New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-03
PARTY SINS md THE PENlLTT


The difficulties of the party in power are of
its own making. The laws Of eternal justice
do not permit party to escape without re'ri-
button. when it has spent years in fostering
the most vicious tendencies and dangerous
passions. 1t owes Il duty to civilized society
as well in minority rs in power ana It's hrst
and highest duty always is 10 use its influence
for the welfare Of society No influence can De
more lasting and powerful in sclfgoverning
country than that exercised by the education
of public opinion. and when any party stoops
for the sake Of temporary success to foster
public opinion which it knows to be dangerous
il forfeits its right to exist as political or
ganiZatiOn.
This Fundamental law of party life has been
long disrcgardcd by the party now in power,
and it is paying the inevitable penalty. Even
it's ablest members do not appear TO see how It's
worst embarrassmcnts are the natural fruits
of its errors in the past. The lesson Is one
which may well be studied by men of other
parties also. that they may avoid both the SIN
and the consequent penalty. For thirty years
the party in opposition taught the people IDEAS
and fostered prcjudiccs and inhamed passions
which were not in harmony with the welfare
of civilized society. Now it comes into power
cursed by its own erroIs.
1t taught the people for many years that all
duties on imports invariably enhanced prices of
domestic products to the full extent Of the
duties on like imported goods. and that they
thus robbed one part of the people for the
benefit of another part. These theories were
erroneous; the teaching of them was not for the
ti,.. an r,ll IL
dice excited by the idea that the many were
being plundcrcd by the few were always dan
gerous to the public welfare Now the same
party comes into power. and its first attempt 10
frame Tariff bill is met with passionate de-
nunciaton by millions Of its own supporters. on
the ground that the robbery Of the many for
the benefit OF the few will not be stopped by
such a bill The measure proposed is BAL
enough. as respects the public interest. ana YET
q measure much worse was necessary to satisfy
the prcjudices which the party had fostcred
for many years.
1t had taught the people for many years
hatred Of accumulated wealth and savings. In
consequence it has ii powerful body Of its sup
porters now franticaly demanding an income
tax. regardless Of the fact that such tax Is at
once Il DuIucH upon ipii"' an" wv '''''
which make nation prosperous and also
tax upon conscience. because ii Is easily eyaded
by the dishonest. Politically dangerous as such
a tax would be- the party in power IL driven
toward it almost rresistibly by the force OF its
own vicious teachings OF a kindred nature
was its long-cOntnued fostering Of prcjudlccs
against corporations. Now II il driven forward
to impose double burdens upon the millions who
use the services or buy the products Of such
corporations, and upon the other millions who
have their little savings invested in them. A
tax which would be politically most disastrous
is thus thrust upon the men in power 10y their
own supporters, because Of the prcjudices they
have fOstcred.
The lesson is one which men Of all parties
might well take to heart. 1t is never safe. as II
Is never right or decent. for the party out OF
power to teach ideas which it cannot carry into
effect when intrustcd with responsibility. with
out sacrifice Of public welfare The grave rc-
sponsibility Of the loyal minority is the lesson
which the distracting wranglcs and probably
fatal errors Of the party in power are now
teaching TO all Americans