New-York tribune., 1886-04-22
Mn TLLDEN,S NEW TOOL.

If every voter could only see the inside
workings of the Democratic party, and compre-
hcnd them! But perhaps Providence is KIND.
In that case the Republican Congressional
majority would perhaps be so large as to be
unwieldy. Perhaps, also, in that case voters
oNo have any sense of humor would laugh
Themselves to death.
Messrs. Morrison and Carlisle started out two
wears ago. rs many will remember. to grasp
the mastery of the Democratic party for the
men of the West and South. New-lork has
controlled the party long enough, and to its
ruin, they say. New men and new measures
were to prevail the interests OF the west
were to predominant. Men who had led the
party into the ditch were to be set aside The
tariff was to be made the especial engine Tor
orraying the agricultural West and South
against the manufacturing East. III New DIX
and New jersey, Connecticut ana Pennsyl-
vania should be lost, as lost trey would De III
consequence of free trade policy, enormous
gains at the West would more than compen-
safe. The first victory was the election OF Mr.
! Carlisle as Speaker. Then came severe blow
Mr.. Cleveland was nominated, and New \ ork
influence again prevailed and the Western free
traders were left to persuade themselves that,
though a New Yorker, Mr.. Cleveland was
sound on the tariff question. When the cleo
ton had passed, the fight against Eastern domi-
nation was at once renewed. Mr.. Carlisles
second election was not enough, but Mr.. Ran
dali was deprived of power by the change OF
rules. Then the new men and new ideas pro-
posed to exhibit themselves in tariff bill.
Naturally Mr. Morrison and his friends, being
anxious to build up the party at the West,
sought first TO cut down duties which favor
Eastern interests. BY making 1T appear that
| tariff reform meant 10 blow To Western inter-
ests they hoped to gain favor in the section
where they proposed to locate the permanent
mastery of the party and the Republic. Thus
Mr.. MorrisOn's bill proposed 70 tear out the
very foundation-stOne of the iron and steel in
dustry, by making iron ore free; and other
changes, in the duties on steel rails, Tor
example, and OD woollen and cotton goods,
showed the same purpose, not less than the
remarkable tenderness with which Western
wool growers were treated. This free trade
bill did not touch the duty on clothing wool at
all and slightly raised the duties on carpet
WOOL on the basis of last years importations
Then the innocent men fancied they had
started well.
Presently a delegation of Democratic IRON
masters appeared. Mr.. Tilden did not come
The fact that he is largely interested in
Michigan mines is not one which he thrusts
before tue party OF the country. But his
friends appeared. Mr. Smith Weed sent an
able attorney. Pennsylvania men sent Others
and Mr.. Barnum, the Connecticut iron master,
did not forget his interests. The bill stuck
long in committee. When it came out, behold!
the committee had stopped all changes in the
dnties on ore and iron and steel, but had
shrewdly substituted the absolute repeal OF
duties on wool. If the free traders want to put
their theories into practice, they will have 10
begin by assaing the very duties which have
the greatest strength in their own Western
agricultural districts.
One can imagine the Sage of Cipher Alley
whispering to himself Give these men rope
"enOugh, and they will not lack hanging. Their
snfuence with the party will soon vanish when
at sees what they mean to do. But, better
I" STILL use Mr.. Morrison himself to smash the free
trade clique, by offering bill which will retire
| from Congress as many Of them as possible"
The practical result is likely to be that free
| traders a. the West may get rOundy beaten.
while the Eastern Democrats may hold their
! own. Then it will become a matter of life or
death for the party in its next campaign to
come back to the East for leadership and
candidate All this is in visible progress. Mr.
Morrison himself is being used as a tool to
smash his own plans. Has anything ncater or
more amusing been seen in political history