Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-04
THE REPUBIICAN ATTITUDE.

There is Republican element which is
conspicuous by reason of nolslness, IN
asserting that the Republicans should not
aid any attempt of the conservative ele-
ment in the Democracy to settle the tariff
question on the plan of gradual and
careful revision. This stand is avowedly
put on the basis that if the radical Demo-
Gratis are given full sway they will infiict
such sweeping and destructive change
in the tariff that the next Presidential
election will restore the Republicans to
power. In other words the attitude OF
that element places party success as
greater in importance than public well
fare.
The Democratic victory has made GER
tain degree of tariff revision foregone
conclusion 1t is by no means certain that
the action of sensible Republicans can
affect the nature of the revision. But it is
already clear that Democratic opinion is
likely to develop a difference as to the
policy which shall prevail. If in the trial
of strength in Congress over the question
whether the matter shall be settled by
conservative alteration of duties or a
sweeping and radical reduction, the Re-
publicans should be able to give effective
support to the moderate wing. Only one
course is open to them consistently with
any regard for the public welfare.
Certain Democrats may honestly advo-
cate radical tariff changes under the belief
that they are ultimately for the public in
terest. But the Republican beliefs are
firm, first, that the tariff issue should be
permanently settled as soon as possible;
and, second, that it should be settled with
as moderate changes as possible. Every
Republican is pledged to the faith that
these things are absolutely essential to the
public prosperity. If a Republican there
fore should refuse to aid the conserva-
tives, if he could, he would be convicting
himself of seeking to injure- the whole
nation for the benefit Of a political organi-
zation.
1t is worth while for partisans for that
sort to reflect on the character which such
o position fixes on them. One of the
gravest and most important charges
brought by the Republicans against the
Democracy in the late campaign was that
it was calamity party" That it was
so determined that it ought to come
into power by reason of alleged ad-
versities that it fiercely attacked any
evidences that the alleged adversities did
not exist. But these partisan Repub-
licans appear determined to convert their
party into a calamity party, not only to
the extent of hoping for calamity, but to
actually 60 the length of voting for it.
For the man who refuses his vote when it
might be effective in preve nting dlsas-
trous interference with business practi-
cally votes for disaster.
We have already said that it is by no
means certain that the Republicans will
have this power of either aiding or secur-
ing such settlement of the tariff ques-
ton. But if the opportunity should pre-
sent itself, either, by compromise or
free raw material policy in this Congress
or by supporting the conservative Demo-
Gratis in the next, the Republicans cannot
be true to their professions nor to any
standard Of public duty without accept
ing it