New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-06
rues than to the personal incapacity or prl-
vatc ambition and greed of its members.
cINNOT HOLD THEIR TONG YES.


We hope no reader of The TRIBUNE has
failed 10 notice the extract from 1.-The Liverpool
England Echo; of July II, which has been
twice printed in The TRIBUNE and may per
hans reappcar occasionally during the campaign
as a reminder to voters of the attitude toward
us of those dsinterested friends of the Ameri-
can wolkngman our cousins over the water.
Some stories tell themselves so well as to need
no comment. 1t is sometimes wise in a dis
cussion TO let the other fellow have his say and
trim himself. And there are discussions in
which the facts are manifest and the weight
of argument so decidedly on one side, that the
other is equally at di,ad advantage, whether speak
inc out or holding its peace, from fear of say
ing too much. Not to do what your enemy
wants you to do is a maxim generally accepted
and well understood in war and politics In
the sense of commercial rivalry and business
competition and we certainly hope in no other,
the English nation stands in the relation of
enemy of a sharp. keen, calculating opponent.
yigilant for its own interests. Watchful of OPP
portuntieS for advantage and quick to seize
them, trading nation with its hands full of
great enterprises. for which it must find mar
sal benevOlence or world-embracing phan-
thropy is not the absorbing pursuit or con>um-
ing motive Of our cousins. Their business is
trade, their occupation looking for customers.
Free Trade with them is not mere theory or
a hobby, it is downright business, and nothing
else And it does not need to be pointed out
that at precisely this point the interests of
these two nations clash. They know it over
there. and in spite Of tho Chicago platform
and the Frcc-Trade prophets. we know it here.
Accordingly, the ingenious counsel Of "The
Liverpool Echo" representing the commercial
and manufacturing interests Of Great Britain.
is in a sense prudent and wise. 1t might per
hapS have been more prudent and wiser To have
applied the golden maxim Of silence to itself
instead Of induging in the silvcrn gift of speech
in cnjOning II upon others since the reason
given for keeping still is in itself rather
damaging disclosure. 1.-THE apostles Of Free
Trade says the Liverpool papcr-and it is to
this candid utcranCc that we call special at
tcntion-" if they wish to further the principles
they arc SO proud of should rigidly hold thcir
tongues during the Presidential campaign.
Their utteranccs do ncalculable harm to the
after all defeated it will be largely owing to
the too loudly and indscrectly expressed sym
patty from Our Shores In that nutshell lies
the kernel Of the situation. so far a. the bust
ness interests of the two countries are con-
ccrncd. On that side they know that the tariff
question is enc Of business rivalry, business in
tercStS. business policy, and that while Free
Trade is the best policy for them Protection is
the best for MS And they know that we know
it over here They know well that their
motive for desiring the election Of Mr. Clcvc-
land is 50 clear and unmistaLablc that whatever
they say in his behalf will be hindrance rather
than help. For this reason the apostles OF
Free Trade" are advised 10 "hod their
tongues" Wise thing t. do. But whether
wi,o or not to publish the advice and give the
reason is quite another question
IL is not the first time the Democratic party
ha, had the misfortune - have allies and sym
pathizcrs who could only help it by holding
their tongues and who could hardly open
their mouths without doing it mischief. and
who had 10 be constantly huShcd and pushed
into the ackground. II had a similar expert
cnco in 1864. when General Mcclellan was its
candidate. and it was believed he would draw
a large soldier vote. But the partyS allies and
sympathizcrS inside the rebel lines could not
"hold their tongues Cheers for Mcclellan
along the rebel front disclosed 10 the Union
Army the meaning Of the nomination and the
purpose of his part. and the Union soldier :
answer was -" If you want Mcclellan we don't"
II might not have elected Mcclellan if the
rebels had held ;hcr tongues, but It would have
strengthened him amazingly. 1t Is great
misfortune 10 have such allies: the sort that
cannot help. but are always liable 10 do mis-
chief IS in 1864 with the soldiers, So no"
with the woIkingmcn. The latter know one
thing for certain; and that is that their in
tcrc,ts and those Of the British employers of
cheap labor clash. 50 when they see the latter
80 anxious for the election Of Mr. Cleveland
they simply say "Wcll, il You want him we
don't"