Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-13
TUESDAY. ...........JUNE Ii, 1915.
Thc Constitution Answers Itself.

T. has all the time soeued to us that the
New York Sun was "poking fun" a. the
original CLEVELAND men when that paper
has insisted upon il that the Democratic
party and the people themselves had de-
clarod last fall in favor OF free trade or 70
phrase it differently. in favor OF tariu
for revenue only. We could not bring
oursalyes to the belief that that luminary
WAS "shIninc for all " when 1t shed such
a hight as it frequently did upon that SUB
;ect nor that ITS tariff utterances were
necessarily true because we saw them in
the Sun. IF you see 1t In the sun IL Is
so.n but We take 1t that this declaration
refers rather 10 news than to editorial
teachings. The men who furnish the sun
with its wonderfully well-selected and
well-edited news matter do their duty
faithfully; but to say this Is not to say
thot the speculations of the editorial
writers for the Sun are to be accepted as
possessing the same right to credence as
the news matter
Tho Atlanta ConstitutiOp also has seemed
10 us to be engaged IN pointing out to the
CLEVELAND men the dangers which may
beset them on their way to free trade or
tariff for revenue only. 1t has devoted
much time and space TO the subject. and
las stronuously maintained that the
Democratic party was pledged to frame
tariff for revenue only, and that the next
Democratic Congress must redeem that
pledge. That paper has been moro IN
COMPROMISING than tie original CLEyE-
LAND organs, aud has favored its readers
with line upon line and precept upon
precept" enforcing the views which 1t has
deemed it its duty to present. Here is
specimen editorial paragraph from the
Constellation:
"Now there is no higher authority than the
Democratic platform. 1t represents the Will and
purpose Of the organization. and there Is no nee-
ing from the solemn obi aticns-doubly solemn
because they are voluntarily assumed-by those
who propose TO remain within the party lines.
The minority must either accept the platform or
repudate II, and 70 repudiate II Is 10 rcpudiate
the party
That is used as an argument in favor OF
O tariff for revenue only; but our Atlanta
contemporary saw that it had laid down as
t. the tarif a general proposition which
the Democrats would not regard nor treat
as true, and proceeded to explain as fol-
lows:
"There cannot, OF course, be complete
agreement In any party on any matter OF
policy. The agreement is on certain funda-
mental principles, and the policy of the party is
settled from time to time IN an authorized and,
therefore, an authoritative manner by the ma
an Org n A.
tion. Tho minority accepts the decision OF the
majority, aud in this way the party is held to-
gether as unit"
Exactly so. That is our contention. not
tho contention of the Constitution. which
proceeds to explain further as follows
1T a fact o: to be nghtly regarded that
this yielding et the minority is an obligation
that is mutual 10 1884 The Democrats In favor
OF tariff for revenue onIy wore compelled 70
yield to tDe majority. IA 1892 tho Democrats
IN favor Of protective ;aii measured by tho
difference In the wages hers and abroad, were
compelled TO yield"
Just 20. In 1891 tae free-traders, or adj
vocates of tarlH for revenue only, were
outvoted in the Democratic National Con-
vent,on. How did they como to be the
majority in 1892? Net by living up to
thsir pledges" standing on the Demo-
cratic platform" or giving up the fight be-
cause outvotod. but by repudiating the
Eardallites' platform of 1884 and substi-
tuting the free-trsds platform of 1892 and
inst,tdtiog "a campaign of education" on
the tariff question.
What is sauce for the goose is sauce for
the gander, we hmm bly, submit, and wa re-
quest the Consultation to beed President
C1.sxLAND's warnings Of last fall, and il
may escape the Presidents wit. 1t Is EVIL
dent from his sharp utterances as 10
"free-trade spectres" and impossible
free trade" that he knows how to get even
with his critics.