Wichita eagle., 1888-03-06
THE COMING CRISIS.

IL Is odlu tlaC coming events cast tHeH
shadows before Looking at the Demo
cratic party in the light of these facts, it
cannot be doubted that the prospects for
that organization are anything but en-
couraging. The shadow cast across the
valley of national politics by the Demo-
cratic party is not the shadow of noun
tam OF strength, solid and majestic.
with its base resting on the everlasting
rocks while its snow capped head calmly
reflects the light of day. A closer look
at that shadow reveals broken lodges
from which are emitted dark waved out
lines indicative of internal heat and the
presence of hidden forces that is liable at
any moment to burst forth in terrific
| explosion. These small escapes might
prevent the final explosion, were not the
causes which generated these forces still in
existence. They are at work, and daily
| the explosion becomes more imminent.
The Democratic leaders are trying to
prevent this explosion by stopping the
escapes. Mr. Mills, of Texas, removes
large sacks of wool from over one assure
brandy. Mr. Randall, from Pennsylva-
mia, rolls in some immense Jumps of pig
iron. And Mr.. Speaker Carlisle, while
resting and recuperating his health in
Sunny Kansas, smears the entire noun
tain over with taffy, but it will not do,
the explosion is bound to come. These
are the conditions of the Democratic
party at the present time. In his an
nual message to congress, Mr.. Cleveland
committed his party irrevocably against
the policy of protection Of American in
dustry. He has in so many words said
the internal revenue only must be re-
tanned. And to clear surplus of reve-
nue., he has committed his
party to policy of reducing
taxation on goods manufactured in for
eign countries, and imported into this
country to be sold in competition with
our home manufactured articles. The
Democracy of Pennsylvania and some of
the eastern states have said defiantly
that they will not submit to this. While
the Democratic party of the west and
south with Carlisle and Watterson for
their trusted leaders have intimated that
their eastern brethren must come to this
position or get out of the party. Mr..
Watterson tells his party in language
poetical but forcible that they ought to
take Mr.. Randall by the back of his
neck and the seat of his trousers and
pitch him over into the Republican camp
where he more properly belongs" When
it is remembered that Mr.. Randall has
large ring of the Democratic party not
only of Pennsylvania but of the entire
country at his back the results of the
coming contest can be pretty definitely
determined. The Democratic party will
be torn asunder on the tarsf question
just as effectually as it was on the
slavery question.
There is well defined issue between
the protective tariff and free trade DEM
ocrats that can not and will not be over
come. Political parties are not made in
a day, but are the outgrowth of the con-
ditions of the times. A political leader
may hold together and control men
actuated by common purpose, but he
can not hold together and successfully
command opposing forces. The lines
between political parties were never
more strongly defined in this country
than are those between the two elements
Of the Democratic party. This division
is more noticeable in the states which
are considered doubtful, and which the
rfx 70
have any show whatever to elect the
next president. Pennsylvania, New
York, New Jersey and every New
England state are hopelessly lost to the
Democratic party, and the next sixty
days will make this plain to even
Democrats. Never since the election of
Grant has the Republican party been
in such formidable position to elect
president as now. They have but to put
their man in the field and the people
will elect him. Statesmen like Carlisle
and Randall no doubt would have their
party, for the sake of success, assume
more moderate position on the tariff
question than that taken by the Presi-
dent in his message to congress, but this
is impossible. The party must either go
before the country on that issue or set
Mr.. Cleveland aside. This they dare not
do. To repudiate Mr.. Cleveland now
would be an exhibition of weakness in
front of the enemy which would be
taken advantage of to their great injury,
while to advance on their present line
is to meet certain defeat We are unable
to see any hope for the Democratic party
this year as the issues are now made up.
The Republicans will elect the president
this year just as certain as that right
will triumph over wrong in final con-
test.