The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-09-27
PRoTECT1oN1sr DEMOCRATS

PROTECTIONIsT DEMOCRATS
Nobody has a right to claim that the
Protectionist Democrat who votes for
Harrison and Morton has become Re
publican for all time. Republicans, no
doubt, ardently desire that if they Join
they should permanently remain with
them. But vote for their ticket in
November does not commit Protection
list Democrat to any more Republicanism
than is contained in the doctrine of the
Protection of American industry and
labor.
The Protectionist Democrat at this
time finds himself in a very curious po-
sition. He is ordered by the Admins
tration to renounce his opinions upon
fiscal policy. 1t does not make any diff
ference that these opinions coincide
with those of the founders Of the Demo
cratic party. jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe and General Jackson himself, estab-
lished by his letter to Coleman, were
protectionists. Free trade did not make
its appearance fully until the slave oil
garchy had gained possession of the
party. President Cleveland, acting in
obedience to that institution, resurrect-
ed, in new form, but in oppositin, with
out much doubt, to the New South, has
ordered that the Fathers of the DemOc-
racy should be set aside and that Jeffer-
son Davis, the late Robert Toombs, Wade
Hampton and the last generation of
Southern politicians should be accepted
in their places.
The order so issued was as peremptory
as that of Ruric the Red to his Tartar
hordes to Immediately become Chris
tians, or of Charlemagne to the Saxons
to accept baptism or be drowned. Those
within his reach who kicked, the Presi-
dent struck at with venom. He vetoed
the app operations which Congressman
sought for their districts. In other cases
he ordered his Postmasters to prevent
their denomination. From the start war
was made on Randall, the Protectionist
Democrat. In the Forty ninth Congress
he wa, practically deposed from the po-
sition of leader of the House. In the
present Congress he has still further de-
graded. The power which he once
welded as Chairman of the Committee
on Appropriations has been divided up.
| The title remains-that is to say, the
shadow, but the substance has gone.
| Thirty five Protectionist Democrats, in
GLIDING four from California, were found
in the Forty-eighth Congress. But only
five braved the anger of the autOcrat of
| the White House in the present House.
AS matter of fact, there, are probably,
more PrOteCtionist Democrats in the
present Congress than in the Forty
ninth; but the punishment meted out to
Randall, the veto of the Allentown APP
preparation and the threatening move
ments of the Administration in many
Congressional districts, silenced them.
The question now is whether the same
stress can be put on ProtecliOnist Demo-
Gratis who hold no official positions.
| There is no power cOerce them but in
the name of Democracy, but that can
not be considered to be all-potent. Ii
was not strong enough in 1861 to force
all Democrats to become Secessionists.
In 1864 il failed to make Union Demo-
era cast their votes for Mcclellan and
the Rebellion. The signs are visible in
the political heavens all around that 1t
will not compel PrUtentionist Democrats
in 1888 to vote for free trade. The pro-
position of President Cleveland is that
the Protection Democrat must surren-
der his opinions, and perhaps consent 20
the injury of his business, IN order that
some brawling politician in his neigh-
borhood may Obtain pustOtlice, or
position in the Custom House or Mint.
No doubt an attempt will be made On
the part:of the defenders OF the Admin
istra,ion to make out that the Mills bi
is not an advance toward free trade.
But that is proposition that can only
be maintained by the most brrzen eff.
frontery Pesident Cleveland, in his
message to Congress, tried to reduce,
not in the fairest statistical manner, the
number OF those workers who are bcne-
| fitted by Protection and then urged thai
if their wages were reduced by the pol =
cy he advocated, they could Tecoup
themselves in the greater cheapness Of
champaign, Havana cigars and broad
cloth. Mills, the author Of the bill that
has passed the House, is declared free
trader.
The Democratic programme is a giant
stride in the direction Of the British fl
cal system. Must the Prutectionisl
| Democratic swallow ii because
it is labelled Democracy If he
must, he certainly has no right to eXei-
else independent Judgment. He is
man whose opinions are manufactured
for him elsewhere. He must change his
most cherished views when he is so or
hereh by tho Ruric thu Rod who 10 tenn
pararily enthroned at Washington. The
real alignment of the present political
campaign is that of protection against
free trade. There is no sub, tant'al rra-
son why mere political designations
should prevent any one from taking up
| a nositiOn which aCCOrds with his ODin-
ions. That would BE- something entirely
out of place among a commOn-sense,
practical people, Protectionists Repuo
licans and Protectonlsts Democrats are
allies in the present campaign. They
will stand shoulder to shoulder while
that is the sole issue. They may after
ward part company on other issues.
But to say that Prutectiunist Democrat
becomes Republican for all time by
voting for Harrison and Morton is the
extremity of absurdi'y. San Francisco
Bulletin.