The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-03-22
Y iscuE.


the Democrats Parts.
The adjournment OF the Filticth
Congress with the Democratic reform
bill defeated BY the senate, the Senate
bill left unconsidercd because Of its
unconstitutionality. aud the Cowlcs
bill smothcred. will leave the issue be-
tween the parties exactly as IL was
made BY the -. Louis and Chicago
platforms. The Republicans may
ABANDON the Chicago platform In tho
fifty-firsf Congress and attempt TO
draw 4 tariff bill on their former
theory OF incidental protection. but
the Democratic party will not change
it, attitude. In our present politics
the question 81 tariff is the only ono
which presents issues on which a Nit
tional party can be held together.
The Republican party. distinctly sec
tional. and holding its theories Of tho
tariff in subscrviency to wealthy cor
porations in a single section. plays
for power by forcing scciionalism rs
an issue above all others. 1t has not
yet felt the need Of a distinctly M
iional issue and there j. no immediate
prospect that il will do so.
To the Democratic party. on the
other hand. a National issue involving
H. historic principles is a necessity OF
existence. Except as a National par
~. il can not exist NJ an. 1t was only
BY resisting ~cctionalism and forcing
the National issue Of low taxation and
economical Government that its or
ganizatson survived the shock OF 4 war
In which IL was the peace party and
held together with increasing strength
for t~wenty-four years. during which
the administration and patronage
were in the hands OF the war party.
backed by the military power organ
lied rs a SECTIONAL party. and opcrat-
ing on a sectional basis. Following
this National policy. the Democratic
party has gained steadily on the popu-
lar vote since 1864 The result OF the
advocacy Of a low tariff for venue is
illustrated by the increased vote OF the
twenty years since 1868. The follow
ing table exhibits IL:
Seymour ON "a Siatesl ...... s0a.Gf3
Greeley nn - states y.S3A.usA
Iluen IN - states WI, .....
rr 1syslsna ;,ssn siiii""933
cs>Sl ....... ....... ..s. .. :. 534, i6s
These figures show that the Lemo-
cratic National vote has more than
kept pace with the growth Of the
country. When. after the surrender
of 1872 and the nomination OF q pro-
tectionist, the party nominated 4 Dem
ocrat in 1876 on "A tariff-for-reycnue-
only platform. il elected him and
polled more than a majority OF the
popular vote. With its ..taritf-a-local
issue candidate in 1850. the party
gained only l5..0o0 votes over 1876:
but in 1881 it gained $4,000 owe 1850;
and in 1883 CPS. Ill over 1854
The Tilden vote OF 1916 on the tariff
Issue gave the Democratic
party it, rightful place AS the National
party. Whom Hancock shirkcd the
National issue the majority vote went
TO Garfield but Il came back to Cleye-
land. who not only held it but in
creased il on the single National issue
Of tariff reform against war sectional
ism and war taxation.
Take away this National issue and
the sectional party may be as sectional
it plcases without losing control Of
the Government. provided il maintains
a semblancc Of ~deccncy aad curbs its
propensity for Wholesale plumber. II
the Democratic party dared abandon
thu only important National issue in
our politics. it would not have a fight
ing chance in y single one OF the
Northern States. and the Southern
States would become Republican a.
Don as the Republican party would
let them st. Louis Republic.