The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-01
tHe SAME OLD TACTICS.
Free Traders Afraid TO Stand True TO
Their CoIora. as Usual

Their coiora. ms Usual
Indications are plentiful just at pres
emit that the free traders are about to
make use of the same old methods OF
coward1y evasion and hypocrisy in the
coming election which they used four
years ago. Despite the fact that the
courage and honesty of Henry Waiter
son, in contrast to the time serving cow
ardico of Grover Cleveland, succeeded
In turning down the straddle approved
by the ex-president and substituting for
it a rock ribbed free trade plank, the
word seems to have been passed around
by the political managers of the free
trade party that the old tactics of denial
that the Democrats want free trade are
to be employed in states where protec-
ZIONIST sentiment is too strong to be en-
tirely neglected.
As in 1884, when the Democratic con-
vention adopted q platform on which
Henry George and General Butler could
stand alike, on which Roger @. Mills
talked free trade in Texas, while Samuel
]. Randall upheld protection in Penn
sylvania; as in 1888, when they reaf-
firmed the straddle of 1884, so, it seems,
Al ApoS tlp DC1otAutS hIO dDpuh W Et-
pudiate their own platform and appeal
to the country as moderate protectionists,
while their official utterapce commits
them to absolute free trade: Some there
are indeed who have the courage of their
convictions, who believe that the Demo-
Gratis should stand true to their colors
and to the free trade cause of which
they have avowed themselves the lead
ers. The Chicago Herald, for instance
does not mince matters when it says:
ALREADY the cry is raised that tho
Democratic platform means free trade.
Well, SO be it. The platform certainly
means tariff for no other purpose than
to raise revenue. 1t means no tariff to
force self sustaining industries to con-
tribute to the support of mendicant in
dustries. That comes as near to free
trade ms anybody but the single taxer
wishes to come, If that is free trade
the Democratic party is for free trade
without qualification or reservation"
When we note the ringing tones of
this free trade declaration, whose cour-
age cannot fail to excite our admiration,
! though we disapprove of the declaration
itself, how different the cowardly shift
ing Of those Mugwump-D Democratic Jour
mails, the Rochester Herald and Spring
field Republican:
the Democratic party proposes to con-
struct its tariff for revenue in a spirit
friendly to all industries that need and
deserve protection.-Ro Herald.
We have not the slightest fear that
the party which declares for tariff for
revenue only would, if given the power,
seek by single stroke of legislation to
readjGst customs duties to the revenue
standard exclusively, or that revision
will proceed i'll any other way than slow
/ ly, with due regard for protected in
terests.-Springtield Republican.
This in spite of the fact that the Dem
ocratic platform positively and uncom-
promisingly asserts that protection OF
anything like protection is unconstitu
tional and demands that "the collection
of such taxes shall he limited to the
necessities Of the government honestly
and economically administered"
I The issue is ms clear as it can be. The
Democrats disnvowed all regard fort-u.
!. tected industries and protected WORN
men when they rejected the platform
which asserted that all tariff revision
would proceed with the purpose of ''in-
juring no domestic industries, but rather
; to promote their healthy growth" and
adopted IA plank that did not declare any
\ such purpose, but merely demanded a
tariff for revenue only. The very words
Of this platform convict these Journals
of willful deceit. On the one side is the
. Democratic party for free trade with
: out qualification or reservation" as the
Chicago Herald says. On the other side
q are the Republicans, their record the
1 Mckinley tariff, without doubt the best
and most thoroughly protective measure
. ever enacted, and their platform declar
ing for out and out protection. Pre-
4 varication is of no use; denial will mo-
! avail. Protection against free trade il
!. the issue, and on that issue the peopl,
II will judge and decide.