National Republican., 1884-04-16
The Entering MedEe.


Mr.. Morrison won q victory yesterday for
the free.trade wing of the democratic party
over which there will be no exultation. No
doubt good many Of those who voted with
him would have beon glad If he had been
defeated. Whether the tariff reduction bill
passes or not the democratic party has irrev-
ocably committed itself to tho anti-protect-
i've policy and must stand or fall by the
record made in the house yesterday. The
country will accept this as the solemn, dc.
liberate action of the party, through its
accredited representatives, and will pass
judgment accordingly. If the people want a
tariff for revenue only they will elect a
democratic president and q democratic con-
gross to carry out the policy which the dem =
ocratic majority in the house of representa-
tivcs has inauguratod.
Tho vote in tho house on the motion to
1873 nays. A change of two votes would have
put the antltarif men in the minority, and
the Morrison bill might have remained on
tho table until the presidential nominations
wero made; but the so.called tariff reformers
were determined to test the strength of the
opposition, and in doing this they have
presented an issue which will absorb all
other issues in the presidential campaign.
Tho milk-and- water resolutions of the Ohio
and Pennsylvania democratic state conven-
tions will be utterly secuted at Chicago, and
Mr.. Morrison and Mr.. Carlisle will dictate a
declaration on the tariff question which will
embody tho free-trado ideas that triumphed
yesterday in the house.
Of all the gentlemen who gave attention to
Mr.. Morrison's speech in support Of his bill
yesterday, Mr.. Randall wore the most serious
face. He fully understood and appreciated
the importance of the step that had been
taken, and he knew that it not only put a
quietus on his own aspirations to the demo-
cratic nomination for the presidency, but
that it also made the election Of any demo-
cratic candidate impossible. He was by the
force of circumstances compelled to assume
the leadership Of faction in his own party,
and when it was demonstrated that the tariff
democrats in the house were but q handful
he realized the hopelessness of his position.
Any person who takes the trouble to analyze
the vote on the motion to take mp the Nor.
rison bill will see that protective tariff man
is entirely out OF place in the democratic
party.
There wero only five republican votes in
favor of taking up the bill. For the sake of
consistency and principle, the republicans
vsss .hiissd 40 vote asainst any agitation of
the tariff question, but for political reasons
they all would have been glad to assist Mr..
Morrison in getting his 90 per cent hori-
zontal reduction scheme where it will do
the most harm to the democratic party. No
republican felt sorry when it was announced
that the motion had been carried by two ma
jority. The election Of republican presi-
dent has been assured by the indiscreet action
of the free traders. Every speech made in
opposition to the protective system while the
bill is pending will prove an effective cam
paign document for the republicans, and if
the Morrison bill is passed the presidential
race will be practically walk-oyer for the
republican candidate.
1t will be impossible to persuade the coun-
try that the democratic majority in the
house of representatives will be content with
a horizontal reduction of 90 per cent in the
duties on imports. The bill now pending is
advocated as a measure of tariff REFORM"
but absolute free trade Is the ultimate object.
The ostensible purpose of the proposed legis-
lation 10 to cut down the revenue, but the
arguments used by its supporters strike at the
very root ofthe protective system.