The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-07-19

II would be well for the leaders Of the
democratic party to note the tone ol
recent crirscism in the genuine, stluuCh
democratic press in regard to tariff re
form, remarks the Chicago Idsgr,uD
Nothing is more evident than the fact
that the rank and file of the democracy
are doing some deep thinking upon the
subject. The hcresy of the thirtysix
traitors who voted aginst the consdera-
ton OF the tariff bill introduced by the
ways and means ESmmiitce has made it'll
apparent that this schismatc faction
must be taught a lesson, or that The de-
mocracy must prepare for a split Many
papers known as reliably democratic are
expressing opinions similar to the follow
Ing from the Galveston (TcNl Nt,rs.
the democratic congressional cam
paigu committee should arrange to run
ii democratic candidate in opposition 10
each of the thirty-siX democrats who
voted against considering the tariff bill
electing republicans in some OF the dis
,ricts, but it would prevent u contempti-
BILE minority of the democratic party from
placing the party in Il false and ridicu>
luus attitude before the country. If the
iron baTOns of Pennsylvania need Mr.,
Randall in congress, they should be
made to send him there win a republican
brand. If the democratic party continues
to tolerate Randall aud his band, it will
deserve popular contempt and a popular
condemnation Fl the democratic party
is not earnestly opposed to war taxation,
it should cease deClaiming against war
taxes in its platforms. II The democratic
party is honestly in favor Of tariff reform,
it should purge itself of Randall Il Co,
and avoid being placed in n false attitude
before the people. Turn the Tascals out.
1t is not possible to question the
soundness of the position taken in the
foregoing extract. From no source has
the democratic party derived more
strength than from the popular impress
sion that it was likely to favor a radical
reduction OF the war tariff and the eman-
cipation of American commerce from the
chains by which the mnnopoisls have
loaded it down. Ii is true that the tariff
question is not the only one upon which
the people are divided in opinion; but
it is the leading one. and there can be no
disputng the fact that very large per-
centage Of democratic voters would leave
the party for new one Of defined reform
principles if they were convinced that no
relief was possible through the adoption
OF tariff reform policy by inc demo
cratic party. The proportion of tariIi
relOrmers is larger among the democratic
voters than il is among the representa-
tives they have sent to congress, aud
there is formidable minority of rtpuhi,
cans who believe in tariff reform and
would vote for democrats Tor congress II
they could he convinced that tive demos
cratic members could he united IN "a sln-
ceTc effort to reduce custom-house TAXA
ton aud to abolish the monopoly features
of existing tariff
If the democratic leaders do not wish
the confidence of the people in the poll
cies and impulses OF the party, already
shaken to he entirely DESTROYED, they
will forbid the setting up OF affairs to the
pig~iron Baal within the borders of the
democratic Israel. II is not possible To
serve the democracy and plg-iron at the
same time, aud the time has come 10
choose between the two.
The course of wisdom is to listen To
the warning of friends, however dispicas
ing the sounds may be, rather than wait
for the harsher notes of the taunts aud
jeers of victorious enemy. II the dem
ocratc party will again take its stand
upon the principle of opposition 10 use
less taxation it can go on to victory.
But if it adopts republican principles and
republican policies it must not be sur>
prised if the people prefer Bold original
to weak imitation.