New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-04
THE Uses OF NR. SETH LOW

The Democrats are lodging. Now, we don't
want to begin this campaign by calling any
body hard names but Speaker Carlisle Gov
crnOr Hill and the rest must understand right
here and now that the cowardly trick of singing
one tariff tune in New York, Connecticut and
New-JcIsey and another in Kentucky and
Texas is utterly played out. 1t won't do,
gentlemen, it won't do. You won with if not
by it last time but you can't do it again. In
1884 Sam Randall stumped this State and took
his solemn oath all over its territory that the
Democratic party would not disturb the pro-
tcctive tariff. That's what he said in bold,
clear words, and his pledges were one of the
forces that pulled Cleveland through by his
cyc-laShes. And yet he hadn't been in Office
three years before he gave the lie to Randal's
sworn vows, gave it directly, talked free trade
to his party with the sugar Of patronage in one
hand and the birchrOd Of Presidential disfavoI
in the other, and smashed Sam Randall in his
own State because he didn't like it.
There's no use shamming-we will say the
word right out-thcre's no use lying about
what he meant, for his meaning was put into
the Mills bill, and there it is now-free trade
from start to finish. Henry Wattcrson says
so in Kentucky, Frank IIud says so in Ohio,
j. s. Moore says so, and he ought to know, for
he framed the bill all the Free Traders say
so, exceDt, mark you, except when they come
as Democratic orators into New York, New.
Jersey and Connecticut. Then they hedge and
shuttle and apologize and sneak and play the
familiar role of coward.
At the County Democracy meeting on Thurs
day night Governor Hill said in his tricky
speech: "The Democracy do not believe in
free trade. There is not one line in our plat
form that will bear such n construction" And
even Mr.. Carlisle, who is supposed to be at
least honest enough to stand by his principles
declared: "The Democratic party does not
advocate free trade" Perhaps this was word
juggling, so far as Carlisle was concerned
Perhaps he meant that it did not advocate it in
New York, but had resolved to establish it
just the same. But these speeches were cs
sentially dishonest, tricky cvasivc. They were
an attempt to repeat the Randall dodge.
Young Mr.. Seth Low, over in Brooklyn, has
left the Republican party, and has stated the
reasons why. There may be some others than
the ones he has assigned. He might probably
have consented to postpone his departure until
after we had elected him Governor had such
movement seemed to him hopeful. But it cvi
IDENTIFY didn't, and so he is going right away
The reason he gives is clear, and we don't
question its sincerity so far as it goes. He de-
seits because "thc Republican platform is
determined onslaught upon free trade" and
here, he says, lis the chosen battlc-g ground be-
tween the great parties"
That is it, exactly. Mr.. Low understands
the Democracy, and takes what Carlisle and
Hill say for just what it is worth. He has
given away the trick. Now gentlemen. don't
be coy with Mr. Low. Don't protest that he
misundcrStands the issue. Don't tell him that
he is Burchard and Jonah, and will ruin The
Democratic game if he goes on talking that way
in the doubtful State of New York. Don't
wink at him, and touch your fingers to your lips
and grow hot and restless while the itch young
importer uncOnsciously exposes your conspir-
acy. Just stand up like men, accept him for
whatever he may be worth to you, and debate
tho tariff question honestly. For if you don't,
we shall have to use Seth Low on you as a sort
of whip with which to lash you back into the
free-tradc ring from which, in the doubtful
State of New-York, you are trying to sneak
away.