The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-12
The Augusta Chronicles Regrets.

Inc augusta Chronicles Regrets.
The Augusta Chronicle regrets, and no
doubt sincerely, that the Democratic con-
vention of this State Endorsed Mr. Cleve-
lands tariff message. 1t favors Mr.. Cleve-
lands denomination, but doesn't want the
tariff plank of the national platform To be
in harmony with his tariff policy. 1t will
be admitted, without question, that the
Chronicle is anxious for the success of the
Democratic party, but is it not possible
that. on account of ITS high tariff leaning.
it fails to appreciate the inconsistency of
its positionl
1t favors the denomination of Mr.. Cleve-
land because it believes he has given the
country a good administration, and because
it thinks that he has a better chance of
being elected than any other Democrat.
The most important act of his administra-
ton, however, is his tariff message, and the
most important issue before the country is
that of the tariff. Would he accept a re-
nomination on a platform which either
positively or negatively condemned his
tariff messagei Could he afford to do so ?
If he were to do so. would he not be open to
the charge of having abandoned his tariff
policy,
Could the Democratic party afford to re-
nominate him, on a platform not in har-
mony with his tariff policy, and with the
tariff policy which the Democrats in Con-
gress have outlined in the Mills billa What
prospect would it have for victory in the
approaching campaign if it were to aban-
don, or even half way abandon, the ag-
Hnh e.,
Mr.. Cleveland inaugurated, and which is
now being carried on in Congressl Would
not the people say that the Democratic
party lacked the courage to go before the
country on an issue presented by an admin
istration of its own choosing and which it
supported in Congress! Would the people
rally to the standard of a party which
showed so little confidence in policy with
which 1t had become SO completely identi-
fed?
The Chronicle, if we are not mistaken.
would like to have a tariff platform adopted
which could be interpreted either for pro-
lection or tariff reduction. Whatever might
have been the wisdom of adopting such
platform in 1884, there would be no wisdom
in adopting a platform of that kind in 1888.
The party, during the present admnistra-
ton, has taken an unequivocal position
with respect to the tariff. That position it
must maintain. A step backward would
mean defeat The two great parties are
facing each other on the tariff issue, and
the Democratic party must present a bold
front and an aggressive attitude.
The Chronicle talks about doubtful States
that must be won in order to secure vic
tory. Can victory be won by a deceptive
attitude, or by attempting to hide the real
issue at the opening of the campaignl The
President and the party in Congress have
made the tariff issue clear. The duty of
OF the national convention is to indorse and
emphasize it. The Chronicle would like
the national convention to cover up this
issue, or to present the tariff question in
such shape that it could be made to mean
protection or tariff reduction, but if that
were done, would the doubtful States be
deceived! The Democratic party is now
in favor of tariff reduction, and the
whole country knows it. ANY doubtful
declaration about the tariff by the national
convention would not deceive single voter
1t would be grave mistake, therefore, to
adopt the course which the Chronicle would
have the party follow. The policy that will
win in the doubtful States, as we'll as else
where, is the straightforward one which is
being indicated by Democratic State con-
ventions all over the country.