New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-13
TIE FREE-TRADER UNDERNEATH.

THE FREE TRADER UNDERNEATH.
About the most ridiculous person on the
planet at present is the Democrat or Mugwump
who fancieS that Mr.. Cleveland is the pre-
destined candidate and free trade the inevl-
table issue for 1892 The fact is that the APP
parent unity of the Democratic party on inc
issue in 1888 was from the teeth outward.
To say nothing of Mr.. Randall and Others VINO
STAYED in their tents through the whole nshl,
there were many thousand voters VINO hdNu
Mr.. Cleveland's policy, and yet did not ualo
or did not choose to separate from their parry
on that issue or to refuse him their Vo'eS'
Some were frightened out of their seven senses
by the spook called negro supremacy IN South
ern States. Others conceived that ule sucoeSs
of party led by Brice, German, whitney
Barnum and other poor and hard-hsted men
was essential to rebuke plutocracy in the he
nubEcan ranks. and to that end Mr.. Gould 5
check was joyfully applied. But the Demo-
cratic millions voted with no more critical con-
sideration of the platform or the attitude of the
marty on the tariff question than the drilled
soldier bestOws upon the plans of his general.
Wise or unwise, patriot or traitor, sober OF
drunk the commander in action has to be
obeved. So Congress voted when Mr.. Cleve-
land had made the issue inevitable, and so
Democrats voted in November, when the al
Tentative was "Cleveland and free trade or
Harrison and protection.n The venerabl Dem
ocrat who would "vote for the Devil incarnate
if the regular candidate" belongs to a numer-
Gus family
But the persons who inferred that Demo-
Gratis were united in love for Cleveland and
free trade had enough in later events to en-
tighten them. The contempt OF large pro
norton of the Democrats for Mr. Cleveland and
his free trade associates found ample expression
after the election. Messrs. Mills and Carlisle
have been treated much as General Butler was
treated after the powder explosion at Fort
Fisher. Mr. Cleveland has become political
nonentity. Is there Democrat who lmaglnes
that the vote of NewYork in convention could
possibly be obtained for him? On the other
hand, Mr.. Randall has without effort become
the most conspicuous and influential Democrat,
instantly promoted to leadership because he
had no part in the free-trade lunacy of 1888.
The same blind discipline which made men
follow Mr. Cleveland into the ditch will now
swell the followers of Mr.. Randall. One can
not throw stone in New York without hitting
a Democrat who knew all along it was ldiohc
to make war on the industries of the East"
That is the state of things now, and no signs
are visible of any reaction in favor of Mr.. Glove
lands British policy. Now and then a bakers
dozen of "reformerSo hold meeting and get
all their names printed in " The Matutinal Mug
wump,n and then lapse into familiar obScunty'
The active politicians, when they talk OF the
future, have something to say about HILL or
Whitney, or even Gray of Indiana, but nobody
talks of putting up any candidate who was
identified with the disastrous defeat of last
year. When Congress assemblies Mr.. Randall
will be the one fighting leader and chief, and
if the Democratic party cannot rally around
him it cannot rally at all. 1t would not be at
all surprising to see more than half the Demo-
cratic members supporting him in direct
issue against Mr.. Carlisle or Mr.. Mills. If
nothing succeeds like success, it is equally true
that nothing fails like failure.
1t is the favorite dream Of some minds that
the Democracy will presently split beyond all
splicing, when it has to deal with the tariff
question. But more than one organized igno-
rance and appetite there cannot well be. One
exists, and will stay as long as ignorance stays.
If voters split off from it they cease to be Dem
ocrats and that we all know is terrible The
Free-Tlade leaders, it seems safe to say know
too much of their own real weakness to appeal
to the people for support. They know how
the Democratic voters would just now like to
make them ridiculous in repayment for the
defeat Of 1888. They cracked the whip about
Mr.. RandalIs legs last year, and know what to
expect if his turn comes. The Free Trader II
he is wise, will take a back seat meekly, and
look cheerful when Mr.. Randall explains thai
free-tade nonsense must be abolished if the
party wants Il Northern State