New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-18
PrrJSJOV AGAINST REASON

PECTSTON 40 fINSI EfJ'NO-''
CT mist frankly admit that it would be bet
ter for the country if it were possible Tor my
party to avoid acting OH the tariff question a,
all this wear" The Democrat VINO W'ereu
these words in private conv erSatloh was man
Of high standing and vast influence Tor goou
or evil, Were his name mentioned II "o"'o
he RECOGNIZED as that Of distinguished leader.
The genuincneSS of his patriotism is mol dchled
nv nolitic,l foes. Yet he felt bound, even
against his own deliberate judgment, to press
forward 10 a speedy conclusion the effort lot
tariff revision. The reasons he gave may wen
be considered seriously by those manufacturers
and merchants who have been conSong 'hch'-
selves with the thought that President CIeVc-
land would he found too conservative ana pr1'-
dent TO urge "A radical change oil taIlif WIN IN"
industries of the country already proSTa'eu'
In substance this influential Democrat sara:
II 10 ZOO late for choice. II We were to go he'ore
the neonle now az We did last fall the most pr"'"
nent men In the party would probably heS''d'7 '"
make the tariff a sharp and predominant 'S9"'
They would see reason for declaring pocy 'o"H''
which timely efforts should be directed Du' i'o' o'
. decIaration that immediate and radical changes
are necessary 10 public prosperity. IheS "'u''
unhesatingly pledge themselves To nov 'o""'N
tarn reform ae soon az the condition OF the Vou"-
fry should render a radical change sale anu p'"
dent but would not commit themselves 10 i o',s''se
AT once The trouble is tnat the parry ''oN "
oi,ior lao, ,esr deliberately not according ~ the
wishes Of the President, az most people AT ava"
for the platform his friends iaNo'r" w.
serve the party q good turn no" II " "~H
aso,,a1 The neope were deliberately asked to
decide whether immediate and radical 'na"h' y,
IN. tariff was necessary TO their prosperity any
they decided.
II the party should now refuse or IAN 10 ''
# has proposed the erect upon it, future wouW
disastrous beyond cslcua ton Mulut"ues WIZ
/ I.ved the teachings of the party last year wouu
/ think themselves cheated OF a prosperity "'''
,h.,, can imagine but are not likely ever 10 rear
,ge by the subserviency OF the party ~ u"e Nv" "o
| nopoles Thousands who came 10 the parry So
because OF the tariff issue would ietVe IL ~ u'
gust Contributions by importing anu o'"'' ~
| ests which amounted in lss2 ~ "A very large sun"
| ,.ortd he refused Rivals who are watching TOT
IN. seats OF Representatives and senators OF 'o'
the sceptre OF leadership In many OF inc s'"''s'
vould use on alleged breach OF faith with uenlen-
deus fore. 10 break down and destroy the most
efficient leaders have. We should los" iH''" III
ourselves. and that Is worse than losing the
oo,,o,.rcs n others. The silver question and the
money question threaten even now 10 tear mo
! ar,,, wide omen in some Southern States Give 10
IN. onnosition also the enormous adV@h'ae" o'
appealing to the people against men VINO nav Us 81,
oheved their DEGREES and W. should 30 GOWN III os-
/ honor.
This distinguished Democrat believed that
the forthcoming tariff bill would OF necessity
he radical in character. If II Were not II
world lacl, the votes TO carry 1t through Inc
{, Committee Of the Whole without extremely
dangerous changes Unless the bill Is OF a
lind 70 appeal strongly 10 Democratic prejn-
hn .,meudeU nj
all shane in the committee and may get into
such q state at last that nothing Dut hvil-
zuntal tariff of - OF 80 per cent can DE
carried II will be hard work at best TO hold
the Democratic majority together IN the lace
If q strong and able minority. bur IS llReiN u
Ina imnoSsibIe if the bill proposed - one whlof
members will be most reluctant TO expose te
tha CRITICISM of prcudced and half -tanauca
constituents.
These considerations render il probable thai
the Democratic leaders will make desperate
effort to pass radical tariff bill rs >oon as theN
can. Nof is il to be expected that Ilesldeh
Cleveland will refuse his approval to such
measure if passed by his party friends. ever
thouoh he may consider il unsafe and untlnely
The one point Of uncertainty Is whether IN
Democratic majority can manage TO agree on an.
bill measurably answering to the pledges OF TIT
uarty in the last campaign. II net. more than
one Of the consequences to which the diStin
gni,hed Democrat referred may be realized
Tbns il comes 10 pa>s that the patty is driver
on by the continuing force OF a freaklSh ant
scnseless vote last year. even IL the drove
swine in old times. which ran Violently down
steep place into the sea The leaders win
would like 10 arrest the downward rushing
D fear that they must rush with the rest or b
tlodden under foot. Against the better judg
: ment of It's able>t leaders the party threaten
to subject the country 10 months oi Arif de
bate. with half the shops closed already and
= million workers looking in vain for work.