New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-19
rOO LITE ron DODGING.

Democrats of almost every sort and shade, III
talking of the Presidential question: snow gren.
anxiety rs to the platform The party VIII
die. if il turns the cold shoulder to tarlii re-
FORM says one. "The party must face sure
defeat, if it utters any nonsense about talln
for revenue" says another. but what an
amazing thing it is, if we look at it, that party
should really suppose its belated professions
could have any weight against Its long-estaD-
lished record. -,
The Democratic record cuts both ways. Inc
marty has abundantly demonstrated its strong
leaning toward free trade But 1t has also de-
monstrated its utter incapacity to frame, and
its want of courage to adopt, tariif in accord
with the will of its majority. 1t has disguised
friends of American industry. because IL mas
continually threatened change, and struggled
TO tear down the tariff, and kept industry under
the harrow of uncertainty 10y its threats ana
struggles. At the same time. 1t has diSguSt'd
honest Free Traders 10y its readiness to promise
what it knew il could not perform 10y IFS IN
capacitv and by its lack of courage .whoh
brought to the test. Its past record on inc
tariff question is the worst that it could possibly
have. for il gains no confidence from anybody
but has convinced American industry that II 1t
ever d1rcs. the Democratic party will be its
deadly foe.
Having this sort of record, the Democratic
marty now hopes to mend 1t, one way or the
other, by 1promise and nomination. One
would suppose that any man, even the dullcst'
must see the imp0Ssibility of this. Promises
the party has made before, by the CARLOAD.
Not one has it ever kept At the last important
State election 1t promised the wool growers OF
Ohio to restore the old duties onewool. But
when Mr. Converse offered such measure,
nearly all the Democratic members voted
against it., and at later day four-iitths OF them
voted for a bill to reduce the duties still FUR
Their. On the other hand, at the last Presidcn-
tial election the Democratic party promised a
tariff for revenue only. With great majority
in the House, it has not dared to offer bill to
keep that PROMISE nor has it been able to com
mand a majority for the miserable piece OF
political trickery that it did propose. Promises
from such a party are worthless. IL Will DC
judged by itssrecord, and justly.
Neither can the party gain anything by the
nomination Of candidates of either opinion.
Let us suppose, for instance, that the party
dominates Mr.. Carlisle himself, or Mr. Bayard,
and that Mr.. Randall supports him. Is 1t not
at once apparent that we have a trick or trade
TO deal with d? Either Mr.. Carlisle has secretly
pledged himself to abstain from eflOrt.fO free
trade, or Mr.. Randall has privately agreed to
cease defence of protection; who can tell
which? Thc predicament would be no better
if Mr.. Randall should be nominated, and Mr..
Carlisle or Mr.. Bayard should support him, or
if some political What Is 1t y should be named,
and supported by both wings. The dishonesty
of the performance would be apparent, at the
outset. and then the party would be. judged
by its record, as before.
No matter what platform the Democrats may
adopt, no matter what candidates they may
select, they are going to be judged by their
record. How that will help them they can guess
when they recall the last month of the cam
naiCn of 1850.