Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-27
DANA NOT VERY SEVERE.
BE Doesn't Say Anything That Will
Hurt His Party Much, if at All.
REPUBLICANS TREAT 1T CoOLLY,
And Democrats Generally Profess to Be
Ileased With It.
THE TALK FROM EAST. WEST AND SOUTH
rsprc1Ir TELEGRAM TO THE p1srArcH.

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1sPATCH,l
New YORK, Sept. 26-Of all the editorial
comments on e1-President ,Cleveland's
letter of acceptance possibly none will be
read with more interest than that Of
Charles A. Dana In the New York Sam 1t
is as follows:
Those who look to Mr.. Cleveland's letter
of acceptance for any reversal or modifica-
tion of the issue of this canvass as already
defined by the logic of events will be dis
appointed. The candidate o; the Chicago
convention devotes more words to the tariff
than to the force bill, in the ratio OF 6 to !,
but what he has to say about the force bill
means at least 600 times much as what
he says about the tariff. The reason
for this is obvious Being compelled
by custom and by the profuse example OF
General Benjamin Harrison to write letter
that is otherwise unnecessary, he has
labored hardest over the chapters devoted
TO the subjects that are obscurest in the
light of the present situation. There is
difference of opinion, for instance, among
Democrats concerning the tariff There
was marked division in the convention
that nominated Mr.. Cleveland, and there is
Just as marked division in the ran k and
file of the party which intends to go to the
polls on November s, and vote for Mr.. Cleve-
land as a means toward the overthrow of
Republican rule.
Why So Many Words Were Needed.
If there were absolute unity on this par
ticular question, and if this particular ques-
ton were the 81 eat issue to be decided by
the election near at hand, dozen lines, or
at the most, dozen clear and ringing sen.
tences, would have been enough. But there
dfff vie of tba
ing of tariff reform, all entertained by Dem
ocrats; and since Mr.. Cleveland felt himself
bound by the obligations of his rep
resentative post to address himself to
everyone of the 40 or more tariff schools
within the great and glorious and united
Democracy, it is not surprising that his pen
ran along from phrase to phrase until his
tariff aggregate filled a space out of proper
tion to the importance of the subject in a
campaign for the defense of the vital and
fundamental principles of the Democratic
party.
Thus it is always. Theologians have de-
voted ten times as much literature to minor
points in controversy as to the simple and
essential truths which all good Christians
hold in common. 1t is not the universally
recognized principles of right anu equity
that fill the books of the great writers on
jurisprudence. We congratulate Mr.. Cleve-
pleted task which he really need not have
undertaken.
Tariff Reform TO Please Everybody.
Tariff reiormers of all shades of opinion
will learn from his letter that the Democ-
racy is still for tariff reform. The haters of
protection will ascertain that protection for
the benefit of selfish greed is unfair and op-
posed to the spirit of American institutions.
The advocates OF free raw materials will
find pleasure in the discovery that Mr..
Cleveland believes. in free raw materials.
Those Democrats who hold that in the ad-
justmenG of customs duties regard should be
paid to the welfare of American industry get
renewed assurances that it is not Mr.. Cleve-
lands purpose to precipitate free trade; that
free trade. indeed, is an impossibiiiy.
The tariff part OF Mr. Cleveland's letter is
full of carefully considered maxims, and as
round whole it is as impermeable and as
elastic as caoutchouc. But when thescandi-
date of the Democracy treats of the Issue
which has inspired and solidified the party
in every State of the Union, which is hold
ing the South in line, and which has brought
to the front the loyal leaders of the Empire
States magnificent organization, he appeals
directly to the heart OF every Democrat who
reads his letter. he requires few. words
with which to register his profound ap-
probation of the danger that threatens the
its scheme of Federal interference with the
suffrage of the States, seems to him to be
exactly what it is in fact; namely. a bold at
tempt to reverse the fundamental rela tiOns
between the people and their Government
a conspiracy to secure the ascendancy of a
dlscredited party in reckless disregard of
free expression OF the popular will. 70 re-
sist such scheme, says Hon. Grover Cleve.
land, is an impulse OF Democracy. 1t is
even more than that-to defeat such a
scheme is the main purpose of Democracy
Here Mr. Cleveland is composing no dis
sertation; he is sounding bugle call to duty
and to victory.