Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-12-20
tbe Ca,,lastrr 1nteliiseusn
LANCASTER. DECEMBER 90, lsss.
They Voted Wrong.

We regret very much that twenty-siX
Democratic representatives voted with the
Republican members of Congress against
taking up the bill to reduce tariff taxation.
The very remarkable character of the vote
OF these Democratic representatives IS
found In the fact that they-twenty.s in
number-yoted against the body of the
Democratic representatives, one hundred
and forty-two in number, and that but six
Republican members voted with the one
hundred and forty-two Democrats, against
the twenty-six Democrats who voted with
the one hundred and twenty-eight Repub-
licans.
1t thus appears that the position taken
by the very large majority of the Demo
cratic members of Congress, upon an i'm
p0rtant political issue, was opposed and de-
feated by small minority of the Demo
cratic members and that the party stands
divided against itself, and has failed
to execute any policy, in matter where
1t Is very apparent that the needs of
the country require a party policy TO
DO formed and executed. While il
is conceded all around that reduction Of
revenue is necessary, the Democratic
party in Congress has not united in a
policy to secure this result; and so obstinate
is Democratic minority in its determina-
tion to defeat the views of the Democratic
majority, that it has refused even to afford
hearing to those views and has united
with the Republican party to choke them
of.
Now, if that is not a remarkable political
situation we have never seen one. If the
action of the Democratic minority is not
wrong, then we do not know what a fac
tional party minority may not do. We do
not ourselves entertain any doubt what
ever that it was the duty of the Democratic
members Of Congress to vote for the con-
sideration of the Morrison bill; and that
they were wholly unjusti1ed in seeking to
prevent the success of that bill by refusal
TO consider It. OF the twenty-six Demo
Gratis who stood against their party.
five, we axe very sincerely sorry to
say, were from Pennsylvania and that
they are those who would be consid-
cred the flower of the PENNSYLVANIA
hock; Randall, Curtin, Boyle, Ermen.
trout and Sowden good men and
Democrats, who have been led away
from their clear duty by the ancient smell
Of the Pennsylvania idea which declares
that nothing can be swallowed In Penn
sylvania that has not the highest flavor OF
protection seasoning. But we say to shese
gentlemen that these are moving times, and
that the old notion of PENNSYLVANIA tariff
needs is going fast to sleep; and that they
are sleepy not to have seen it. Mr.. Randall
has not been down among the people. Mr..
Ermentrout has listened to the stupid Re-
publican iron-makers of his district, who did
not elect him. Mr.. Sowden has been sirui.
larly inspired. Mr.. Boyle knows the law.
but not business. And old Governor Cur.
tin, who has had the best business instinct
OF the lot, was born in Wing garment and
has returned to the instincts of his cradle
: The interests Of the PENNSYLVANIA pIg
iron maker demand reduction of the duty
on ores and coal, which are the raw
materials Of his manufacture. We are
using foreign ores largely now and will
need to use them more largely hereafter
and we will need to get them as cheaply as
possible to keep down the price of the lake
ores, to the miners on which the Pennsvlva.
MIA iron producer pays an extrayagant
royalty. But whether this be or be not
the interest of the PENNSYLVANIA iron
maker, it is the interest of the
whole country and the Pennsyl-
yania Democratic representative cannot
come back to his Democratic constituents
and say that he opposed the Democratic
party and paralyzed its'power in Congress
py voting with the Republican party. in
protection OF the Pennsylvania iron mas
tiers. That will not do. The Democratic
party of the country is Of more value tothe
Pennsylvania Democrats than is the
Pennsylvania ironmaster; and the Dem.
ocratic voter ever demands party unity as
the first consideration of his representa-.
Tive.
We believe that the Democratic repre-
Bentatives Of Pennsylvania in Congress
have been faithless to both the interests of
their party and the interests of the iron
workers OF the state, in their vote against |
laAing up the Morrison bill and in their |
position against the reduction of the duty |
On the raw materials of manufacture.
certain Democratic representatives in New
orK and New Jersey have gone off with
Dur representatives on this iron idea, and
'even Ohio Democrats have followed to
ave their wool, with four Louisiana mem.
oers going along to preserve their sugar,
The policy they have initiated will, if sue
'essfnl, save all Of them from the care Of
.uear, wool or iron, in dropping their party
nom the country's control.