The Washington critic., 1888-03-08
WASHINGTON, MARCH s, 1883.
qnE TARIFF Nor TnE ONLY ISSUE.

reform and the necessity of some
legislation, whereby to prevent the
accumulation of surplus in the
Treasury, the politicians are mistaken
i'm supposing that the tariff will con-
stitute the only issue of the campaign.
We very much question whether it
will be made an honest and definite
issue at all.
The general declaration of the
Democratic House, that it favors
reduction in customs duties and an
amendment to the Presidents Mes
sage, including the repeal Of the to.
bacco tax, will have its effect, no
doubt, in holding the party together,
especially in some wavering sections,
where internal revenue taxation is
looked upon rs greater evil than
high tariff; but against every move in
the direction of revenue reform will
be raised the specious outcry by the
opposition that, so far as it contem-
plates any interference with the pro-
tected industries of the country, reve-
nue. reform is virtuallya movement in
The direction of free trade.
IT is this sort of antagonism that
will to certain eXtent-possibly to a
very great extent-impair the fair
ness and squmeness of the tariff issue
and prevent its honest presentation
tO the country.
But there is sectional issue still
left and it will not be kept in the
background The waving of the
bloody shirt is not as efiectual as it
was some years ago, but there are
many Northern people who pin their
faith TO that ensanguined symbol yet,
and it has potent efficacy even at
this late day in keeping the Republican
organizations of the North intact and
precmding any break in the lines Of
the grand old party.
-- The pension question will enter into
the contest as an issue Of consider
able, and il may be serious, import
ance. The friends of the Admins
tration do not always seem to appre-
ciate the dangerous impolicy of main
tanning an armed hostility between
themselves and the veterans of the
Grand Army by rash indiscretions
Of speech and sometimes needlessly
partisan opposition to liberal pension
legislation.
II is not necessary to bankrupt the
Treasury in order to capture the soldier
vote; neither is it necessary to ALLEVIATE
the soldier vote by denouncmg it as
wholly mercenary and voracious in
its demands.
II goes without saving that the
Democratic party, being in possession
of the Government, has decided adj
vantage TO begin with, as the ins in
variably have over the outs. 1t is an
advantage that supersedes or over
shadows in great degree the force Of
any issue that may be injected into
the campaign, but even this advant-
age may be neutralized or altogether
thrown away through blunders in
legislation or leadership.
Strongly inrenched as President
Cleveland undoubtedly is in the con
iidence and respect of the country at
large, there is still great need of
Democratic circumspection. There is
no visible Democratic majority big
enough to bank on.
Against the Administration will be
concentrated all those who differ with
the President in his tariff views, all
who hold that he has exhibited an
undue leaning towards the Southern
Confederacy, all who retain resent
tul recollection Of his pension vetoes
and understand the black art of put
ling perverted constructions upon
mems well-meant acts and motives.
The odds seem to be decidedly in
favor Of Democratic success, but it i:
not 10 be n walk-ovcr-it might in Ger
tain contingencies be walk-under.
TnE INDiCArIoNs just now are tha
Senator Blackburn is going to have
boom from the soldier vote, and no
Confederate soldiers, either. Whel
the various Hancock and Mcclellan G
A. II. posts are heard from, il vii
probably be largely intensified.
THE SENATE yesterday very apprO
priately'struck out of the Paris Expo
sition resolution the amendatory
clause relative to the American ho,
adopted by the House. 1t has II,
business in the acceptance of polit
and friendly invitation extended Il
as by France TO be her guests upon
great international occasion. Tn
Senate also did well in increasing tn
appropriation from 100000 10 $500,
600.
THE CRowN PRNCE of Germany i
suffering quite as much from Bismarc
ae he is from Cancer.
ROBERT PATTERSON Army PosT O
Philadelphia adopted q resolution las
night thanking Mr.. Blackburn for hi
able defense of Generals Hancock an
Mcclellan. That an ex-Confederat
soldier should capture the honors of
Senatorial debate on the Dependen
Pension bill seems q trife odd; bu
there's q sympathetic bond of unio
between the boys in blue and boys i