The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-08
The Leader OF Tariff Reform.

The campaign ending in November last
left honors enough to make all Democrats
consider themselves fortunate and happy.
Each should have his share. yet none should
have the share Of others. We observe q
disposition to err in awarding one OF the
most coveted laurels.
For example, our esteemed contemporary
tho Utica Observer. remarks that There
is 10 more earnest. patriotic. and en-
lightcncd tariff reformer in the Unit
ed States to-day than Mr.. WELLS"
The st. Paul Daily Globe goes further.
Tho real loader OF the tariff reform move
ment In this country" 1t says. " is not Will
LIAM r. MORRISON. not ROGER Q. MILLS. not
WILLIAM NJ. SPRINGER. but modest gentle
man who leads a lie OF scholarly retire.
ment in his Now England home. and whose
name Is DAVID A. WELLS" We disagree
with our contemporaries with such conf.
dence In the superior and absolute sound.
ness OF our opinion as to expect to hear
them soon confess that they have hit upon
the wrong man.
It is true that tho actual leader OF the
tariff reform movement. which, according
to the records OF Its twelve years history Is
directed against protection. is not WILLIAM
MORRISON. nor ROGER MILLS. nor WILLIAM
SPRINGER. nor JOHN G. CARLISLE, nor BKN-
TON MCMILLAN. nor FRANK HURD. nor Ton
JOHNSON. nor any statesman who has won
title to O revenue reform wreath while
serving his country as public officer. But
neither can the honor DO bestowed Justly
upon Mr.. WELLS Of Connecticut.
We do not dispute Nr. WELLs's right
to this supremacy in order to substi-
tute the name OF the Hon. GROVER
CLEVELAND. in harmony with naturally
widely disseminated estimate OF the lat
ter's prominent standing as a reiormer.
| Mr.. CLEVELAND Is undoubtedly the most
conspicuous commander on the field Of ac-
ton. He has carried the sword be-
fore. and lie has his hands on it to-
day. He must be credited with draw.
ing 1t at q time when 1t was generally
thought to be sheathed. But the lines
OF the great anti-tariff campaign were laid
down long before his prominence in politics.
The plan was originally conceived and
published. and 1t has since been
sustained and pressed forward in Demo-
ocratic campaigns and In Democratic Ma
tional Conventions by other agents more
actively than by Mr.. CLEVELAND. Nj.
CLEVELAND has been upon certain impor-
tant occasions the MoLTKE OF the enter
prise. up TO date but he cannot justly DO
called its BISMARCK. the inventlng. initlat-
ing. and directing genius.
The Star-Eyed Goddess Is partisan
deity Of national prryalency. but she has an
everyday home. That Is In kentucky. and
the real leader OF the tariff-smashins
idea with justice to all and righteousness
to none, il beyond all reasonable COMPARE
son the Hon. HENRY WATTERsoy. As 1t is
generally understood, although his place in
our political economy does not depend sole
" upon that fact. Col. WATrERAoS opened
the assault upon our historic revenue eys-
tenn by challenging the country TO consider
the virtue of II tariff for revenue only" in
1880, In 1854 the tariff controversy was
stayed. but in 1883. only one year after Mr..
CLEVELAND had issued his message. Mr..
WArTEHsoS's command OF the situation
doomed Up more consp!cuously than
ever. II WAS hs more than any other of
his associates who then withstood the de-
sire emanatiug from the White House that