since 1856, and he has
felt sore and he has seen his party friends look
sore. but in his recollection, not even the count
of Mr.. Tilden, did he ever witness such an utter
Inundated class of men as the revenue reformers
after their defeat to-day. They were utterly cast
down and too crushed to comment over the
shame and disgrace which had fallen upon them
selves and their party. The tariff fight is over
here now for this session. / speak advisedlY
from the party leaders on the reform side They
will not bring another tariff bill this session, nor
will they allow one to live in the ways and
means committee, and it is admitted on all sides
that if Mr.. Morrison could not even get his in
shape for amendments, no bill can pass the
House, The appeal will be from the House
through their representatives in the national
Democratic convention. The tariff fight was
lIdnSlcITCu quay IIOll w dSlllEIpH 10 GIlchRO.
There, in July, the West and South must stand
side by side and make the platform. and the can
didates. Though the hope is faint, it is the only
chance the party has. No surrender now. On
to Chicago, and there again demand, in thunder
ing tones, a tariff for revenue only,
NOT THE END OF THE FIGHT.
New York Tribune.
The end of the most illadvised effort to re-
duce the tariff ever made in Congress was
reached to day in the defeat of the Morrison bill
so far as the Democratic Marty il concerned IL
has by means of this measure done what il
could to strike a deadly blow at the home indus
tries of the country. The success of that party
III the last congressional elections was attributed
by its leaders to the tariff issue. The House Of
Representatives was organized and Mr.. Carlisle
chosen Speaker on that issue. He appointed q
ways and means committee for the express pur-
pose of reporting a measure to reduce the tariff.
The Morrison bill was the result, and it was de-
clared a party measure by a caucus of the DEM
ocratic members. The result in the House does
not dispose of the tariff issue in the next can
vass. The declaration was made without re-
serve by the Democratic leaders that the Nor
rison bill was only the first step in the war, and
that other far reaching and more destructive
campaigns are to follow.
NO TIME FOR EXPERIMENTS
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
This is no time for trying experiments. Theirs
is too much at stake to permit sentimentalism.
The Carlisle Morrison experiment has been cosS-
ly. There should be no more of that, or of any
NhiA6 AhO ~. AHC INiHJ oLdb h0c III BpllONt clpu
that is not capable of a policy would aggravate
industrial troubles. Therefore, the Democratic
party should retire to the rear, and in order that
it may be so retired the Republicans should
step to the front with a candidate whose
record is a platform in itself, and whose name
would without if, or but, or explanation of any
kind. inspire confidence, and tend to lift indus
tries out of the ruts of uncertainty.
THE GREAT INJURY TO BUSINESS.
Louisville Commercial.
1t is safe to say that the adoption of a hori-
zontal reduction of twenty per cent. of the tariff
revenue would have seriously interfered with
manufacturing interests in which many millions
Of dollars of capital and many thousands of
workingmen in the United States are interested
to that degree which concerns existence itself
and general commercial safety. 1t is not alone
the injury which such a reduction would have
worked in itself. but it is the greater injury it
threatened through the aid and comfort such a
step would have given to the politicians In their
efforts to thrust free trade upon the institutions
OF this country.
THE COUNTRY TO BE CoNGRATULATED.
Cleveland Leader.
1t is impossible at this hour to forecast tho re-
suit in the Democratic ranks, though there is no
doubt but what the free trade element is over
whelmingly in the majority in the Democratic
party, and will assert itself at the national con-
~ventlon. In the meantime the country is to be
congratulated that it has been relieved from
danger of further disturbance at Dis session by
the united and steadfast attitude of the Repub-
liean minority.
THE MONKEY N THE oHEssK.
Terre Haute Express.
The Morrison bill would have been the begin
ming of a policy which would have trimmed the
tariff on one side and the other till. like the
cheese divided by the monkey. nothing would
have been left. Unlucky bill, whether success
full or not-unlucky party. with divided ooun-
sells, contending leaders and coming certain de-
feat.
AND 1T oAME TO AN END.
New York Sun.
Professor Morrison's star course of lectures on
political economy will probably come to an end
to-day in the House of Representatives.
An. Editorial Go-as-YoN Pleaso.