Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-26
THURSDAY. .NoyEMBER g, lsal
The Issues.

u is not wise 10 allow your enemies TO
make issues for you, or TO induce yeH 70
occupy indefensible positions, Solt wenid
be well for the Democratic party 10 look
twice before IL leaps into a slough of de-
spond prepared for it by its enemies, str,
SHKRMAs was kind enough to tell in re-
cent interview what he predicted the
Democrats in the House OF Representa-
tiyes would do next winter. "Of course"
said the Senator, they win frame and pass
. general tariff bill. With this they Will
aptagonixe the McKNIEY Law, and thus
an issue will be made UP on the question
Of protection. The Senator also predicted
that q bill faF the free coinage Of silver
would be passed by Congress, and would
be vetoed by the President, and that
thus an issue would be made up on
the silver question or bimetallism. Bus
surely the Senator's thoughts were wan
dering when he made this latter pFedic-
ton. for though bill providing for the
free coinage Of silver might pass the House
of Representatives without the assistance
Of any of the Republican members, sueh a
bill could not possibly pass the Republic
can Senate unless number Of Republi-
can senators should vote for il, And II
ten OF dozen of the Republican senator's
should vote with the Democratic senators
on this question it would not be good
policy even if It wers possible for the Re
puhlieans TO make free coinage an issue IN
the presidential aud congressional cleo
lions Of next year, II IS worthy Of remark
that Senator SHERhAs, one OF the ablest OF
the Republican senators, and the leader Of
the hosts Of the eold-bnga is not deceived
by the anti-ailyer elamor which is Just nov
30 parsistently kept mp by Democrats who
do not agree With their party on the ques-
tion of free coinage He knows that silver
legislation Of some sort will command
nearly the whole Democratic vote in the
next House of Representatives,
Mr.. SHERMAN predicts also, as we have
said, that the Democrats will pass gen.
erai tariff bill-that is. not bill changing
the McKNIEY set m the NEST objection
able OF its features and allowing the rest
of its features to remain for the present as
they are, but a bill oyerhauliRg the Nc
KINIEE law from end 10 end, and thus an
tAaonizing great interests and numerous
persons that might much more wisely be
let alone. We concur with the New York
Times in the opinion that the Democrats
will do no such thing, Their tariff legis-
lation will touch only such features of
the McK1SLRy act as ought to be stricken
out Of the oct Of once, aud as 1t viii be
possible 10 strike out without antago-
nizing too many interests
Congress has been legislating on tariff
bills for more than hundred years. There
Is nothing new that can be said upon that
subject. The wiseacre IN Congress who
undertakes at this late day to defeat q
good, practical, sensible tari1 bin in order
10 secure the passage Of some pet measure,
or that he may cut OF all the heads of the
trait monster at one blow ought to be
read out Of the Democratic party, Sc We
conclude that Mr.. SaERMAs viii prove to
be wrong in both of his predictions. The
Democrats will make their own issues in
their own way,