Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-05-27
plain Democratic Duty at Chicago

No national Democratic conven-
ton was ever assembled that had o
more important duty devolving on
it, in the way of making perfectly
clear declaration of great principles.
than the forthcoming convention at
Chicago. There has be in some
sections OF the country more than
usual degree Of popular confusion
with regard to the great underlying
Democratic principles. Yet there
never was time when the Repub--
licans gave stronger provocation for
vigorous and successful statement
of Democratic principles.
Ex-Secretary Bayard, who in the
confusion of mere temporary dis
cnssions never loses sight of the fun
dameneal and historical doctrines
of the Democracy, has formulated
in the June number of The Forum
the great issues that present them
selves. First and foremost, of course
comes the one great issue OF the tar
iff. "The triumphs Of the McKin-
ley BILL" he says, 'are still loudly
vaunted by its bene6ciarIes, and,
although already stamped with pop
ular disapproval, are not abandoned
or even modified. The principles of
taxation on which it is constructed
are intende to be still more forci-
bly, exercised. New taxes for pro-
lection, with revenues as on Incl
dent only or a prohibitory system
upon importations provocative Of
retaliation, and nothing less than
commercial warfare upon friendly
nations, are brazenly upheld and
advocated" Part and parcel of the
same policy was the legislation
whereby the most important COM
mercial interests were placed wholly
in the hands of one man--the
President-who by proclamation
has the power to disturb great COM
mercial contracts and to change the
commercial policy of the the whole
p ople-an entirely revolutionary
proceeding, clearly unconstitution-
al, and really one of the most mon
s'rous pieces OF legislation o. any
time in any country.
After this great issue of the tariff
comes the dormant Force Bill, not
yet necessarily dead. la case OF Re-
publican success it will surely be
revived, because it belongs to the
general protective plan. Congress
can thus substitute its own will for
the will of the people. 1t is neces-
airy, therefore. that the Chicago
convention shall speak plainly of
this great danger. Every Republi-
can vote next fall will be a vote for
the Force bill.
These are she two great kindred
and comprehensive issues that are
presented; and no wrangle of fac
tions or personal preferences for
candidates should cause the party
aud the country for one moment to
forget them. Mr. Bayard's demon-
stration of the kindred nature of
these two great issues and of their
common origin is q clear represen-
tation of the Democratic duty of
the year. Stripped of the natur-
ally mystifying facts which attend
and obscure the working of every
highly complex civilization" he
writes. the great issue is made APP
parent to the eyes of the American
people, the Importance of which
overshadows all others. Ii is moth
ing less than q submission to their
votes whether the organic fsrces OF
their Government shall be changed
from promotion by their represen-
tatives Of the general welfare and
the blessings Of liberty for them
selves and their posterity by the
transfer of the most sovereign pow
err known to Government, that of
public taxation, to associations OF
individuals who. organized under
the name Of political party aud
with professions of ardent patriot
ism, are to be invested with the sole
control Of the measure of tribute to
be paid to them BY the great body
Of their fellow-citizens. .
The widely expected papers by
So lnn~Un Mswawf fhn lauasw.xx Chris