New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-12
FAIR IND SQUARE FIGHT ON THE
TARIFF.


who are accustomed to be candid. In general
thew can afford it. Such OF the people OF their
States as participate in politics require OF
public servant but one test OF devotion. III ne
will be vigilant to prevent negro suffrage by
fair means or foul, they are quite willing he
should hold any views he pleases on the tariff,
currency, shipping or other affairs. lie can
consequently afford to be, for politician, won
derfully frank and outspOken. Things can De
said BY Missouri Democrat quite as matter
Of course which would cost a Massachusetts,
Democrat his political life. This accounts, be-
yond doubt, for certain remarks printed
by 1.-THE New-York Times" and attributed
to Senator Vest. After insisting that Mr.. Cleye-
land would be and must be the Democratic
candidate for the Presidency next year, and
that the "silver Democrats" would support
him to a man." the Senator makes the significant
observation that "every Democrat should be
willing to postpone the silver question, II neces-
sary, to prevent Republican success" and as II
to make sure that his precise meaning is lodged
in the readers mind, he adds: "We can take
ND the question OF free coinage hereafter, II
rover can only be wrested from the Repub-
licans ~
The wavfaring man would need to be many
times a fool il he erred in comprehendng this
transparent craft. 1t perfectly describes the at
titude of a large and probably controlling ele-
ment of the Democracy, who argue that what
ever NAV have been the fact while Mr.. Randall
lived, the Democratic patty is now substantially
united for Free Trade; that they can agree the
country over on that subject far better than Oh
any other; that it is the part of wisdom to tenn
porize in dealing with other questions ana 10
keep them all out of the platform of 1892, I'M
less in the most guarded and colorless phrase
ology that free silver plank would drive away
more Eastern votes, especially in New York,
Connecticut New-Jersey and Indiana, again the
deciding States, than it would attract in Western
votes that il the Nation can be carried Tor the
Democracy at ALL it can be best carried by Free
Trade and, finally, that having captured the
Presidency and the lower house OF Congress they
can do as they please On the silver question.
Whatever of morality these suggestions lack,
aiming. as they do, to deceive the electors into
fancying that Democratic success will not In
volye currency debasement whereas it will really
put free silver directly to the front, they DO con-
tain large amount of sober political wisdom.
We quite agree with Senator Vest in regarding
a tariff campaign as the one that offers to his
party a larger possibility of victory than would
be held out by any other issue-unless, indeed,
he spoils its chances by indiscreetly proclaiming
that it holds a Free-Conage bill up its sleeve.
And for our part if we didn't know that such
bill was there we should welcome fight from
which all other considerations were eliminated
than those bearing on the industrial question.
1t is high time to put an end to tanif
agitation. The Republican party is ready to
stake its fortune on the policies defined In the
Mckinley bill. It's confidence in the wisdom
of that measure grows wider and profounder
with every monthly statement of imports and
exports. 1t perfectly understands that the tariff
question is complicated, and not easily placed
in its entirety before the minds of the voters
and that it admits OF an immense amount OF
vicious Misrepresentation. 1t is this fact that
gives the Democrats in tariff campaign advan-
tages superior to those afforded by any other.
They can generalize falsehoods as they did with
such effect in the Congressional fight OF 1890,
and as Mr.. McNIiin did the other day when he
said that "the tariff rates had been increased
by the Mckinley bill on al average of from
As to so per cent" when, as an honest fact they
have BEEN on an average, lowered. The he
publican party, however, is well satisfied to take
the risk of these falsehoods. 1t is now able TO
show in facts and figures just what the Mckinley
bill has done. 1t will be grand spectacle full
of good to the cause of free government, to see
the people engaged in the stady of these re-
suits and the lessons they teach, mvexed by
the discussion of personalities or minor issues
If the Democrats will give us such campaign
we shall be only too glad; but we warn them that
the question of an honest currency is not minor
issue, and if they want fair and square fight
on the tariff, they must keep free coinage out of
the next session of Congress and must close the
mouths of such too candid statesmen as Senator
Vest.
MONKEYING WITH RECIPROCITY