Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-11-27

Under this head the Boston journal
puts into clearer language than we have
met elsewhere what every close observer
has had more or less in mind since the
| election returns came in So far as the
tickets for 1892 can be foreseen Just
now, most people will agree that the in
dlcatlons point to another contest be-
tween Cleveland and Blaine. But the
situation will be very different from
1854. Then the issue, apart from the
personal untitness of the Republican
leader, was high protection versus tariff
reform This time Mr.. Blaine's eandi-
dacy will rest on an entirely different
basis. "Mr. Blaine's candidacy as the
Journal well says,
is now almost as distinct symptom Of the
progress q tarlif, reform as is that of
Grover Cleveland himself Mr. Cleveland
comes in as the pioneer of all prominent
men III the present movement He repre-
sents a bold, aggressive, earnest effort To
give the nation real relief from oppressive
taxation. Until the last month there has
been a clear and well-deiined opposition to
anything Of this kind, in the form of a re-
dictionary control OF the Republican party,
OF which Thomas h. Reed was the prophet
and William Mckinley the active apostle.
Now there Is ain unmistakable call for this
leadership to step down and out thus
making way for tile asCeudenGy of another
element, and James q. Blaine comes snlil-
ingly up u lead it.
The position Of the two parties is curl
ously reversed in their relations to the
tariff. Before Cleveland came upon the
gffIpp and uftprWurfi a -.
extent, the Democratic party was inclined
" be explanatory and apologize as regards
its tariff views, All parties are protection
St parties ~ this country; there is not, and
there is not likely to be, il purely free trade
party Of any kind; but there was d dispa-
sitlon on the part of a considerable portion
of the Democrats to claim to be essen
tally as much for protection as were
heir Republican opponents They lost
by TINS every time, for those who favored
real tariff reform were disguised BIZ
their attitude, and those who desired ar
extreme protection were not at all deceived
by 1t. HE difference now is that the Dem
Gratis are at last fully committed to real
tariff reform; while the Republicans in
view OF tine terrible defeat that has inst
nSGrtaken them, are preparing to contend
that they are tariff reiormers also, hut Of
milder type. Iii this completely changed
about attitude Of the two parties the Re
pubHcllls are to be at the same dis,Plyan-
tage AS We're the Democrats before them.
Tariff returiners in the country will want
the real article and not the sham one They
VII suspect The hHlt-hearted advocates Of
redueed duties who have been COMPELLED
into their position. But in this latest atti-
tude Mt Blaine unqnestionably represents
them.
And after reviewing how high pro-
t1Tttnn1gFn intftl4rapt \
neering as it was under the direction Of
Reed, has been condemned By the PEG
pie, and examining the substitute which
Mr.. Blaine offers for it-free trade TO
limited extent, but free trade with ma
tions alien to us in race, in habits Of
thought and in methods Of government,
the Journul concludes:
1t would Be madness in the Republican
party 70 invoke the old issues again, for
this would moi alone inyitedefcat it would
compel determination. Mr. Blaine lila
the tremenduuus advantage Of having adj
Nlsei against the suicidal poicNwhich has
JUST brought about his partyis overthrow
and this combined with his previous poIi-
ularity, makes him inyineible. The man
tlal would seek the nomination against
- - y ~ DdSlH y SlMply u political
idiot, and on The new basis il must come
to Mr.. Blaine almost inevitably.
Az this point we invite attention again,
in conclusion ID the progress that tariff
reform has made, The Democratic party
has come into victory, and the Republican
party has gone into defeat, but tariff re-
form mas run On into establishment in
Doth parties It's hold upon the Republican
party has become hardly less signal than
is its hold upon the Democratic party il ID
has taken d somewhat different form Of
manifestation.