The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-09-04
REFORM THE TARIFF.
a Doctrine That Should Be Persistently
Preached In the New West.

Ill Vii" IV1e IAnITTs
A Doctrine That Should Be Persistently
Preached In the New West.
In this political off-year the Re-
publican managers, when not ram
sacking the Government departments
for spoils, are devoting their atten-
ton to the four new States of the
Northwest. The campaign, which
will close on October 1, promises to
be of absorbing interest. If by a
sudden and unexpected turn of the
political wheel the new States should
choose Democratic Representatives and
Democratic Legislatures the Repub-
licans would find themselves in the
minority in both houses of Congress.
President Harrison has betrayed ex-
trems solicitude in regard TO the con-
test, and Chairman Quay has called
into frequent consultation Clarkson,
Dudley and other manipula tors of
elections to consider the best means
Of saving the new States.
At the outstart it is felt by the Re-
publican managers that the methods
so successfully practiced in some of
the old States in the last election can
not be applied with advantage in the
young and uncorrupted common
wealths OF the Northwest. While fat
might be fried in considerable quanti-
ties from the protected trusts and
other monopo,ies, it could not be put
to very effective use. The purchase
OF 'hoaters' in ''blocks of five" is not
feasible. since very few If any of this
class OF voters are to be found
in the new States; and, in any
event, the experiment would be ex-
tremely hazardous among an impul-
sive people, who frequently use young
trees for executing speedy justice upon
malefactors. Nor would walking
delegates" of labor organizations,
supplied with the money of ariff-fed
monopoly, be able to mislead or cor
rupt many voters in the new States.
In view of the ineffectiveness of the
usual Republican campaign methods
in this contest, it has been proposed
to oyerrun the four new States with
an army of Republican orators be-
tween this time and the election.
Among the speakers already booked
for this Western campaign are Joseph
E. Cannon, j. G. Burrows, Benjamin
Butterworth and other Republican
members of Congress, who will make
the welkin ring with their shouts for
Protection to American Industry"
This is q ground on which the
Democrats are more than a match for
their political opponents. and they
should not delay to take possession of
1t. The ablest representatives of the
Democratic doctrines of tariff reform
should meet the champions OF tariff
spoliation in the New West and dis
cuss the issue in the open field. John
G. Carlisle. w. G. P. Breckenridge,
George F. Hoadly, S. S. Cox. Senators
Voorhees, and Turpie of Indiana,
Beck of Kentucky, Vest of Missouri,
and others who know the West and
the sentiments of it's people, would
no doubt cheerfully give their serv-
ices to the cause. In the great debate
in the last Congress the superior
strength OF the advocates of tariff re-
form was manifest, and it would be no
less SO in this Western campaign.
The Republican leaders in the new
States would be only too glad to
escape this issue and make a post
mortem campaign upon the achieve
ments of a party from which they
have inherited little but the name.
But the fight for revenue reform
should be forced upon them, in spite
of their repugnance, in every district
of North and South Dakota, Montana
and Washington. There should be no
repetition of the blunder that was
committed in the Northwest last year,
when the Republicans who fed in dis.
| gust from the tariff platform of Chi
cago were permitted to make their
campaign upon the dead issues OF
slavery, sectionalism and civil war.
No portion of the country has a
larger interest in this the burning
question of American politics than
the New West, the people Of which
must pay heavy tribute to the tariff
spoilers for nearly all the commodi-
ties they buy, and sell tn cir own prod.
ucts in the open markets of the world
in accordance with the principle Of
free trade. For this reason the Re.
publicans of that region should be
held down to the issue, no matter how
much they may attempt to wriggle
away from it. The New West is a
field that lies almost fallow; and the
Democrats and adherents of the party
of tariff reform would be utterly want,
ing in the courage Of their opinions il
they should neglect the opportunity
that is offered them for its cultiva.
tiou.- Philadelphia Record.
INCREDIBLE BARBARISM.