Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-01-05
Bel,ttnttt Chronicle.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1855
A STOCK ARGUMENT REFuTED.

A STOCK ARGUMENT REFUTED.
New York Tribyne
The country has not been ruined by a
Democratic Administration. This is
the stock argument in favor of the Pres
dents reelection. The Republican lead
ers are charged with deliberate attempt
to frighten voters in 1884 by predicting
the destruction of National industries
and the prostration Of business interests
in the event of an election of a Demo-
cratic President. This appeal to panic
fear, it is asserted, cannot be made a
second time
This argument deserves serious con-
sideratiOn because it is likely to be the
chief stock in trade in the Democratic
canvass of next year. 1t is based on a
false premise, since it assumes that Re
publican appeals to the business inter
ests in 1884 were based solely upon the
danger to be apprehended from the cleo
1AOh VI a DC1AONldl4C L lColOClAl. 4uOoC
appeals were grounded upon-the triumph
of the Democratic party all along the
line-upon Mr.. Cleveland's election
and the return of Democratic majority
to the House of Representatives suffi-
ciently strong to secure the passage of
free trade legislation and upon the cap
ture of sufficient number of State Leg
islatures to convert the Senate into
Democratic stronghold. The Republi-
can party in 1884 was not only strug-
Cling for the Presidency, but also for
the reduction of the Democratic majori-
ty in the House and for the maintenance
of its control of the Senate. The Dem
ocratic party elected its President by
the narrowest margin, but it lost ground
in the House and failed to reverse the
conditions in the Senate. It was q par
tial and not a complete and decisive
victory. 1t was not the overwhelming
triumph against which Republican lead
ers had sounded a warning when they
reminded the business community of the
free-trade tendencies of contemplated
Democratic legislation and of the dis
astrous consequences which might fol-
low if Mr.. Carlisle and Mr.. Morrison
were allowed free hand.
What was the immediate result of this
incomplete victory of the Democratic par
ty?The business community settled down
at once to a conviction that free trade leg
islation would be impracticable for at
least two years. With their reduced
majority the Democrats would not be
able to overturn the tariff system, and
even if Protectionists like Mr.. Randall
could be whipped in to the support of
Mr.. Morrison's measures, the Republi-
can Senate could be depended upon to
save American industries from deStruc-
tion. This conviction was again strength
ened in 1856 when the Democratic ma
iority in the House was reduced still
further. If the Democratic party had
achieved a sweeping triumph in 1884,
American industries would have been
menaced with hostile legislation and a
feeling of universal distrust which would
have disturbed the business interests of
the country would inevitably have. been
created.
1t is the height of folly to give Dem
ocratic Administration credit for avert
ing disasters which the Republican par
ty alone prevented by its increased
strength in the House and its undisturb
ed possession of the Senate The appeal
made to the business community in 1884
can be repeated next year with cumula-
tive force. Mr.. Cleveland as candi-
= date did not dare to sayten words about
the tariff, and Protectionist Democrats
asserted in every doubtful State that he
was not Free Trader. He is now
known to be hostile to the tariff and has
recommended drastic legislation in the
interest Of English manufacturers. If
the House to be elected next year be
strongly Democratic, free-trade meas
ures will certainly be passed; and the
Senate, which is now evenly divided be-
tween the parties, cannot be depended
upon in future to avert the disastrous
consequences of such legislation. The
facts of the situation will have to be
looked in the face next year. If the
business classes listen to the false cry
that Republican talk about ruin under
a Democratic Administration was only
harmless campaign thunder" they will
be deceived by a cuckoo song.