Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-20
WATTERSON'S RIOT ACT.
PROTECTION DEMOCRATS DE-
SCRIBED AS POLITICAL
CUTTLE FISH.

i Text of the Journalists Demand that
the Randallites support the Morrison
Bill or Leave the Party-The ssOId
Ticket" Talk Waste of Words
The following is the full text of the dis
patch which Henry Watterson sent to his
paper, the Louisville ComierJoarnaI, and
which was published in Louisville and in
Washington last Tuesday morning. The
MORNING News special gave brief
synopsis of it yesterday and also an ac-
count Of the stir it created in Washing
ton:
The squad of protectiOnists, claiming to
be Democrats and led by Mr.. Randall.
have undoubtedly mistaken the generosity
and cOurtesies of Mr.. Carlisle for vacilla-
ton, and have lured themselves into the
belief that because Mr.. Morrison has not
been rash he is uncertain and afraid.
Hence this class of political cuttle-fish
are in state of confusion and rage over
the strong and clear utterances of the
Speaker Saturday night in New York.
A week ago they were dividing their
time. in about equal portions, with
bullying weakened Democrats and og-
ling Republicans with whom they are in
correspondence and conspiracy. All
through to-day they have been whining.
putting up poor mouth and tearfully
pleading avoidance of a caucus The
sooner the break comes the better There
can be no arrangement short of the Nor
rison bill between the Democratic party
and Pennsylvania.
If MIR. Randall and his followers cannot
support so conservative a measure they
can support nothing except a high tariff
bill proposed by the Republicans. In that
event they had better pick up their grip
sacks and go over TO the Republicans,
where on this question they properly be-
long.
1t is full time that masquerading should
end. The Democratic masses are sick of
it, and it would have been brought to a
round turn two weeks ago. but for the
determination of Mr.. Carlisle and Mr..
Morrison TO exhaust every means Of con-
citation before they opened the cam
paign, which the present organization of
the House made, from the first, a fore
gone conclusion.
Mr.. MOrrison's bill is far from being all
tae friends of revenue reform, or even its
author, could desire. 1t was made in the
most liberal spirit of concession, and it is
simply step in the right direction. It's
failure means the defeat, and may involve
the dissolution, of the Democratic party.
The same clique in the National Demo-
cratic Committee, headed by Mr.. Chair
man Barnum, and in Congress, headed
by Mr.. Randall, which procured the de-
feat Of Gen. Hancock in 1880, by running
away in panic of ignorance and terror e
from the tariff issue, is now seeking to
couple the Democratic party to the rear
end OF the Republican express.
Inc Democratic people of the West and
South are not going to allow it, nor are
their representatives in Congress. We
may be beaten in the coming struggle,
and the way these semi-Republicans and
wOuld-be Democratic leaders are going it
looks as though we shall be: but il we
are to be beaten let us 90 down with our
flag flying, and, though we lose our bag
gage, may we not save our honor?
We have no candidate who is an issue
in himself. The talk about ssthe old
ticket is the sheerest nonsense. and it
comes mainly from those who opposed
'the old ticket when it meant something
which might have counted for something.
Mr.. Tilden would not, could not. take the
Office, far less a nomination. The
schemers who are constantly Juggling
him into the struggle know this full we'll.
lie is not in this fight at all, directly or
indirectly. Long ago he made up his
mind not TO cheat his old age of its re-
pose. For Mr.. Payne, for Mr.. Hoadly,
and for Mr.. Randall he entertains the
warmest sentiment of personal regard.
and why should he not? They We're his
friends during a great and trying crisis
of his life.
Times have changed, and with them
issues. The eYer-present issue of admin
lstratlVe reform, which was so emDha-
sized in the person Of Mr.. Tilden and so
pointed by the circumstances Of his day.
is at this moment only one Of many need
ed reforms. The tariff, which in 1876 Oc-
cupled a second or third place, has come
to occupy the first; and yet, though it was
not at the front eight years ago. the tariff
plank in the st. Louis platform was
as carefully and elaborately drawn
as any other plank in that platform. 1t
was substantially Mr.. Tilden's own handi-
work, aad was carried West with his
sanction and brought back 70 receive his
approval. The plank itself declares for
"a tdTlg only for reCeRue.' In spite of
this we hear Democrats saying, 1tWe must
nominate the old ticket to get rid Of the
tariff" as if the Sage Of Greystone is not
as thorough an embodiment of tariff reform
as he is of administrative reform.
1t is all a trick to mislead the people.
Those who are using it are friends Of mo-
nopOly. They are Republicans in dis
guise. By the aid of organization and
money they hope amid the confusion to
make the Democratic National Conven-
tion a good second TO the Republican
National Convention. Then which ever
way the election goes they are all right.
A caucus viii show us who are our
friends and who are our enemies, and
caucus we should have at an early day.
Deliberation has been had, ard the time
for deliberation has gone by. The time
for action has come. The Speaker and
the Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee are fully conscious of this.
They are the leaders of the party in
the House. They are fearless in them
selves, and faithful to their trust If the
army Of tried and true Democrats who
are waiting for their words have doubted,
let them be reassured they will not have
long to wait.