The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-20
reached this city. lie was about s,it thirty
years OF age aud resident OF h'cnn'ohd'
Va
. r.uc r., ,,.., George ID. Wise.

HOUSE OF REPREsENIA &c a.. o.
WAsmyoroy. ID. c., May ID, 1854. }
TO the Editor Of the Dispatch
The Washington Post has been bitter in
denunciatiou ~ those Democrats who
have thought it unwise and suncidal Ito
open up tariff legislation during this
session OF Congress. No terms OF re-
nfoach have been considered too harsh for
application to them, and they nave Deen
pursued with low and mean iIlsiiluations.
It's editor can find no excuse ior tuose
Democrats who have held IL 10 De duty
to save the party from the "odlum OF
needlessly disturbing the business IN
terests OF the country" ana from lhe
mistake. "on the eve OF presidential cam
palgn and with victory in sight, OF under
taking Il palpable impossibility, with nc
chance OF gain, but certainty OF loss IN
popular strength" lie cannot understand
those who have considered 1t the part OF
wisdom TO .'let the tariff severely alone"
II was conceded when the present Con-
gress assembled that victory was In sigh,
and that our prospects for success were
assured, unless they should be Dlighted
by our folly. But now the kcpuD'
leans, who recently were staggering
INTO the campaign Of this year under an
intolerable burden" are not, without
hope, while the Democrats, formerly
Z" compact, elate. determined, and conn
dent" are somewhat cast down. What
has caused this great change? l will LEI
the Washington Post tell the story:
Extract from the Washington Daily Post, Marcf
10, 1881
L. IN. lao In
favor of renewing the tariff tight In the Forty
eighth Congress. The dominant party mas e"t us
load Oh Its back, and u should De c'nltlfn U
carry II undisturbed into the campaign OF 1904
When the Democratic party has the three
branches of the legislative power In Us hands-lnt
House. Senate and PrcsiGency-it VIII te- Tor The
first lime in many years. only able 10 egislate
but responsible for action or non-acuon. only
one of these branches VIII he Democratic Tor iht
next two years, and that one VIII not DC requires
10 attempt the impossible, and load Itself VIII
failure and the odinm Of Eeedlessly disturbing Tho
business interests of the country. snail the Dom
ocratic partv fOregO all the immense advantage
of ITS present position? That Is the question IN
volypd in the proposition % open up tamil legis2-
ton next winter. Shall the Democracy, on tht
eve OF \ presidential campaign and with victory
IN sight undertake a ralpable impOssibility, witt
no chance of gain nut certainty OF loss in popular
strength No measure that would be honestly
Democratic could get through the Senate, and II
such bill was passed by both houses it would
meet death at lie other end Of the avenue. ThC
duty of the Democracy, as we sec II, Is To let th'
tariff severely alone until the possession oflcRi5a
tive power shall clothe that party not only witt
responsibility, hut with The means of putting
Democratic principles into the shape OF law
not be improved. The opposition ma
done iust what i, would have done If II
had been inspired with an earnest desire 70
helm elect a Democratic President. IL has done
this, not from choice, hut from The cOmpulSon OF
circumstances bevond It's control, for a. there Is 4
divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them
how we may Let the Republican party stsggel
into the campaign Of next year under its intoera'
BILE burden. to find the Democracy compact. elate
determined. and confident. not demoralized by
failure in illsdysed effort To do an impossible
good.
As for myself, / acknowledge response.
blity only to my constituents, and re-
gard the mutterings OF others as i'm
pudent and impairment. | hold ii
to be my duty to reflect the views
and to promote the interests OF the people
whose representative / am, and will do il
to the extent OF my ability, let the couse-
quences be what they may. But il any one
OF those Democrats who have been SO
roundly abused by the Post felt disposed to
make answer to the fierce assaults OF its
editor, the above contains ample material
for the purpose. The editor thought that
the Democratic situation could not be I'M
proved, and that was my own opinion, and
| viii add that he has done just what he
should have done if he had been inspired
with can earnest desire to help elect a Re-
publican President" Whether he has
done this from choice or the compulsion OF
circumstances leave others to determine
for themselves, but | feel certain that his
ends have been shaped BY no divinity.
Respectfully. GEORGE d. WISE.