The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-02-09
A Third Parity.

made the following statements III |
an interview in New York last
week:
'sWell, this question promises to
shake US ali up, doesn't it?"
"Do yon mean it will change party
lines ?"
sit looks that way now, and indeed,
| hope it will change the composition
of the parties and give us new themes
OF public thought and discussion and
division"
..The south wants protection, does
2"
"The most remarkable change have
ever known in public sentiment is that
which is taking place, has taken place,
within four or five years. The south
has been turning to protection while
the east-New England-has been go
ing over to free trade"
There is no doubt that there has
been a considerable revolution of
opinion south upon the tariff ques-
ton, and little less doubt that a
couater current has set In at the
north. 1t is remarkable traDsi-
lion of thought, and it demonstrates
one thing: that theory will not
stand the test of practice. Gen.
Hancock said more wisely than he
knew that "the tariff is local is
sue" and the people laughed at
him. The interests of any commu-
nifty shape its opinions upon any
question that does not involve fun
aamental principle. There is no
principle of democracy involved in
the tariff question. Go back down
Tie line of statesmen and you will
ind distinct and unequivocal deela-
rations running all the way between
absolute free trade and outright
protection. A democrat can find
authority and precedent for his
opinions no matter what they are.
The republicans have tried to
draw line between the parties on
this question but they are not
Justified in it. They attempt to
force the democratic party into an
attitude of free trade, when the his
tory of the party shows that its
enuncistions have varied with the
exigencies of the times and were
never shaped by any Fundamentals
rule. On the other hand, they
claim that the republican party is
the party of protection, when the
fact is that the idea and practice O
protection was settled upon before
that party was born.
1t readily appears to an unbiased
mind that there is no party ques
tons involved except such obliga-
ton as spring out o the exigencie
of the hour upon the party in powe
to handle this question noao as tn
interests of the people require.
We despise the narrow idea tina
. holds man or a party forever to
: declaration once made. Under th
hue and cry of Inconsistency
men and parties are horsewhippe
into trying to reconcile past utter
ances with present conditions. Th
country may progress and Their
may be a complete metamorphosi
in things physical and politica
!; and yet a man is afraid to e
n back on what he said when th
$ conditions warranted him in so say
It ing. In our opinion, tie very per
lection of consistency is that whic
makes ones declarations and opir
: ions coincide with and promote til
1t interests of the majority of the pee
TO Pile as he finds them today.
d Upon the tariff question, tt
lie democratic party has always a
ranged itself upon that side whic
at the time seemed to be to the bel
L interest of the country. When
e, violates precedeot it does so b
r. cause the needs Of the country bay
o changed. This being true, thel
y can never be any necessity for
y third party upon the tariff question
'e because the democratic party adap
itself to the exigencies growing OF
= of any conditions and does SO witt
o out IN the least violating any pril
2 ciple upon which it exists.
. To-day the demand is imperati'
for reduction of the revenue ar
% a repeal or radical modification
: the internal revenue laws, and I'll
democratic party is equal to tn
task. After that is done and Il
e country adjusts itself to the ne
y arrangements, there will necessar
il ly arise new needs that need NEE
II ing, and then the party can under
% take that task. A man 10 70
!. who will say that because the part
= to-day is in favor of reduction ar
repeal, it shall forever be in fave
of reduction and repeal, and y
) that is the rule laid down by nor
p progressists.
"a We repeat, therefore, that the
* never can arise the need for a thil
70 party upon the tariff issue as lor
II as the democratic party exists.