Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-05-03
Differences should be Settled.
Nashville American.

The Democrats of Tennessee now
have to deal with the tariff issue in
"A practical way. A declaration of
principles will have to be made by
their State Convention. What shall
it be on the tariff question? A
declaration in favor OF a tariff for
revenue only, or for protection in
the sense Ia which ii is used by
leading Republicans, would be
equally unwise.
Whatever construction may, at
one time, have been placed upon
the words a tariff for revenue only
by the author, as well as those who
follow him, its present application
has been clearly defined. Mr.. Wat
terson and Mr.. Morrison insist that
on this platform, the Democratic
party is free trade party-that it
Is ON the road to free trade. On the
other hand, leading Republicans do
not hesitate to declare the purpose
of the Republican party TO be to use
the revenue laws for protective pur-
poses.
A middle and eminently conser-
vative ground has been taken by
the Democracy of Indiana, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Vir-
ginia, Maryland and New Jersey,
and it amounts to this A tariff for
demonstrating out the word
"only" and substituting the adjust
ment policy, 50 as to encourage
home Industries and protect Ameri-
can labor.
When the Democracy of Indiana
met in convention in 1892 they had
learned by the bitter experience of
defeat how great was the blunder Of
1880. With the varied and grow
ing industrial interests of their
State. they saw that they could
never hope to succeed on a platform
looking to free trade. The three
leading Democrats of the State,
Messrs. Hendricks, Mcdonald and
Voorhees, sat down to write a plat
form, two of them, Messrs. Hen
bricks and Voorhees,, favoring the
Jefferson, jackson and Polk doc
trine of a tariff for revenue, with
such Determinations as to give pro-
lection to home industries, and MIR.
Mcdonald learning 10 free trade.
the entire night in dis
cussing the situation, they finally
agreed upon what is now best
known as the Ohio platform. This
was adopted by the convention and
the State was carried. The follow
ing year the Democracy of Ohio
met under most dfscouraging cir
cumstances. The State had been
carried by the Republicans at every
election but one for many years.
Democrats like Allen and Ewing
had been beaten, aud Ohio was
counted upon as one Oi the strongest
Republican States. Nevertheless,
in 1888, on platform alInost iden-
tical with that of the Indiana De-
mocracy, Judge Hoadly was nomi-
mated and triumphantly elected.
This, too, when he was compelled
TO leave the field on account of
and with a popular Opp0-
nent in the field who made an ac-
tive and aggressive canvass. Then
the Virginia and New Jersey Dom
ocrats adopted the same platform
and carried their States.
The Ohio platform is, therefore,
not alone conservative avoidance
of extremes it has proved 50 salts.
factory when tried before the peo-
that, at the opening Of the present
session Of Congress, the Democracy |
were more confident of a great ma
tional triumph than 1t had been
since the war. How and by whom |
that prospect has been jeOpardized
is too well known for further men,
tion here.
The fact that the Democrats in the |
States where the Presidential battle
Of 1884 has TO be fought are almost
solid for the Ohio platform, is IA fact
which cannot be treated with in
difference. If there are Democrats
in Tennessee who are for free trade,
or tariff for revenue only, or, on
the other hand, Democrats who are
for protection sake,
should not each be willing to yield
for the sake OF party sue
cess? The State must be carried,
and the best way'tO do this is to alb
stain, as far as. possible, from dis
sensions which can only result in
to the common enemy. |
Upon what better ground can Ten
lessee Democrats who differ con-
the tariff meet than on the
Ohio platform ?