New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-27
" THICK UE1IHER."

II was the late Daniel Webster who on one
occasion suggested for imitation the example
of the mariner who. when he had been 'oSS'"
for many days in thick weather ana on III u'-
known sea" awaited himself of the first pause
in the storm. the earliest glance OF the suh' 10
take his latitude and ascertain how 1Hr me
clements had driven him from his true course
With this suggestion the Massachusetts states
man called for the reading Of the resolution
which was The ORIGINAL subject and OCCASION
of the debate. ana from which the Senate had
wandered away 10 bc tossed In thick weather.
II occurs TO us that there never was time
when the Democratic party could more pr"ilt-
ably rccur To that suggestion and net upon IL
than Just now For if there WAS ever party
tossed in thick weather anl on an unknown
sea il is the one That now. In fun control 81
all departments of the Federal Governments
is tackling great questions and wrestling WITH
tremendous responsibilities The hrSt ihihE
the Democratic leader in lhc Hons" should d"
whoever he me, hc Wilson or Springer or
Tim CaWplcn or Chimp" Clark * 10 can
upon The party 10 take it, latitude on Tie tariff
question and ascertain bow far the elements
hav, driven il from lis truc course. II would
then be in order for hm TO cali for the read
Ing Of the tariff plank in the platform Of III"
l:S1 l''lliNFTilF Nflli'u'l ''N'''i.''- '' $500
he should not know where to find it We refer
him ,o the nlc. 81 TIE Ncw-Yorl, sun" which
has never lost si.lt - il in t'ic thickc>t wrNh"r.
En- thick - thr weather l. into which The
Democratic INA ioriiy in Con-r - has driI"I
on The tariff o;ic-'iun IL g. sunlight iis"lf q. va
pared with the f.c which cu,,l ~ ihr relations
between The President and rbc political leader
I'm This state f. whom he owes in such lar"
degree his election. In This town. f"r instance.
there are statesmen without number who "prni
several weeks IN thc summer and l1U - ~
whooplng it III" for Cleveland. c"i'nizins
voters. craMming thc registry lists ard nHin-
things generally. a,9 who coasr iu"nty Bad
every reason u believe ih1t with ihc su'."+'
of The party they would lc transferred 10 o."
Government payr"lls aud placed above want
for four years Th,r have not w.; h"rn 81"
placed. They ara IN thic; weather. and utterly
unable 10 tell "w.crr thoy arr at Even Mr.
Croker. Mr. .,hcohan ami Mr. Murphy. the
shiningcst Of al The shining lights Of ihc p'rtr
in This state. are grouing alb III. h""ld"r'I.
unable 10 get their latitude or fad thrir WAY
This noiw.th Standing rhr fact that line meet
ing II these three with Mr. Cleveland - th"
famous Victoria Hotel dinner IN lN,2 WIS @c,i-
/ nally believed - br th" turning point of The
campaign. and The agreement thrn aud There
entered into between the high contracting par
tics the most potent f'rioi in ihr canvass.
II viii be- remembered That il WIS given out
Immediately after that meeting that III differ
cnccs between Mr.. Cleveland and the Tammany
chicf;ains lad been adjusted. perfect recon
tiliatnn Effected and AZ understanding reached
III which The Tammanv people were Ia hay"
their fair share f the plundcr in He event
Of Mr. q g., lands election There were many
versions Of what happened. Lui ail pointed ~
dubtably to The fsci 81 IN a;;rrrm"nt.
And now all hands are in thick weather
Somebody has evidently st"crcl away from tn"
agreement. II has bcromr obscure: has faded
from sight In his confused and confusing
situation Of affairs. although Il * moi TIL"
/ Tribuncs business 10 pilot these people ont OF
their uncertainties and brwild"rmcnt, II occurs
10 lis that The suggestion offered hy Mr. Web
strr siXty-four years ago may be appropriate
and timely. Let Mr.. Croker or Mr.. Shcchan
or Mr. Murphy go 10 the President ami say;
Mr.. President we have been tossed for many
days in thick weather ana on an unknown scn
and do not know where we are ~. VIII You
kindly shine on rs for II moment while "" take
our latitud"?" II would be we'll ihrn 10 have
the ORIGINAL Victoria Hotel agreement read or
rcciicd 10y either Of these three political nav-
gators. each Of whom no doubt committed the
! terms Of il 10 memory 1T the time of its adop
ton.
Then there Is the Hawaiian situation. The
weather in which the party is tossed on that
question is too thick 10 be- cut with knife
No liSc for the party 10 Try 10 take its latitude
| on that. There's no latitude left The Prcs-
dent has taken it all.