The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-08
The Great Issue.

There is no use in further denying
the fact that the democratic leader
ship of the country is afraid of the
tariff issue. 1t is sound on the Ques-
ton as matter of fact, but the con-
dition of its nerves is such as to in !
duce it in every way to avoid the dis
cussion of the question as much as
possible, both in and out of congress.
Even the mild measures of Morrison
are avoided as much as possible by
those who assume to lead the hosts
of the democratic faithful. There
never was a juncture of affairs since
the good year eighteen hundred,
when the outlook seemed as promls
ing as it does now if only the requis-
lite nerve force could be devel-
oped The move in the west does
not possess that coherency and unity
which the universally of its applica-
ton to the interests of that section
entities it to. In the south there is
practically no opposition to the posi-
ton taken in the Morrison bill-at
least nothing worthy the name. In
Georgia a few unimportant local in
terests have drawn forth occasional
expressions in favor of protection
but the great masses of the people of
that state stand by the good old doc
trines of practical free trade. In Ala
bama the same is said with equal
force. In Tennessee the same, and to
the same eXtent-no more and no less.
Outside of these, the entire breadth of
our sunny territories is swept by
one grand outspoken, all-pervading
demand for a sweeping tariff reform,
and one most nearly approximating
free trade. Were all the elements of
genuine free trade concentrated in
one field, one section of the country,
it would be found at once that over
two-thirds of the people Of this
nation are pronounced free traders.
But distributed as they are, and han
died as are the forces of protection,
it is made to appear that the latter
sentiment is in the ascendant. This
| is why the democratic leaders are
afraid to tackle and tie to the issue
in stand-or-fall struggle with the
corrupt forces of protection. This
is why congress- democratic
congress refuses to come up before
the country as committed to an issue
containing the germ of all the prin-
ciple it ever conte,dei for worthy the
name. Availability has wrought wide.
spread evil in the democratic ranks.
1t will continue to do so just as long
as we remand principles to the shade
and push men without other reference
than to their personal popularity OF
some mere catch-phrase dropped from
their lips by accident upon occasion
Availability has been worse and
more dangerous foe to democracy than
republ1canism. We have,-instead OF
making it an incident to our policy
and political life.-made it principle
and If we refuse to make the next
race on the tariff question, availability
will then become the only rule Of
party faith which the democracy car
claim. We might as well abandon the
organization if such weak policy
longer prevails. Self-respecting dem
ocrats who have fronted the foe al
these years of defeat, the battered ant
battle-scared veterans of free trade, o.
tariff for revenue only, are becoming
very reStiye indeed under this eterna
and apparently never-ending surren
der of principle to the best man. Yeal
by year they see the most favorable
chances slip through their hands. They
see glorious hopes sacrificed, simply
that some pet of party might
be honored at the expense of princi
pie. Thus it was that Randall wa.
speaker, and filled for so long thu
democratic public eye, even when il
was broadly admitted in the party thai
he was worse and more dangerous
foe OF free trade than the most illus
trious republican in the land. Whe1
every well informed democrat in thu
United States knew that Mr. Randall
was not only high or protective tariff
man in sentiment, but he was it's sala
ried employee and attorney, just az
much so as is VIM. D. Kelley. In this
thecowardice OF the democratic leader
ship is more reprehensible in every
way than the great Pennsylvania
champion of protection.
Now it remains to be seen if as
party we have learned wisdom from
all these long years of defeat: if We
have not learned at last that it was
and is our own hand from which the
blows came which have repeatedly
crushed the fairest chances political
party ever had. We are still not
without hope that under Waiter,
son and Mcdonald the free
trade influences at Chicago
will be stronger than Randall
and protection, and we will at last
have one good old-fashioned race on
principle. 1t would be better to lose
in such fight than to win in any
other. Let us make it, and, for once,
show that there are something's that
democracy yet places a higher value
upon than mere success.
We think the Texas delegation
ought to go to Chicago pledged to
stand for free trade platform, and to
make any and all reasonable and proper
sacrifices to secure it.