St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-06-07
The Two Extremes.
Houston Post.


4 The tariff question is, c0nfessedly, thu
only great question before the country
In the entire range of political questions
there is scarcely one upon which there
exists such radical difference of Opin-
ion. 1t is equally true that the Repub-
lican party enjoys the present complex
ion OF Congress, since it is permitted to
IrepOse in graceful retirement on an
important and vital issue, leaving the
burden of the fight to the Democratic
party, WhiclB developments have shown.
/ is almost h0pelessly divided OH that
very question. 1t is without doubt that
the country looked to the Democratic
party for a solution of the problem, af-
ter having vainly appealed to the Re-
publicans. For that purpose the Forty
| eighth Congress contains an almost two
thirds majority of Democrats. At the
beginning OF the session, last November,
the first speck OF internecine strife in
the party was noticed. The speaker
ship was holly contested by two men,
who respectively represented the affirm
alive and negative of the question at is
sue. Mr.. Carlisle entered the contest as
the avOwed advocate Of reform, whilst
Mr.. Randall appealed for the honor on
the strength OF having filled the chair
before and on his record as a staunch
prOtectlonlst. 1t was discussed at the
time whether Mr.. Randal's attitude did
not to some extent compromise the par
ty. For, it was argued, il the party is
one committed to tariff reform, how can
Mr.. Randall'S connection with it be ex-
planned The West and South perceiy-
ed the point, Mr.. Randall was defeated
in caucus and Mr.. Carlisle nominated for
and elected to the speakerShip. The
election of TefOrmer gave the country
hopes that the Democratic party would
be enabled to carry out it's promises.
Carlisbe's election oyer Randall was
tantamOunt to a pledge that the party
would keep the faith with the nation.
Now, while the insignificant vote by
which the Morrison bill was defeated
indicates the extent to which the party
has Kept its faith, some explanations
would be IN order. Among the men
VINO elected Carlisle there are some who |
voted against the Morrison bill. Their |
plea that the bill was an impractical in
is not valid one. Randall, |
at least, cannot be accused of incOnsis- |
tency. He went into the House ms n |
was beaten on his record,
and, when the first move was made, Of
fected an alliance with that other Penn
sylvanla arch prOteCtionist, Kelley, to
defeat the move, and succeeded. But
whilst Mr. Randall is contemplating the
result of his victory, the question arises:
Where does the Democratic party
stand Who represents its tariff plat
form, Randall or Morrison? Both claim
70 be leaders. It Morrison represents
Democratic opinions ON tariff questions,
hen Randall is not a Democrat. If
Randall represents the party, Morrison
s not Democrat. The two men re-
present two extremes which can never
De reconciled.
Rut unless the party creates order in
his hopeless confusion, success in No
'ember is extremel uncertain. The
Extremes, both of them, must be wiped
nut, it the country is again to trust the
Democratic party. One thing is certain,
he party dare not express its opinion in
oubtful sounds. We must have a posi-
i've declaration, if the evil effects of
lorrison's defeat are to be successfully
egatiyed.