St. Paul daily globe., 1891-11-12
LOST OPPORTUNITIES.

The GLOBE predicts that, in spite of
its present buster, the Republican
party will not daIe to go into the cam
paign Of 1892 Oh a platform of radical
protectionism. There is no room for
miStaking the significance of the popu-
lar verdict this fall, any more than that
of year ago. The American people
have too great intelligence and too keen
a sense of humOr to favor extreme
measures of any sort. They have been
educated to appreciate the value of
compromises, and they are intolerant of
men who advocate line Of policy of
the make-Or- break order. Even Mai.
MCKINLEY sees this, and he protests
against any further public agitation Of
the tariff issue. He says that it is now
settled once for all that it cannot be al
tered, even though the Democracy does
control the lower house, and that the
business interests of the country de-
mand an acQuieScence in the present law
as an existing solution, even if not the
best solution of the problem. There is
an encouraging side to this very eX-
traOrdinary manifesto. If made with
authority, it is a declaration that the
greed Of the mOnOpOlSts is satisfied.
They are willing to stop with what they
have achieved. They are not like their
prototypes OF 4 generation ayO-the
slayehOlding ariStOcracy-who set no
limit to the area which they proposed
to open to their peculiar institution.
Taking Maj. MCKINLEY's impossible
prayer as a truthful expression of his
party's plans, prOtectioniSm may be
said to have reached high-water mark
with the bill which bears his name.
This. hOwever,ds not what the GLOBE
means by its prediction. 1t means that
there will come loud call, even in the
ranks of the Republican party, for gen.
erals of mOderation and that in its
national convention strong minority,
If not an actual majority, will stand for
the selection of a standard bearer
who embodies a plan of action
short of the construction of a Chinese
wall about our land. This is not ideal
iZing the enemy, but only attrlbuting to
them a moderate capacity to compre-
hend the temper of the nation. 1t
would be great opportunity for some
ability and character with reputation
for couEseing seif-restraint and oppos-
ing tie extreme measures of his fellow
partS;tHs. Unfortunately for their
hopes, they have 10 such man. They
have all surrendered and bowed the
knee to the money power The fore
most Of those OF this complexion was
Senator ALLISON, of Iowa, who, if he
had possessed the courage OF his con-
victionS. might have stood forth to-day
as the champion of the moderate wing
of the Republican party with all the
prominence and promise such a position
would carry with it. But he has lost
the chance. He is no longer high in
the ranks, backed by devoted COM
monWealth. He deliberately parted
company with the men who made him.
lie proved false to his own cOnstitu
ency that he might not be at variance
with the dominant faction in his party.
To-day the Democrats are for the see
ond time in succession intrenched i'm
control of Iowa. and 70 one thinks now
of Senator ALLISON i'll connection with
the presidential nomination. The same
lesson applies t0 our own Senator
DAVIS. who has ie0rardiZed his hold on
even his own friends support in this
state because he has Yielded in the SEN
ate TO mistaken sense of party expedi-
ency. The hour is at hand when MANY
men will regret that they did not under
stand better the American people's
affection for compromises and for mod
e~atiOn