The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-04-03
Speaking of the recent democratic,

tariff bill, the Chicdgo Times makes
use of the following pungent Ian
guage:
AS to the formal dongs of the
conclave, the different statements
agree. SIR. Morrison stated the OBJ
jeot. II was TO bring protectionists
and free traders To mutual under
standing on the tariff question. In
pursuit of that droll object, Mr.. Nor
risou proposed a resolution, contain
ing 40 meaning, which, after some
hours debate, was amended by adj
dng a declaration that the resolu-
ton, meaning nothing, should not he
considered as binding upon anybody.
Thus amended, the resolution, mean
inc nothing and binding nobody, was
agreed to by III Of the statesmen
present; 5, OF them under Mr.. Ran
dall's leading) refusing to assent even
TO resolution that meant nothing
and bound nobody.
The language OF that curious re-
solve proves beyond any ground of
reasonable doubt that each of its two
authors (Mr. Morrison and Mr.. Hop
kins} has had experience in construct
iug democratic platforms Of the APP
proved kind that are warranted to fit
any side of any question. The first
proposition is that the Morrison tariff
bill, so-calied. ''shall be taken up for
consideration. Second propositions:
That reasonable time for debate
thereon shall be allowed Third
proposition: That, after debate,
bill shall be passed for the reduction
oi duties and war-tarf taxes"
Fourth propositions: That ''this RESI-
olu;ion shall not be considered bind
ing N controlling the individual ac-
ton Of democrats
Considered as an exploit in boxing
the compass, the resolution Is per-
feet. 1t swings entirely around a
circle that encioses nothing. 1t goes
in and comes out at the same hole.
I { saws that the Morrison bill shall
,hc taken up, and shall be debated,
and that "a bill OF some character,
for some purpose, shall be passed,
provided that majority Of the house
shall wish to pass it, Whether the
hiii that ''shall be passed" may be
the Morrison bill or the Randall bill
--Hay be a bill looking toward
tariff for revenue only, or looking
toward tariff for protection only
lis Il matter of complete indif-
ference to that wondrous resolve
III a caucus, part free trade, part pro-
lection, that agreed in nothing but
careful abstentiOn FROM any attempt
80 agree, and also from any reference
10 the subject-matter Of disagree
inent. When, at the mystic hour
when it IS said churchman's yawn,
the caucus closed. free trade cadav-
ctr and protection cadayers clasped
each other in atfeetionate embrace,
and otherwise manifested mutual ioy
at Fudlng themselves exactly where
ana as they were when the conclave
opened-hostie tenants of the same
graveyard, divided against each other
0u the same line.
The caucus began as a fraud and
ended rs a farce without losing the
character Of fraud. Nevertheless,
II was not without "A resulting adj
vantage To Randall! and his protec-
ton crowd, whom, with only half the
number of Anniversaries, it proved to
DE complete masters OF the situation.
1T has been said that the caucus res
o'utlon means nothing. The state
ment Is true in the sense that It's
propositions are expressions Of per-
feet nonsense. Considered, however.
III relation to the protection crowd,
who voted solidly against a form of
words meaning nothing and binding
nobody, it means much. 1t means
that the majority, led by Carlisle and
Morrison, have been whipped by the
minority, led by Randall and Eaton;
that the former have given up all
hope OF passing the Morrison bill, or
any bill like it, and are ready to ac-
cept III its stead "a bill'' that Ran
dali may dictate and his protection
following approve. 1t means, then,
that as the Randall mountain would
not go to the Morrison Mahomet, the
Morrison Mahomet will trot over to
the Randall mountain: that the brave
democrat free traders are going to
attach themselves as fitting tail to
the stubborn democrat protection
kite; that (to borrow a figure that
best fits the case), inasmuch as the
free trade tail has discovered It's in
ability to waggie the protection dog,
Is will suffer the protection dog TO
waggIe the defeated, cowed, droop-
ing free trade tail of the oyysithor-
bynchus that calls itself the demo-
cratic ,,ortv