New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-04
THACHER ON THE CONSTITUTION.

The State League of Democratic Clubs held
4 convention in this city yesterday, which in
point of attendance and enthusiasm appears to
have been somewhat less than overwhelming.
If introduced as pacemaker for to-dayS con-
vention Of the National Association it cannot
have quite come up TO the expectations OF those
who watched the performance. But let that
pass. There is no denying that the president
of the State League, Mr.. John Boyd Thachcr,
was present and emitted a keynote, to wit :
"What its mission is to human soul the
preservation of the Constitution is to the Dem
ocratic party"
Mr. Thacher has been led to suppose that
the Republican party is now engaged in an
unholy attempt to betray the Constitution by
means of the Protective Tariff and Mr. John /.
Davenport. A large number, in fact we be
lieve a handsome majority, Of the people OF the
United States strongly object to acknowledging
that the Democratic party is a competent Judge
of the best methods of preserving the Con-
sttution. Ever since that party identified
itself with conspiracy to destroy, not only
the Constitution, but the existence of the United
States the theory that either stood in need
of salvation at its hands has been pretty gem
orally resented But nevertheless, Mr.. Thacher
has right to show il he can that the Pro-
tective Tariff is betraying the Constitution and
doing all sorts of wanton and outrageous things.
His indictment has several counts. but this
particular one is perhaps the most serious
Where corn would grow this system builds
factory that the cry of impossible tin may
be heard, and where mills would flourish it
browses the incapable sheep" Now if this IS
really true something ought to be done about
it right off The man or the party or the sys-
tenn that has sunk so low as to make impossible
tin cry audibly must be a heartless enemy of
free institutions AS for the alleged practice
Of browsing incapable sheep OH eligible mill
sites, we don't believe it exists, but if it does
the duty of the hour is to call out the militia
and drive them of.
Mr.. Thacher turns from the narrowing spec
tacle of impossible tin and incapable sheep only
to catch Mr.. Davenport in tho act Of betray-
ing the Constitution with bayonets. "The
hands which will hold the bayonets," he says,
Twill be moved by human hearts, and while
tho nature of man is made Of the same material,
moved by the same impulses, responsive TO the
same motives. the foottngs of tho ballots in all
the urns will tally with the desires of the
Government. The dynasty OF the Davenports
will be established forever" If this is the
prospect then give us Chaos and old Night.
But we can't help thinking that Mr.. Thacher
is mistaken. The crying Of impossible tin and
the indecent appropriation of mill sites by in
capable sheep, though perhaps only Pigments
of tho Imagination. are very real to him and
have upset his nerves. Mr.. Davenport is not
engaged in founding an imperishablc dynasty.
1t takes great deal of time and money to
establish a dynasty, and Mr.. Davenport Is
otherwise engaged. Besides, he isn't half rich
enough. Don't you be scared, Mr.. Thacher,
there's nothing in it. There isn't dynasty in
sight. Such thing is twice rs impossible as
the most impossible tin you ever heard cry, and
Mr.. Davenport is at least three times as in
capable of making tho attempt as the most
incapable sheep that was ever unjustly and
extravagantly set to browsing on a mill site.
But though Mr.. Thacher is needlesSly alarmed
about the Constitution, we are glad to see that
he understands the Democratic platform and
intends to stand on it at all hazards. One of
his particular friends is trying very hard to
climb down, and doesn't seem TO be aware that
in so doing he has struck a most unbccoming
attitude