St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-20
LET oUR ERRORS TEACH Us.

American people.
LET DOR ERRORS TEACH Us.
When, after the election in 1892. the
GLOBE urged the calling together OF
congress AS soon as possible after the
Inauguration, there were Democrats
who regarded the GLOBE as radical.
When, later, it urged the same thing
again, i'll order that congress might
speedily take up the work of reducing
tariff taxation and redeeming the party
pledges. there were still those who
thought that the GLOBE was too rad
zeal. When the GLOBE said that il coli
gress met IN December the passage of a
tariff act would be delayed by the Re
pubicans until as near the fall elections
of 1891 as possible, and tina. its passage
would be followed by the Shutdu OF
the mills and factories for political pur-
poses, there were not wanting those
who said that the GLOBE was visionary
as we'll as radical. But when 1t said
that the Wilson Dill as reported to the
house was not the fulfillment of Demo-
cratic pledges, and that its pulley of
making concessions to the protectioniSts
was mistaken one, there were again
not wanting Democrats to say that the
GLOBE was altogether too radical fer
the party.
There are epochs in the lives of par
ties, as well as men, when radicaliSm
means victory, and conservatism defeat.
Every Seaman knows that there are
times when it is necessary to crowd Oh
sail to escape danger. just as there are
when it is necessary to slacken. Pru-
dence has its place in military opera.
tions, but the campaign would be fail
ure in which prudence was not coupled
with audacity. Every business man
can recall instances in his business ca
reer in which holiness won where
timidity would have failed. 1t was the
radicalism of that element in the Re-
publican party that. not conte.lt with
attacking slavery as WRONG. declared
for its abolition. that gave that party its
growth and impetus and victory.
1t has been for twenty-five years as
much the timid attitude Of the Demo-
cratic party, and Its willingness to pur-
the Republican party. that has kept it SO
long in minority; and it was the courage
and audacity of the party under the
leadership of Cleveland in assuming the
offensive. and not only in attacking the
Republican policy as wrong. but in
avowiug a positive policy of its own.
thai enabled the Democratic party to
become a majority party. When the
question is simply one Of governmental
administration, when no great question
is agitatiEg the minds of the people to
be solved by political methods, conserva-
tism of action finds its proper place; but
when great principles of government
are in conflict; when, as now, the ques-
ton is the right of the mass or the
privileges of the few, radicalism is
safety aud conservatism is failure.
Comparing prediction with fulfill
ment, the GLOBE finds in present con-
ditions the confirmation of its Judgment.
Protected manufacturers all over the
country, angered at the reduction in
taxation accorded them, have sought to
influence the congressional elections
either by a reduction in wages or ces-
sation of employment iu their factories,
and Republican papers and orators are
playing them a good second by pointing
to their action as the result of the tariff
act Of the Democrats. But this shallow
trick might be left TO the Intelligence of
the workIngmen to see through, if it
were the only result of the mistake of
concession.
The act mas had its repellant effec
without its compromising attractive eff
feet. There was in it sufficient indi-
cation of the movement Of the Demo-
cratic party towards free trade to alarm
and repel the protectiopists of our
party, the detection Of which element
from our party and utilization with
Republicans is duly noted and
lauded. On the other hand, the
effect of the recognition OF pro-
lection by way of concession. to
these interests has operated to deter from
Joining our party that large element in
the Republican party who are free trad.
ers at heart, but who see in this action
OF Democratic congress nothing but
minor differences of detail without diff
ferences of principle.
Men learn by their mistakes. and so
can parties. The mistake of the con-
cessions made points to the course that
should be pursued. The Democratic
party cannot rest at the point 1t has