New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-13
TIE DEMOCRATIC SCHEME.

Certain Democrats are kind enough to in
form the country what they mean to DO, ana
how they expect to break down the protective
tariff. They will not attempt general re-
vision by the next Congress, they say, because
there would be little chance OF its success IN
the Senate, which will still be Republican,
though by a majority reduced to four on six.
But they will pass in the House short bills re-
peaIing the duties on certain separate articles,
one on tin plates, for instance, and another
on binding Irvine, and another on carpet wool,
and so on. Each of these, they calculate, will
appeal with force to the local interests OF a
few Republican SepatOrs. With the aid OF
different Senator's the bills are to be passed.
one by one until the bottom OF the ship has
been punched so full OF holes that 1t Will De
no longer worth saving.
The plan has in it a great deal OF shfewd-
ness-of the Democratic variety. AS Is usual
with the brightest conceptions OF that party, IL
assumes that people on the other SIDE nave
neither sense nor "sand," neither convictions
nor courage. 1t assumes that MIR. A and Mr..
b, who would personally be willing to see the
duty on tin plates repealed but have every
thing to lose if the duties on either OF dozen
other articles should be taken of, will begin
operations by making war on the Senators who
care about the duty on tin plates, in a stupidity
serene confidence that none of them will dis
turb the duties on the dozen other things.
But the Republican Senator's before any
thing of this sort takes place, will get together
and confer with each other. They are not such
idiots as to play the game of the Democrats for
them If there are some who want to break
from their party on the tariff issue they VIII
find it necessary to do so completely, or not at
all. They will decide deliberately whether they
are going to support the Democratic policy on
the Republican, to help the Democrats to elect
a President or to oppose him. 1t will not be
possible for one of the Senators to play the
part of Mr.. Facing Both Ways.
After this the committee is to be considered.
II is the committee by which the new Tariff
bill was reported, and is not likely to be IN
haste to help the Democrats to destroy the
measure. Bills passed by the House DO not
get before the Senate, as rule, until the
proper committee reports them. The senate
does not often show such discourtesy to com
mittee as to take bill out of its hands until
it is prepared to report
But if bill comes up for action in the Sen
ate and passes by majority there remains
the President. The Senate will be composed
of at least as Republicans and AZ Democrats,
but probably there will be AZ or as Repub-
hcans. 10 pass bill over veto at least so
votes will be required, those of all the Demo-
Gratis and at least II Republicans. When there
can be found that number OF Republican SEN
ators who are ready deliberately to help the
election of Democratic President and to over
ride the veto of Republican Executive, dis
regarding his appeal to the good sense and good
faith of his party, the Democratic tactics will
have some chance of success. For it is not to
be supposed that any Republican President,
after deliberately approving the present tariff,
will consent to have the Democrats punch holes
in it and destroy it, Sc long as President Har-
rison retains his trust the Democratic party
will probably have to induce as many as II
Republican Senators to join it, or else its tri-
umph over the Republican policy will have to
be deferred