St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-19
BLAINE-CARLIsLE DEBATE.

The proposition to arrange for a series
of public tariff discussions in the prin-
cipal cities of the Union between Mr..
BLAINE and Speaker CARLISLE is one
that will meet with the hearty concur
renee of the entire country. In addi-
tion to giving pith to the campaign,
this arrangement will be the means of
giving wonderful amount of tariff ed
ucation to the people, subject on which
they desire to be educated. The tariff
question being the one distinct issue
between the two great political parties,
the reasons are urgent why both sides
should unite in any arrangement by
which it can have the fullest and ableSt
discussion. Mr.. BLAINE is the recog-
niZed leader of the Republican party
and the ablest exponent OF pro-
tective doctrine in this country.
There is no man who stands higher in
the councils of the Democratic party
than Mr.. CARLISLE. His position in
congress and the singular ability with
which he has championed the cause of
tariff reform have contributed to make
him the leader of his party on this ques-
ton. What these two gentlemen can
not say in defense of the respective
principles they advocate is not worth
listening to. Their knowledge of the
tariff question is as complete as it is
possible for the finite mind to acquire.
This campaign is thoughtful one,
and every voter is eagerly seeking in
formation. 1t is important to the coun-
try that the issue between the parties
shall be decided right. A wrong de-
cision might inf1ict permanent injury
upon industrial interests, and the voter
would live to regret that he had not been
better informed before he cast his bal
lot. Of course we expect, as is usually
done, each party will food the country
with speakers and with campaign
literature, and we shall hear many
an able exposition of the question now
uppermost in the public mind. But at
best these methods only give an eX-
parte presentation of the issue. The
Republicans go to hear Republican
speakers, and the Democrats turn out at
Democratic meetings. Comparatively
few converts are made by either side
by the ordinary campaign methods.
What the people want is series of
joint discussions by men whom they
know to be informed, and who have the
ability to tell what they know. 1t is in
formation the great mass of the people
are after, and not partisan furor and po-
litical clap-trap.
If an arrangement can be made by
which Mr.. BLAINE and Mr.. CARLISLE
shall discuss the tariff Jointly it will have
more bearing on the results of the cam
paign than all other methods that can
be employed. The people who listen to
them and those who read their
speeches will have all the arguments
that can be made on either side. and
will have them in juxtaposition, SO there
will be no difficulty in determining
which are the most convincing. With
campaign conducted according to this
method the result will be accepted as a
final decision of this great question. No
matter which party wins the victory on
this single issue, there will be no organ
lied effort in the future to reverse it.
| 1t will stand as the accepted policy of
the American government, because ii
has received the sanction of the Ameri-
| can people after full, fair and intelli-
| gent discussion.