Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-03
PITTsBURG, THURSDAY, SEPT. 8, 1881
EVASION A POOR POLICY.

Interest in the State Democratic Con-
vention to-day turns upon the attitude OF
the party on national issues and the Presl-
dental canvas very much more than upon
the personnel of the candidates for State
Offices. This is inevitable from the proX-
unity of the bigger issues to be decided IN
1892. The Democratic managers in Penn
sylvania, if we may so call them, by
reason partly of their own blundering,
pa- tiy of circumstances, occupy a pc
culiariy diff cult and delicate situation in
respect to both of the national questions.
From the day when temptations of Fed
eral Office and the desire to stand well
with Cleveland's administration at Wash
ington led the party leaders to desert the
sound protective principles which Samuel
J. Randall found entirely compatible with
his Democracy, they have been in conflict
with public sentiment and with the bust
ness interests of this State. This has not
prevented the public from using the Dem
ocratic party as the most effective inStru-
ment to check the audacity and rapacity
of Republican managers who otherwise
would know no limit to their power. 1t
did not stand in the way of defeating an
undesirable Republican candidate for
Governor last year, and the placing OF a
Democrat who could be trusted in his
place.
But the attitude of the Democratic
managers against protection will be much
more seriously considered in the year be-
fore Presidential contest which is to turn
largely on this very question of the tariff.
Manager Harrity, who is credited with
great influence within the party organiza-
tion, is shrewd enough to see the rock
ahead. He has already sounded the warm
ing that to-day's convention is to sing low
in its opposition to protection and to the
Mckinley bill, although last year the party
managers thought they could afford to be
extremely blatant against both. We sus-
pect also the convention will exhibit what
il NAV think to be a discreet silence" on
the s'short dollar" which the brethren in
Ohio too hastily took up. But what would
be infinitely better than such discretion"
and what the rank and file of the Demo-
~cratic party of Pennsylvania have a right
to demand is that Mr.. Harrity and his
coadiutors in the party councils cease to
play for the stakes of personal preferment
in the possible event of a Democratic re-
turn to power at Washington under Cleve-
land or some other -protectionist, and,
instead, speak out truly and boldly the
known sentiment in favor of protection
which is held by the great majority of Re-
publieans and Democrats alike in this
State Until this is done the party's status
in Pennsylvania will never be more than
that of an occasional useful instrument for
the correction of Republican excesses in
the State Government.
As to the choice for President, it will be
found a delicate task to so endorse Cleve-
land as to give the politicians of the party
a claim upon him, and at the same time
boom Pattison. So far as the general
public of this State is concerned the
choice will be one between tweedle-dum
and tweedle-dee if the candidate is to run
on an anti-protection platform. In such
case neither Cleveland nor Pattison will
have the ghost of show to carry Pennsyl-
vania. Any expression therefore at Har-
risburg to-day in favor of either will not
be meant for home consumption, but for
effect upon the party councils outside of
the State.