The Indianapolis journal., 1888-08-07
A NEW ISSUE.
The Administration Will Provoke War II 1t
Seems Necessary to Success.

The Administration Will Provoke War II 1t
Seems Necessary to Success.
washin gton Special to Philadelphia Press.
A Democratic Congressman Of prominence in
the councils of his party said tonight: "The
campaign will not be fought ont on the tariff
issue alone. The President is nsditating sur
prise for the politicians besides which the tariff
issue will shrink into minor Importance" Be-
ing pressed for a definite hint of what he meant,
hs said: "If the Republican Senate defeats the
fisheries treaty the President will take the sarli-
est opportunity to carry out the resolutions of
Congress advising retaliatory measures, even to
the extent of proclaiminR non.intercourse with
Canada He will find his sufficient ground for it
in the speeches of the Republican Senators on
the fisheries question. The important oppor-
tunity for it can be depended upon to come
very soon after the defeat of the treaty. The
Canadians WILL of course. renew their outrages
on American fishing vessels, and the trst case or
outrage clear enough to arouse popular indgna-
tion will be answered by proclamation of non
intercourse. There will be no lack or oppor-
tunity when he is on the lookout for it. man
with chip on his shoulder never has to wait
long for fight"
How much of this sort Of talk is meant as an
attempt to coerce the Senate into approving the
treaty, and how much of il is seriously intended
as a desperate stroke OF campaign folly. is diff
cult to tell The source from which it comes is
sufficient guarantee that it has official inspira-
ton. The statesms suship of q policy which seeks
opportunity to put the national peace at hazard
in q game of politics, to risk war with a foreign
power for the sake Of carrying doubtful State.
is worthy of discussion only because it is dan
gerous But over the politics of it the Democrat
Congressman. who did not expect his remarks
to get into print, became very enthusiastic. It
would paralyze the commercial industries of
Michigan. he says, and spread disaster all along
the northern border of New York. The Prssi-
a. .kAt> hxx-1 A.
OF responsibility on the Republican Senate
which. with full knowledge of the critical situ-
alton. had prevented q solution of 1t.
This attractive forecast OF the situation is, OF
course based upon the supposition, more or less
common among Southern Congressman, that
tho bulk of the voters do not think for them
selves. But tho most commendabe feature of
il as t struck the gentleman heretofore quoted
was that il would shut tho mouths OF the Re.
publican stump-epeakers who are deuouucng
the Presidents free-trade policy as q British
policy and that 10 would fill the Irish h-Americsn
with enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket. II
would prove the Presidents patriotism, appeal
to the anti-British sentiment Of the ntry aud
sharm frishmen with the prospect of freeing
Ireland IN America.
Just here he probably uncovered the real rea-
son why such q policy is meditsted as part Of
the Democratic campaign. The discussion Of
the Mills bNl has brought out it's advantages to
England strongly. the British newspaper
compliments to President Cleveland have been
SO significant the British expressions of concern
for the success of the Democratic ticket have
been so open, tina: the Democrats feel that they
are damned air sady with the praise of their in
discreet and unpopular allies. Their case calls
for desperate remedies, and in the same spirit
in which they did not hesitate to plunge the
country into war hsfore when the election went
against them. they now threaten to bring 1t to
the verge of war again in the desperate hope of
checking the tide Gf popular rebuke which is
rising against them.