Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-18
THE BIG BATTLE.
PREPARATION FOR TIE PREslpEN'
TIAk CAMPAIGN.
xrnat Should Tie the Position Of the
Democrats on the
Tariff.


yondprecedent, it's not an assurance OF
Democratic presidential succession in
1892. The augury is encouraging GER
tainly. All the auspicesare full OF glow
ing promise. But even On indifferent
ANALYSIS of the composite charac-
tor of tho situation shows clearly to
every clear-mindcd observer that the
Republican defeat is in disproportion to
the Democratic triumph. We may
tafely assume that tho Republicans
who declined 10 vote were seriously
dissatisfied with then party and that
they meant to rebuke IT. and We may |
safely assume, too, that the Republicans |
who came over boldly and gave Their
votes 10 the Democratic candidates have |
come 10 stay, provided they find their
new associations not Disappointing 10 |
them. II is but reasonable 10 suppose, |
however, that the Ropublican leaders
viii be wiso enough 10 profit as far as
practicable by tho impressive lesson |
they have lust learned from the results OF |
the incorporate measures and methods |
of the men who forced their party |
into courses counter TO the instincts OF
American freemen; and decided and
general as our victory is we cannot but
zee that there is really any ground Tor
the enomy, and that tho big battle 70 be
fought two years hence may or may NOT
result rs that Of q few days ago did.
Was il tho Mckinley bill2 or was 1t the
force bill /? or was it both, together, too
with the arbitrary tyrannyof the revolu-
tionis. in the Speakers chair that brought
abou. these astounding disasters
20 the Republican party OF the
country These are inteuogatorles
for each OF us TO answer for him
self. mono Of US being able to demon
citrate what we may believe. and MI OF us
baing correct, more or less. in our con-
illusions in the matter.
The force bill, | take it, vii not ne
brought TO a vote in the Senate next
winter, as, in Wow Of the verdict OF the
nation against it, nothing but madden
madness than that in which 1t originated
conld be expected 70 attempt 20 force u
into the face OF the country again. Mr..
Robespierro Reed will doubtless hold his
eceptre not so high this coming winter,
and II nav be indeed that before the SEES
sion closes With the opening spring hewlli
be as mild "a hammered man as such n |
man bv snch O condemnation from his
countrymen may be made TO seem 20 be.
80. exccpt as "reminiscences OF what |
might have been the force bill and the |
rulings Of Mr.. Reed will both be out OF |
The way as factors directly facing us IN |
the fight Of 1892. But the tGriV question
will still be standing, and from present |
appearances it is to be the supreme issue |
before the country. In what proper
fions will the American people divide |
upon it2 That is to be The question,
perhaps, onwhich theresult Of the contest |
for the presidency is TO turn. With the
Mckinley bill as the issue there would |
bo no fenr OF Democratic defeat in 1872.
But the Mckinley bill win not be the
issue The sagaci0us and brilliant Mr..
Blaine will be too clever IN his compre-
hension of the situation to allow 1t to be
go. We shall be confronted with plat
form from the Republican Convention
declaring boldly for protection, mildly
favoring readjustment OF the existing
tariff, and enthusiastically espousing the
policy Of reciprocity Gree trader towards |
the republics of Central and South |
America. / make this prediction and
l ask in advance: IL this pre-
diction provo true. viii the Democratic
party succeed in holding the accossions
il received in the late elections from the
dissatisfied Republicans of the northern,
the eastern, and the western States |
That, ! submit, depends upon the atti-
tude the Democratic party may assume |
on the tariff question in its national con-
vcntion. Neither free trade with Eu- |
rope nor anything leading or looking TO
il can be made acceptable to the intelli-
gent mechanics, andfarm-
ers OF any section of this country. And
the sooner this fact is recognized by some
of our heady Democratic chieftains, both
North and South, the better twill be for
the great national party of the people, OF
the Constitution, and Of the Union. In an
tagonizing tho extreme measures OF the
Republican tariff policy, there are able
and influential Democrats who 60 too
far beyond the .jUsfe mf'ieu in the oppO-
site direction. And their conhding fol-
lowers arc led away from the safe ground
on which, sooner or later, On intelligent
appreciation Of their own interests will
teach them to stopand stand. Formy own
part, while ! look upon the Mckinley
bill as an enormity, i believe earnestly in
the principle OF protection as essential
g. the prosperity and the progress, tho
peacoiulness and the happiness of this
whole American people. The Mckinley
hill prostitutes this principle Of protec-
ton TO partisan gains and and personal
ends and tho free spirit Of this great re-
public has revolted against ii, But IN
the results Of the recent elections there
is nothing % show that the oppo-
site extreme would command the
commendation Of the country.
Under the dictatorial leadership Of Mr..
Blaine, the Republican party will cease
10 be dominated by the lawless and reck
less spirit that has characterized it under
the mastery Of Reed and Lodge and their
copgenial coadjutors. In tho campaign
Of 1892 il will come before the country
with milder mien, and bowling lower as il
salutes and solicits all sections, than it
has ever done before. SO the Demo
cratic party must prepare 10 make the
fight more upon its own merits and less
upon the dement's OF the opposition than
In the contest OF two weeks ago. 1t
IA often and truly said that the
Democratic party is not @ free-trade
party. But there are strong, wilful
and aggressive mon, certainly, in tho
Democratic party, who would push its
tariff policy too dangerously near to
free trade il they could have full sway
in its councils. Let such men be- adj
monished now for 1892 The storm Of
radicalisn has spent itself at last. The
reactionary movement is on now, And
the Democratic party, as the great ma
tionsl, conservative, constitutional party
has only to be true 70 itself. 10 conform
10 the conditions and necessities of The
times, to be practical and progressive as
well as prudent in its policies, and it viii
sweep tho country in 1892 as it swep,
every section Of the Union q few day.
ago. SALTWATER DEMOCRAT,
Tue Garflcd aIan aud the BAchelor