The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-06-04
Damocratic Campalgn Material.


will nave no recognition. -E1chdnge.
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Democratic Campaign Material.
The question as to what the Demo-
cratic party exists for, save for the Nero
purpose Of putting n certain number OF
men in Office, has been q standing prob
lem so long that people occasionally for
get that it remains unsolved, Just as
any mystery that is constantly before
ones eyes ceases after awhile to COM
mand the attention. If the Democracy
should take position as the champion
OF something of q definite character.
the novelty would cause considerable
sensation. 1t is wise to keep the fact in
mind that the party which is seeking to
supplant the Republicans in the admin
istration of executive affairs at present
has no governmental policy whatever,
and, moreover, that 1t is composed of
such elements that it is incapable Of
uniting on any. 1t has just come pretty
near committing itself on the tariff ques-
ton in so fur as legislative act could
commit it, and possibly when its con-
vention meets it win promulgate plat
form expressing something like clear
and concise idea on the same issue.
But that remains to be seen. II it
does so it will be at the expense Of GER
tainly alternating more votes than the
average Democratic mind can contem-
plate the loss OF with tirmness. And
even il the party in convention should
| show itself capable Of an act OF such
unusual decision, how much confidence
will be placed in the utteranceP The de-
feat of General Hancock did more per-
haps than anything else to unnerve the
Democracy in the matter Of tariff pro-
fessions. Previous TO that the subject
of the reduction of taxes was conspicu-
ously dwelt on-in words. The phrase,
"Tariff for revenue only" was plen-
tifully used in Democratic platforms.
That il meant nothing was sufficiently
shown by the fact that, although the
Republicans lost control Of the House
of Representatives in 1875 and did not
regain it until 1881, the Democrats,
during all those six years Of undis-
puted sway, left the tariff severely
alone, except in one or two unimpor-
tant particulars. 1t was reserved for
the Republican Congress which con-
vened in 1881 TO enter upon a general
scheme of modifying the custom du-
ties, which certainly needed regulating.
The Democrats came into power again
in 1883, and, though an attempt has
been made by them TO reduce duties,
they have failed in passing the act, in
the branch of Congress which was in
their hands, because of lack of unity
among themselves. 1t is true the Re-
publicans, for good reasons, voted
against the bill, but that does not alter
the fact that paralyzing dissension
prevented the Democracy from doing
anything.
In this connection II is clear that the
only chance Of keeping the Democracy
whole lies in its refraining from taking
any decided stand. Should the free
traders prevail in the National Conven-
ton and force the party TO embrace tho
issue, the const tuencies which support
the Randall wing would refuse TO
acquiesce. And the tariff is the thing
upon which tho Democrats approach
nearer TO unity than they do on any
thing else that can be construed rs n
partisan issue. The supreme need of
the country at present is financial legis-
lation to correct errors In previous acts
OF Congress which are now manifesting
their evil results, and for which, be it
! said parenthctically the Democrats are
mainly responsible. Yet what kind OF
unity is there in the party with respect
10 the currency! Intelligent men like
Bayard, i'ayne, Tilden and Randall
know very well what ought TO be done,
but they know equally well that any
serious agitation OF the question would
disrupt the Democracy to greater cX-
tent than the tariff does. At one time
it looked a little rs II the Democracy
could make some capital out OF Civil
service Reform, but since II killed PEN
dleton for'his active services in that di.
rection, probably no member of the
party will have the hardihood TO revive
tho uncomfortable topic.p ipsi3 rdi ~
\ "A party without principles would not
be altogether without resources II it had
good record 10 fall back on. But
here the Democracy is particularly un-
fortunate. IL can not pro6tably refer
Z, to It's glorious conduct in the North in
embarrassing the prosecution of the
war, while fighting in the South To
break up the Union; nor to its honora-
BILE efforts TO induce the Government 10
repudiate ITS obligations by paying its
debts in irredeemable paper; nor tc
anything 1t has done, or tried TO do, in
fact for tho last quarter Of century.
Neither, going still farther back, can II
awaken any great amount Of enthusiasm
over It's efforts TO spread slavery in the
: Territories. Under the circumstances
I. II feels itself forced to 90 clear back tt
the days OF jefferson to find part o
its record which II Is doomed safe Il
rely on. Even jackson has become
somewhat shaky as tutelary saint from
J the fact that ho Is credited with having
! inaugurated the spolls system and un
Willingly made probably as bad Pres
ident In many respects as tho country
eror had. Tho Democracy is about a
hard up for campaign material as i i
conceivable for party to be. All 4
!, has Is the cry for reform, and this bai
. grown SO tircsome In its endless repeti
, tion and insinoerity that II is worthless
VI -SL Louis Globe Democrat 'f