New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-24
DIGESTION or LOYALTY.

r. George Washington could revisit earth and
witness the events which the men OF to-day VIII
ness with senses benmnbed by familiarity, what
would he think of the Democratic party
Would it seem to him, or TO that other patriot
Thomas jefferson, whose name Democrats 50
often take in vain that such party deserves
the confidence of American citizens for
wars if has been the prayer of American mer-
chants and business men that their Government
would provide better facilities for commuhica-
ton and trade with foreign countries such IA
cities as Great Britain provides at large eN-
pense for British trade and industry. Inc
praycrs have fallen upon deaf ears as long as
one branch of Congress was controlled Oy the
democratic party. Democratic leaders nave
constantly appealed to popular prejudice regard
ing subsidies or monOpolieS as if 1t were hey ond
the power of a Congress to make any provision
for the encouragement of shipping or Tor Secur-
inc better foreign mail service without con-
ferripc unwananted and exclusive privileges
upon individuals. and creating OdiouS and bur-
densome mOnopolieS to the Infinite INJURY Oh inc
neoole. Under cover of these false pretenceS
Democratic leaders carefully abstain from max
ing any effort to give the country DelVer ndil
service or trade facilities under SupulatlonS 50
guarded as to protect the pubic welfare IL
has seemed to be their only object to preVeht
the passage of any law which might give Amen-
cans better chances in the markets OF the worlu
in competition with foreign traders. But Woulu
such conduct appear patriotic to Washington OF
jefferson?
The Revolutionary patriots considered 1t their
first and most sacred duty to defend the in
dustries of their country with DISCRIMINATING
duties. The first act which George ashlng
ton signed as President was for the express
purpose of protecting manufactures ana Othef
industries by duties on imports, and there APP
pears to have been scarcely single one OF the
Revolutionary statesmen who denied that sucn
4 polcy was patriotic and necessary, though
differences existed as to rates Of duty. But
now we find great political party devotlng ~
self to the task of breaking down the deiences
of American industry as far as 1t can rejoicing
when those defences fail, denouncing them as
burdensome and wicked. and working IN con-
slant sympathy and cooperation with the lor-
ejrn manufacturers and traders who desire 10
capture American markets for their own benefit.
Is il a patriotic and loyal act, then, TO destroy
an American for the benefit of foreign IN
dustry? George Washington did not think So
and he would unqueStionably brand as dlSloyal
"a the country the men engaged in such an act.
In it's best and truest sense loyalty means fidelity
to the interests and welfare of the Nation. 10
be dis0yal it is not necessary that man Should
take arms against his Government. Inc Spirl'
Of hostility to the Nations development ana
progress of preference for foreign interests ana
prosperity can be manifested as clearly 10y votes
and speeches and writings as by the nulllllca-
| ton attempt in South Carolina for which PreS'-
| dent Jackson, a Democrat not Oh the dlsIOyal
| sort threatened TO hang the nulliiiers. II mat
ters not whether the motive is blind and
passionate partiSanShip, unwilling to see the
country prosper under the direction Of an OPP
posite party. or narrow and selfish greed OF
! locality. unwilling to see the National prosperity
| if some peculiar benefit might be gained through
| larger foreign trade at the expense OF the people
as a whole When a National policy has once
been deliberately adopted, when 1t has been
tried for years with beneficial results, the at
tempt to break it down for the benefit Of for
eign interests deserves the cenSurc OF every
patriOtc citizen But it is not strange at all
that such an attempt should be made, moi
strange at all that such spirit should be shown
continually, by party which is largely com
posed of men who were once in arms against
the Government. and who boast that the idea,
and the cause for which they fought Will yet
succeed.
1t is well for the Democratic leaders that the
spirits of Washington, Jefferson and Jackson
do not revisit earth to meet them in the flesh
The scoln and Indignation Of those early patriots
if they could witness the spirit and the conduct
of men who pretend TO revere their teachings
would be hard to bear. But when the people
turn from their labors for "A day to honor the
memory of the Father Of his Country they may
well ask themselves whether they are doing
honor to his memory or his example by then
votes.