Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-02-19
OFF AGAIN.

Our Democratic cotemporary, with a
recklessness that would do honor to the
Mahdi, asserts that the Democratic par
ty is net afraid to take up the tariff is
sue. and an exchange propounds the
conundrum Then why don't they do it?"
To this cur eotemporary makes bonn
bastic reply that little Investigation
would have shown him was not tsnable,
bat investigation is not in his line,
sweeping assertions regardless of facts
answers his purpose much better. In
speaking of the last general election he
says:
That election demonstrated that the
people were ready for a change in this
tariff business, and the Democratic par
ty will see that this change ia made, but
the matter having been brought up by
the present Congress and defeated by
the treachsry Of some Democrats, three
fOnrths of whom were rsbuked for their
action by being defeated on appeal to
their constituents.
Such rot as the above is certainly not
complimentary to his readers, ninety
nine ont OF every one hundred of whom
could have teld the young man better.
1t Is a late day, perhaps to discuss the
defeat of the horizontal reduction bill
introduced by Congressman Morrison, of
Illinois, but we would like to direct our
cOtempOrary's attention to few facts
that 90 to show that the tariff issue has
been retired as far as the Democratic
party is concerned. The party that our
contemporary claims to represent moves
slOw-very slOw-bnt it seems as though
its snail.like pace was too rapid for the
lsthargic intellect of its editor. Hesays
the matter was defeated by the treachery
OF some Democrats, three-fOurths OF when
were rebuked for their action by being
defeated on appeal to their constituents.
A little research would have shown the
above statement to be without founda-
ton. Forty-thres Democratic Congress-
men opposed the measure with their
votes. among whom were some Of the
ablest men in the party. Out of this
number eighteen were returned to Gen.
gress, leaving twenty-five to be account
cd for. OF the latter Number fourteen
were replaced by Republicans. and no
one. we surmise, will have gall enough
to claim that these fourteen were defeat
cd on account of their record On the tar
if issue, as the fact that fourteen pro-
lection Republicans were returned in
their place would give tho claim the lie
direct. This shows that thirty two out
the forty-three congressional districts
endorsed the action of their Democratic
representatives. The other eleven were
replaced by new members, two-thirds of
whom a careful canvass shows would
oppose the msa sure if it should come up
in the present House. The last election
demonstrates that the people are not
ready for change In this tariff business
and least of all "horizontaP' change.
The anxiety Of william r. Morrison, the
father OF the horizontal bill. to get out
of the House of Representatives into the
Senate Is evidence IL at he has given up
the fight, and expects tariff reformers 10
receive but little comfort from the Forty
ninth Congress. With clear working
majority in favor Of protection and Sam
usl ]. Randall as the recognized leader
of the House, there is little danger of the
question being agitated during the
Cleveland administration.