The daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1884, 1884-05-31
AN APPEAL ANSWERED.

There is no other humbug going
that is equal TO the tariff agitation
humbug.
Of course there are some men in 1t
who sincerely believe that it is mat
ter of importance. The Hon. Henry
Waterson is one of these, and the
Hon. VIM. Morrison is also earnest in
his convictions; but certain pOliti-
clans and spectators are too much for
their simple honesty.
The only practical purpose in rails
ing the tariff rumpus in congress at
this time has been to make the Hon.
John G.. Carlisle a greater man than
he could otherwise have become Col.
Morrison had doubtless been led TO
believe that his own distinction
would likewise be increased thereby;
bnt this was an essential part of the
programme.
Free trade is out of the question.
II can't get itself enacted. Nobody
ever believed that even that diluted,
inconsequential, illogical, and prcpos-
ferrous phantom of an offset of free
trade, the Morrison bill, could be en-
acted into law. Everybody knew be-
forehand that it was doomed to de-
feat in the senate, if not in the house,
and in the executive mansion. if not
in the halls of congress.
There was no reason for il, then,
except to promote some purpose Of
personal ambition and private spccu-
latiOu. The personal ambition which
could be promoted was the ambition
of the Hon. John q. Carlisle; the
speculation was that of the whiskey
men and the lottery man.
That is the whole of the story and
in its development free traders, whis-
Ky men, lottery men, big appropria-
ton Incp, such as those who hover
around the leyces of the Mississippi,
and all the johbcrs, with the personal
enemies of Sam Randall and of his
ideas of economy and reform, all COM
bined together, aud now, after they
arc defeated, the only practical result
of the whole thing is that the demo-
cratic party has thrown away its best
chance of carrying the Presidential
election, and stands in a state of de-
spondency and doubt that is almost
despair, where before there was every
reason for hope and confidence.
Here now comes the Hon. Henry
Watterson, and appeals to us in a
most affecting manner to know why
we have said that the democratic par
ty cannot carry the country on the
new Kentucky platform. We answer
that we have never said any such
thing. We have not discussed the
Kentucky platform. We take no i'll
terest in it. 1t is Il sham. 1t is not
for free trade ; it is not for protection.
II is gush and CANNON mixed. 1t is a
jugglc, and verbose and tedious kind
of juggle at that.
What we want is frank and manly
treatment of this subject. The dem
ocracy must decide whether they will
declare III favor of leaving the tariff
undisturbcd as an impracticable issue
at present, or whether they will make
their battle upon it. If they leave it
undisturbcd, they may be beaten. Ii
they make a square and earnest battle
in favor of The Free Trade idea, they
are, in our judgment, sure to be
beaten.
The situation is greatly changed
from what il was Il year ago. The
democracy has been overthrOwn in
the house of lis friends-overthrown
by Mr.. Waiterson and his followers :;
aud il cannot be restored by any such
rerbiagc rs that of the kentucky plat
forn.-Ner York. (DeD,.) Sun