St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-12

himself heard as to matters of detail
that now necessarily come to the 'front.'"
1t then enters into a lengthy review of
the campaign of 1888, and claims that,
the tariff question having been forced
by the Democrats as the foremost issue
in that campaign, ''the Republican
speakers warmly espoused the doctrine
of protection. and declared that Mime
sofa producers were beneficiaries of the
Republican industrial policy" The
Tribune alludes to the fact that Gov.
MERRIAM, being the standard-bearer OF
his party in the state campaign that
year. was sincere in his advocacy OF the
Republican doctrine of protection, and
intimateS that it would be impossible
for him to experience change of heart
in so short time. Hence it feels under
the necessity of making the governors
recent utterances consistent with the
doctrine he preached in 1855. And here
is the line of argument 1t pursues:
''The circumstances of the two years
are entirely different"
That is what the Tribune says in eX-
PLANTATION Of the governors flop.
Wherein do the circumstances differ?
That is the interesting question. 1t re-
vealS the whole purpose of the guber-
Material change Of basis. 1t is simply
in confirmation of what the GLOBE has
Said-that this is a case of where the
devil wanted to be saint when he got
sick, unchanged his mind on restora-
ton to health. The Republican party
is sicker this year than it was in 1883.
Then they had the machine and Doodle
and the party whip, all powerful inf1u'
ences in closing up the party lines; and,
by raising a false clamor against the
CLEVELAND administration in regard
to pension matters, they succeeded i'll
binding the voters to the true issues be-
fore the country, and succeeded in scor-
ing victory that was not honestly
earned.
But circumstances are different this
year. The voters have had time to think
and deliberate upon the issues OF two
years ago, and they are now convinced
that they made mistake in adherlng
to Republican tariff principles. This is
particularly true as to the farmers, and,
as Il result, tariff ref0r merS are spring
ing up in places least expected. In fact,
the country tariff reform tidal wave is
so imminent that the Republican leaders
find it necessary to hunt for hiding
place. And, according to the Tribune,
they expect to find security in the dodge
that Gov. MERRIAM has practiced, OF
protesting to be interested in the details
of tariff reform, and at the same time
remaining loyal to the principle of pro-
lection.
We will do Gov. MERRIAM the justice
to say that we do not share in the Trib-
une's low estimate of him. We well
coined him to the ranks Of the tariff re-
formers because we believed that he
was sincere in his professions. and pos
sessed sufficient knowledge Of the
English language to express his opin-
IONS intelligently. If, however, the
Tribune is right. and he is Joining with
other Republican leaders in playing the
eXpediency dodge to hold the Repub-
lican farmers in line in support of the
protection policy, we hope to see him
unmasked in his true light, and the
punishment due to treachery visited
upon him.
1t makes but little difference what
tricks the politicians may resort to-the
fact remains that the farmers Of this
state are terribly in earnest in their ad
vocacy of tariff reform, and they can't
be hoodwinked forever. They have the
war paint on, and they mean business.
+ And as trophies of their victory, the
scalp of more than one politician will
be hanging i'll the alliance wigwam
Foil