The sun., 1884-11-02

A Short But Instructive History.
A short history Of tho progress of tho
movement in the Democratic party whereby
1t was intended that froo trade should DO
substituted for protection In our national
policy, would now appear to be in order.
In tho campaign OF 1880. when Democratic
success seemed most probable the Ropubll-
can managers suddenly seized upon tho
tariff plank In the Democratic platform and,
turning the public attention from the idea OF
reforming tho Government to the consid-
Grafton whether or no the tariff should
henceforth be for revenue only and not for
protection, they carried the State of New
York for GARFIELD and won the election
which but few weeks before had seemed des-
tined to be declared in favor OF HANCOCK. 1t
was doubted then II tho now school Of states
mon meant exactly what they said. and the
Democratic managers in New York contcndcd
that the phrase I" for rcvonuo only" pointed
to no intended alteration in the purposes Of
taxation, Every effort was mad" to quiet
the alarm that laid hold of tho Democrats
connected with our manufacturing indus
tries. Even the Democratic candidate
squarely repudiatcd tho platform; but
suspicion as to Its designs upon the tariff:
and HANCOCK was beaten. Then the tariff
question sank out Of sight for tho time
When 1t cnmo to tho election of members
of Congress in 1892 the tariff played no part
whatever Tho continued Extravaganza and
prodigality of tho Administration caused tho
people to rise up in Indignation and turn
out the Republican majority in the House OF
Representatives and put in It's stead n large
majorit y of Democrats. The impulse which
caused that revolution was the desire for
economy and rctrcnchmcnt in the national
expenditures, and for tho general reform OF
government abuses.
As soon. however, as Congress assembled,
the banner of the free traders was raised in
opposition to those who desired to keep The
promises which had gained them the election
and between these two sections OF tho Dom
ocratic party the issue was made clean and
clear. JOHN G. CARLISLE an able man and
an unqucstoncd representative Of the new
school OF Democrats, was nominated by the
FREQ traders: and SAMUEL j. RANDALL. a
tried and fcarlcs, leader in the long struggles
OF Democracy, proved rcforincr and pro-
nounced protectionist, who had sc. :, "a before
in the Speakers chair with great ability
and incalculahle advantage to his party,
was nominated on the other side.
To the surprise Of all politicians who
had not forgotten tho defeat Of HANCOCK,
Mr.. CARLISLE was chosen by a large ma
iority. and the mon that he selected to form
the Committee Of Ways and Means showed
that he was determined, like his sup
porters, that there should be no possibility,
so far as 1t lay in his power. OF failure
in tho proposed attack upon the pro-
tective system. Mr.. WILLIAM r. MORRISON
was made Chairman, and the other seven
Democratic members were chosen because
thoy We're in substantial sympathy with his
idea respecting tariff legislation. This Idea
was that the reconstruction Of tho tariff in
free trade direction ovcrshadowcd all other
questions In importance And then the tariT
agitation in the House of Representatives.
finally eliminated in the MORRISON bill.
Although the acknowledged need OF tho
country was removal OF tn" surplus, no at.
tontion was paid to that nccd This bill did
not indicate any reduction In the revenue, and
Mr.. HEWITT, q member OF tho committee,
expressed the opinion that 1t would increase
1t. There was no revenue reform in it. But
1t made the tariff much less protective, and
Its authors, while confossing that it did not
satisfy them, advocated 1t because they saw
1t was step "in the right direction" that
Is, toward FREQ trade, Protection could not
be demolished ut one blow. 1t would take
several blows, and this was the first.
On this question thero was division in
tho Democratic ranks. Mr.. RANDALL and
his followers, In conjunction with nearly the
Nvln - ttn Al
House, fought against the measure with all
their energy. The MORRISON bill failed. the
FREQ traders were baked. They denounced
the protectionist Democrats with unsparlng
bitterness, and announced their intention to
carry the fight into the Chicago Convention.
In that body the committee to draw up the
platform was composed Of thrty-cight dele
gates, The free traders proposed that Mr..
MORRISON should be the Chairman, while
tho protcctionists were for Mr.. CONVERSE
OF Ohio, and compromise was made
upon temporary Chairman in tho person
of Mr.. HAY OF Pennsylvania. From this
committee eight were selected whose special
duty was to prepare tho plank upon the
tariH. There tho Issue OF free trade and pro-
lection was again brought into prominence
The session OF this sub-committee was long
and passionate, Tho protectionists struggled
fora recognition oftheir principles, and asked
for the platform OF the Ohio Democracy,
which was distinctly though moderately in
favor Of protection. This was refused, and
the session Of the committee ended with the
formulation OF the tariff plank as ultimately
adopted. and the free traders. having carried
their point in the preparatory stagos, still
further emphasized their superiority by
slecttng Mr., MORRISON permanent CHAIR