The Republican journal., 1892-09-01

his Buffalo speech, May, 1891, Cleveland
assailed bounties, but he has been still as
a mouse ON that subject ever since. Mr.
Springer made calculation to show the
expensiveness to the country of free sugar,
and produced long array of figures that
would have been interesting if he had un
dertaken to do anything with them. He
failed to offer a recommendation. We
have sought in vain from Democratic pub
lie men, from Democratic and mugwump
journals, for some sign of the explanation
of the deep, persistent silence they all
maintain on the sugar question. The free
sugar issue is equal to the free silver ques-
ton in magnitude. Why will no Demo-
crat speak of it? The only approximation
we have seen for several months in Dem
ocratic journal, ON the editorial page, is
this paragraph from the Atlanta Constitu-
tom
editor Halstead is wildly angry be-
cause nc. Democrat will say anything about
the sugar bounty question. Will not
some veteran Democrat step boldly to the
front and relieve Editor Halstead's pains
by making a few remarks ON this juicy
topic?''
it will be observed that the able editor
of the Constitution does not step to the
y
he not? He is accustomed to have a good
deal to say about everything. His silence
is sensible. He knows his party has not
got the wit OF the way in hand to frame Il
reform of the Tariff law. He knows that
free sugar is the great popular feature and
vital beginning of the Tariff law that
stands; that if there is replaced the old
sugar tax in the name of free trade reform,
or whatever it may be called, the Demo-
cratic party has no architects to whom
the work of reconstruction could be com
mitted.
SHALL WE STEP OUT INTO TIE UNKNOWN?
The Democratic party must hide itself
on this theme, because it would be suicide
to avow itself. We may trust the intelli-
gence of the people that the policy of
darkness proves to the party as deadly as
daylight would be. Is there anything in
the character of the Democratic party
that would warrant the country to COM
nit itself fully to that organization, to
trust it with white sheet of paper and
power to write upon it in events the true
intent and meaning of its policy Is there
anything in Cleveland S character, even as
the mugwumps portray it (or did when
they We're at liberty)-anything so much
he should have the Presidency presented
to him to do with as he likes? If he was
all the mugwump fancy painted him, be-
fore they lost their freedom, what can he
said for Stevenson? Shall we not put
his civil service reform along with the
tariff reform of Cleveland and remark,
par mobile fratum.
The people should grasp firmly these
two facts
l. This is something more than q
Presidential election. AS the Presidency
goes SO the chances are will go Congress,
and with Congress the Supreme Court by
reorganization.
,. Not since the winter of 6O-'61 have
the Democrats been in possession of the
government. They lost it through seces-
sion and never since have passed a nation
al law, and they nevermore should be
trusted with the law making capacity.
Especially should they be distrusted, con-
demned and defeated when they dwell, as
they are doing on the questions of com
handing industrial interest, in clouds and
darkness.
MURAT HALSTEAD.