The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-08-15
The Tariff in Ohio and Elsewhere.

The New York Times, which, not so
very long ago, was one of the most elo-
ouent and persistent free trade organs to
be found in the country, remarked In
its issue of Wednesday that IF the dem
Ocrats Of Ohio nominate Lawrence IT,.
Neal for governor, they should make
him stand on his own platform. This
they have done of their own motion, and
before the advice of The New York
Times could have reached them In the
ordinary course Of the mails.
Our dispatches state that the demo-
Gratis of Ohio rcadopted and reaffirmed
as their own those declarations and
pledges of the national platform that re-
fer to the tariff and the finances, and
then nominated Lawrence II Neal for
governor. Whether the democrats OF
Ohio succeed or not, we think they are
to be congra tulated. And we think Mr..
Neal is to be congratulated, not on his
nomination alone, but on the fact that
he has been placed on platform which
has received the enthusiastic endorse
ment of the people Of the country
The adoption of the democratic plat
form by the Ohio democrats is at this
moment an object lesson to the whole
country. Their action demonstrates the
fact that they have confidence In 1t, and
that they are willing to stand on and
abide by its pledges. The national plat
form would be broken reed, Indeed,
if its pledges are to be ignored by con-
grcss and the administration.
We regret to say that The New York
Times, in common with some other pro-
fessed democratic journals, does not
share in the confidence which the Ohio
democrats manifest in the national plat
form. In the article In which The
Times advises the democrats of Ohio to
place Mr.. Neal on his own platform,
and in the very phrase which we have
quoted, the platform is treated con-
temptuously.
The Times, which was once a free
trade organ, but which is now mild
protectionist, declares that the tariff
pledge adopted by the national conven-
ton at Chicago unanimously and amidst
the widest enthusiasm, was mere trick
of the anti Cleveland crowd. The alb
of things. The convention was a Cleve-
land body and the tariff pledge, intro
duced in open convention and unani-
mously adopted, represented the tariff
views of the whole party.
We have seen how Mr.. Cleveland.
moved by some mysterious purpose Of
his own, has seen fit to ignore the finan-
cial pledge of the platform. Are we
now to see the president ignore the tariff
pledge and construct plank of his
own? We hope not. We believe that
in this matter, Mr.. Cleveland Is mis-
represented by The Times and the little
coterie Of newspapers that are whirling
around him in their fulsome little orbits.
Nevertheless, there is no mistaking
the meaning of The Times when 1t says
that Mr. Cleveland "befOre taking his
stand on the platform prepared for him
deliberately kicked out of it the plank
which Mr.. Neal inserted therein" There
is no equivocation here. We are told.
apparently for purpose, that Mr.. Cleve-
land before taking his stand on the dem
ocratic platform deliberately kicked
out Of it, the tariff plank. Mr.. Neal,
as everybody knows, had small share
in that business. He voiced the views of
the convention, but he was no more, In
the midst of the enthusiasm that carried
the tariff plank, than feather in a
storm.
We have the strongest hopes that Mr..
Cleveland will keep at least one foot on
the Chicago platform. He has already,
by ignoring the financial pledge, placed
severe strain on party harmony Con-
gress can alleviate the strain by re-
pealing the Sherman law on the lines
laid down in the democratic platform.
But should Mr.. Cleveland stand in the
way Of the redemption Of the tariff
pledges, the strain would be too great.
The party would give way under it.
We prefer to believe that The Times
misrepresents Mr.. Cleveland. His allu-
sion to tariff reform in his recent mes
sage is at least reassuring, and we shall