The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-12-06
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF.

In 1852 the Democrats swept every
Northern State from Pennsylvania to
California. Only two Northern States
-Massachusett and Vermont-yoted
for General Scott against General
Pierce, aud two Southern States
Kentucky and Tennessee-were the
only break in the Democratic sweep
in the South. Every indication point
ed to long period of Democratic sup
remecy, and it could have been long
maintained had wisdom increased with
power; but the very cause that gave
the Democrats their overwhelming vic
tory in 1852, broke them into frsg-
ments in 1854, gave them narrow
minority triumph in 1856 and then
doomed them to quarter of century
of unbroken rule by their opponents.
The cause of the great Democratic
victory in 1852 was slavery; the cause of
the overthrow of the same party in 1854
was slavery and the cause that made
it voiceless in the national government
for nearly generation was slavery.
There was profound unrest among the
people because of the growing power
of slavery in the administration of our
boosted free institution, but the peril
to the tranquility of the nation in as
saulting slavery that had the high
sanction of the Constitution, and the
odium cast upon the Abolition agita-
tioD of the day, made hundreds of
thousands assent to the Compromise
Measures of 1850 as a tinality, hoping
for peace and prosperity by an adjust
ment that was expected to end the dis,
turbing controversy.
But slavery aggression not only did
not cease when the people voted in
1852 by an exceptional majority, to
end slavery agitation, but it became
bolder and advanced its standard by
the Dred Scott decision and by the
desperate and bloody struggles to en-
slave Kansas and Nebraska. The lat
ent anti-slavery sentiment was thus
kindled into a flame, and in 1854,
every New England and Northern
State excepting only California-lost
by few hundred-voted against the
administration and the party that had
but lately given the most triumphant
summons to power ever given in any
national contest since the re election
OF Monroe. Stubborn Democratic
States like Maine, New Hampshire,
Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa
and Michigan, swung from their Demo.
cratic moorings and, with the single
exception of Indiana, have been stub
born Republican States for the period
of full generation.
In 1854 when the profound anti.
slavery sentiment asserted itself, the
answer was made that ''iocal issues
had temporarily disrupted parties and
the blind leaders continued to lead
their blind followers until the deluge
came. True, local issues were seized
upon in many States and magnifed in
to potential importance, but party
united In conviction is not thus dis
rupted by local questions. 1t is only
when a great party assails the convic-
tions of its people that "local issues
can rise to the Importance of swinging
such States as Virginia, Ohio, Iowa,
New York and New Jersey against
the party just on the threshold of
power by almost unprecedented major
tiles.
The issue that is repeating the revo.
lutionary work of the slavery issue OF
1854 is the now vital question of tariff
reform. 1t had many pretexts in the
'local issues" to open the way for
party revolt but if there had not been
profound unrest in New England, in
the Middle States and in the great
West because of aggressive and need
less taxation upon the necessaries of
life, and the open prostitution of the
policy of protection TO monopoly
greed, no "local issues" could have de-
feated a Republican Governor and
Legislature in Ohio, defeated Repub-
lican Governor in Iowa, and elected
Democratic State tickets in New York
New Jersey and Virginia by MAORI
ties which equally surprised the lead.
ers of all parties. And the revolt of
1889, like the revolt of 1854, will grow
IN power aud become more and more
revolutionary in every section of the
Union, until needless taxation of the
people shall be overthrowD, and band
ed monopoly shall cease to have special
protection at the cost of consumers.
The people of the country believe
in the liberal protection of American
labor. 1t was first thought by Wash
ington, has been sustained by every
President from Washington to Harri-
SON and it never will be overthrown
in the nation unless protectionist lead