The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-04-10

SOME of the state papers, devoted to
protection. ale saying unkind thing of
The Pilot because of its advocacy of free
trade. 1t is charged that The Pilot wants
to set up standard of democracy and
read all out of the party who do not regu-
late their political action in accordance
with that standard. The Pilot does not
assume any such role, nor is it in any
sense disposed to dictate. The demo-
cratic party in the election of Carlisle
pronounced in favor of free trade. His
election was an organization of the house
In the interests of tariff reform. The
issue was square and open one, and
every democrat is as much bound by the
action of that democratic house as he
would be by the action of national con-
vention in adopting platform and nom-
mating candidate. A democrat who
could not accept the result of the con
vention should go over openly to the
enemy.
The Pilot is free trade paper for
other reasons than that it has been made
the policy of the democratic party. Its
utterances on that question for years
have been in no sense uncertain. Its
sphere is circumscribed, but the belief
is entertained that in that limited sphere
it has aided i'll building up sentiment
favorable to free trade.
And now, leaving the justice of free
trade in the back ground, look upon
it in the light of polite party measure
For years the democratic party has been
so intensely conservative as to be almost
fossilized on questions which we're the
capitalization of advanced thought -
1t lever won except when it was aggres.
slve. While it represented inertia it lost
The confidence of the people. For "a
years it has been out of power and was
defeated i'll every election save one, when
the positive character of its candidate
saved it. But so fixed was its reputation
for vacillation and cowardice to grapple
with diffiulty, that the republican party
with splendid audacity took what the
democrats had won, and even made it
appear that the democrats were the
thieves. For "a years the democratic
party has simply opposed and made no
attempt at originating anything. This
year they have taken up vital question,
but the electric current OF life makes the
old fossils squirm and they are anxious
to return to their dormant state and spare
themselves the trouble of being alive.
"Wait until we get the government, they
mutter in drowsy tones, ''aud then we'll
wake up to live questions" They have
waited for "a years and have not vet
grown tired of the policy of inaction.-
Does it not seem that in that time there
has been some very effectual reading
out" of good blood from the party? Is
it not time there was some 'sreading in?
And that we exchange the policy of wait
ing for the policy of acting?
Defeat tariff reform by the votes of
democrats and the party will be the
laughing stock of the country and will
die from the effects of ridicule if it can
be endued with sufficient life to be SEN
sible of it. The party is quick with an
issue now. Do not strangle that issue
in the germ.
The democratic party, or section of
it, were first in favor of abolishing slave
ry. Itwas a grand issue for an old party.
having organization and strength. But
the opportunity was lost and passed to
the republicans. 1t was clear as the
light in heaven that when the people be.
gan to question the morality of slavery
that the institution was doomed. But
neither humanity or policy could make
the democratic party appreciate the sit
uation.
1t was evident to any man given to re.
Election that resumption was inevitable
and that to oppose it was to court defeat
and earn opprobrium. But the demo-
cratic party, true to its policy to oppose
everything new, deprived itself of
strength and took the ieers while the
republican party won the laurels and
took the trophies. For once the demo-
cratic party is on the right side of the
only question of the hour. 1t is Just as
certain that free trade is to come as that
slavery could not withstand educated.
civilized sentiment. And yet the fossils
want us to go back to our position of in
active expectancy and leave the grand
opportunity to the other side.
Lit requires no prophetic vision to see
free trade the policy of the United States
IN the near future. If the democrats
prove recreant in the present instance,
mark the prediction, reform
will become the shibboleth of the 1epub.
llcan party and in that event there will
be reading out" until the party is
harmonious and will act SO as to win,
THE Inter Ocean is responsible for the
statement that vessel masters residents