Wichita eagle., 1888-08-26
a SECTIONAL TARIFF.
An Administration That Has Done Moth
ing but Truckle to the South-The Mills
Bill "a Sectional Measure.

| An Administration That Has Done Moth
ing but Truckle to the South-The Mills
Bill Sectional Measure.
Another Southern Tariff bill has been
passed by the House 1t is the dIrest fruit
of that great crime against free govern
ment by which freedom of voting in South
ern States was prevented ana President
Cleveland was elected. Including men
paired, GO Northern members voted for tho
measure and III against 1t. With the
Northern States more than two to one
against the bill it nevertheless passed, be-
cause 105 Southern votes were for 1t, Of
which at least 90 had been secured by
fraud. Sectional in it's origin and spirit,
peculiarly sectional in its provisions and in
the theory which shaped it, this bill can not
carry a single Northern State, and yet it is
to be imposed upon the industries of the
North-unless the Senate defeats it-by
votes obtained in Southern States through
fragrant defiance of the constitution and the
laws.
If, says the New York Tribune, the North
ern people wish to be ruled in that way, if
they are willing to have their industries
Frustrated and their prosperity arrested by
a sectional measure passed by Southern
crimes, they will continue to sheer at the
'bloody shirt" and to permit the Democratic
party to govern the country. This great city
and the crowded adjacent population from
which the Democratic party draws all its
hopes Of success have deep interest in the
result, and yet can not defend their indus
tries against the foreign influence here pre-
vailng. But for the population within ten
miles of the city hall New Jersey would not
be doubtful, and New York would give over
fifty thousand majority against free trade
and the sectional policy of the Democratic
party. Bnt here the foreign agents and
those identified in interest with them have
something to gain by free trade. Outside
of this little circle the great Northern States
have every thing TO lose by breaking down
home industries, and ii IS for the people of
those States to say whether sectional South
ern policy shall prevail. They can out-vote
this city and Its environs ii they choose.
Even after Democratic Congress had
been elected by Southern crimes this or
any similar measure would still have been
beaten but for the patronage and ire
sistible power of President who had de-
hberately chosen to serve the South and to
betray the North. More than twenty Dem
ocratic members were pledged to their con-
stituents to support the policy outlined by
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania, but have
interests of constituents. To some, sham
reform has promised places in navy-yards,
custom-houses and post-ofices; to some it
has promised jobs and contracts; and some
it has brought to their knees by the threat
that the paid hireings of the Administra-
tion would pack conventions to defeat them
unless they yielded.
1t is a good thing for the country that the
irresistible momentum toward Southern
policy within the Democratic party has
been thus plainly shown before the Presi-
dental election. But for the threats and
the brides OF the Administration, it may be
said, there would still have been substan-
tial Democratic opposition to such policy;
Mr.. Randall would not have been left with
only four supporters IN the House. Yet the
threats and brides of an Administration
controlled by the South constitute the
force with which Northern industries have
TO reckon, if the election of another Demo-
cratic President and Congress is permit
ted. In a Democratic caucus, the South
ern free traders have large majority, and
they shape the policy OF the party. Then
their orders are obeyed by a President who
owes his place to their crimes.
Two Northern Republicans proved faith
less TO their party. Out of $1,000 votes in
Mr.. Fitch's district there have been care
fully scraped together the signatures Of
1850 votes, less than one il ten, who ap-
prove his position. and this he chose to con-
slider warrant for disregarding the prin-
clples and platform Of his party. Mr. Mel
son, OF Minnesota, publicly admitted not
long ago that his constituents though anx-
ious for revision Of tariff, did not want
free trade or Democratic revision. What
influence moved him at the last moment he
will have occasion TO inform his coIstit-
uents. One Southern member elected as q
Republican, aud two labor candidates
elected by Republican votes, also illustrated
the old truth that the Republican party
gains nothing by electing men who do not
believe in its principles. But the division
shows that tho two great parties are prac-
tically unanimous, one in supporting the
principles OF protection, and the other IN
contending for the Southern theory of free
trade The voters have now 10 choose be-
tween them.