New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-18
THE DEMOCRATS INACTIVE.
oUARRELL1NG OVER TIE TARIFF ISSUE
THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN RAPIDLY BECOMING DE
MORAIIZED.

!
MoRALIZED.
The anxiety OF the Democratic leaders who have
gathered at their National Headquarters in the past
two days has been deep 10 be commonly oD-
served Mr. Brce has had there in consultation with
him John :. barbour. OF Virginia. Arthur Sewcil oil
Maine. ex-senator Darnum. OF Connecticut, william
Il. Morrison, OF Illinois, Colonel Bradley u. smalley'
of Vermont. Henry waitcrson, OF Kentucky T. H.
Henderson of Indiana, and number OF other leading
workers Of the party. The only agreement between
them has been that It Il necessary to mako strong
fight IN Maine TO reduce the Republican majority
the September election, and for this purpose Mr.
scwell IS said to have received authority to eXpend
any amount OF money he may deem necessary up 10
$500 O0O. There is an immense amount OF money
at the command OF The committee and this sum Is a
nero basntelle out Of the larsc fund that has bceh
raised and that has been promised before the emu Oh
| the campaign.
Senator Barbour IS known TO be exceedingly anA
| lous about Virginia. The committee IS disposed. Oh
account OF the differences there between the Republican
factions believe that there IS necessity for eX
| pending any money labor to keep the State DEM
ociatc. Dir. Barbour has labOrcd Intellectually !"
convince them that Virginia has only gone Republican
when the Republican forces have been divided, III
campaigns In which the opposing factions have coHle
together at the last hours of the canvass. lie has
pointed ont TO the committee the danger that, while
General Malone and the Anti-MahoneItes arr both
drawing large number Of voters from the Democratic
party, through opposition TO each other they VIII
effect union later In the campaign and sweep the
State.
There have been some blter discussions over the
tariff question. Horizontal Reduction Morrison
and the Star Eyed Henry Watierson are disguised
because Mr. Brcc and senator Barnum, who tariff
mon, Will not food the country with Free
Trade literature. On the other hand boih
Brice and Barnum have been Insisting that
these gentlemen shall unto in demanding that
the President shall far modify bis Free Trade views
and declarations when he Issue his letter OF
acceptance that It VIII be acceptable 10 the Protective
Tariff Democrats. Mr. nrce persists 10 telling them
that unless the free trade label be taken of tho
Democratic party It Is doomed to defeat These diff
ferences of opinion are marked that tho employees
about Democratic quarters begin to talk outside and
express their opinions on side the other in The
corridors Of uptown hotels taxing sides according to
their personal relations TO the different leaders
80 far can be asccrtaIned It is Chairman Brices
intention to run a hide and seek campaign His idea
is 10 send free trade documents into the rural districts
and protective tariff literature into the manufacture
ing towns The Presidents message and the Minis
bill win be used to satisfy the free traders, and he
has demanded that President Cleveland shall so worn
his letter Of acceptance tina; II can be used TO satisfy
protective tariff Democrats. This sort OF thlmoe
rigging Is far from satisfactory TO the gentlemen who
have Leen IN conference with him, and sumo pretty
tall swearing has been DONE not only about the head
quarters but about the hotel corridors.
The differences mentioned are coupled In con-
versatOn uptown with reports that President CleNe
land and Chairman Irce have had war OF words
in which the chairman was worsted and that as
consequence, Senator German, OF Maryland. IS com
ing here 10 run the campaign, while Colonel Brce
talcs a back seat. Members OF the committee
who were asked about this subject last
night refused 10 discuss r. ana Vha ,,,r ~
Barnum, when approached about 1t was "a sour d
that famous bear with a head. The apathy In the
Democratic ranks is paralyzing and terrifying 10 all
the leaders. President Cleveland IS said TO charge It
the lnacton OF the committee while Chairman
Brlcc places the responsibility on the party leaders,
who, he declares. say that the trouble IS with the
Administration, from which they yet neither
recognition. satisfaction offices. II Is the Offices
about which they ompiain most. The President has
ignored Civil Service reform, they say TO reward per
sonal friends and MugvImps, bu' Whenever party
leader wants anything lac is snubbed. BESIDES many
Of them assert that the President IS all wrong in
forcing the frcc-irade Issue. The examinations and
recrminaons growing out of this condition were pre-
scented 10 the Presidents consideration az his recent
conference ashingtOn with Colonel Bricc. The
President simply refused 10 do anything am
nominated You must elect or be defeated was
the sentiment OF hls talk.
10 promise the EARTH 10 working Democrats, who
were looking forward 10 the sP)ils OF Office. Chair
Brice has nothing N offer ont tcndOllar bs out
Of his millloi-dollal campaign fund. and he lnds
that dollars do not 90 a. iat a. prospective onces
IL is likely that issue Will be forced between the
President and the committee within few day, and
that its results will be known by what prominence
Colonel Brice thereafter takes in the campaign
Washington. Aug. IT olOnel Lamont said 10 nicht
that there not a particle of foundation for the
published statement to the effect that Mr. Brce was 10
retire from the chalrlnanshiD OF the Democratic Ma
tiona Committee at the request Of President Cleve-
land.