Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-01-05

The democrats are slowly but surely
sliding from their platform. They grow
less and less rampant in their clamoring
for tariff reform and for the abolition OF
protection. The following from that
democratic organ, the Cincinnati En-.
quirer, is illustrative:
When the man who tolls daily for O
comfortable living for himself and his am.
lily, is notified that his wages have been re.
duced, or that his services are no longer re.
quired, when he hasn't money enough
/! ahead to buy bread for the next week, he
does not read the works of Mill, or Horace
Greeley's political economy, or send for
the Han. William Thingumabob's speech in
! senate, to learn the cause. If we may
! quote again Mr.. Cleyeland's best speech, it
is a condition, not a theory, that confronts
him. congressman can at least learn from
their constituents, both rich and poor, not
to take any new risks when calamity is
stalking abroad. He can learn to resist the
clamOr for quick aud uncOnsidered action.
The tariff ought to be revised, but no true
democrat, no mar who has the welfare of
the party of the people at heart, wants a
sudden overturning Of things. There is no
free trader. That is. there is no democrat
worthy the name who believes it possible
or desirable to jump from protection to
free trade at once. No one believes, unless
is mind is %disOrdered, that it is possible
to Immediately eliminate protection and
get on a pure basis OF constitutional tariff
for revenue only in a single session of
congress. Let these great democratic re-
forms come, but let them come thought
fully and to stay. We ask no democrat
to sacrifice a principle, but we insist that it
is the part of wisdom, the part of honesty,
the part of democracy, to %scrutinize with
the greatest care any measure changing
the tariff, no matter what half dozen men
itsInay come from.
The Enquirer still clings with a half
hearted aud dispairing grasp to the dem
ocratic tariff policy, but it doesn't want
it put in operation just now. 1t will do,
SO Gays the Enquirer in effect, at some
future time, but not just at present. It
can be done too, according to the same
paper, by degrees-etep by step. This
is, on the surface, the idea advanced by
the Enquirer. But it is readily per-
ceived that the Enquirer, when brought
face to face with the democratic policy,
fears to trust it. It can be seen that the
Enquirer leans toward protection. And
80 it is that the organs of democracy
fear to trust the actions of the men they
have advocated into power. They are
surely slipping off from their platform.
REPRESENTATIVE BALDWIN of Mime
sofa, spoke his mind in the matter of the
Wilson bill the other day. and in so do
ing advanced an argument so easily con-
tradicted- and the justice of the con-
tradlction 80 easily proven-as to be
amusing. Mr.. BALDWIN said:
II am = democrat, and as such cannot be
otherwise than favorable to tariff reform.
Everybody knew that when l was elected,
l would be glad to secure some modification
of the Wilson bill as it concerns iron ore.
But suppose democrats representing every
interest in the country should settle back
in the breeding and refuse to vote for
tariff reform unless their pet industry was
coddled by protective duties, how would
the country secure a reform in the matter
of the tariff? l cannot believe that any
considerable number of my democratic con-
stituents expect or desire that l shall an
tagonize my party on this question. l may
use my personal influence to secure a
change in the iron schedule. That done,
l have performed my full personal duty
in the premises. Then l shall proceed to
stand up to the demOcrotic rack. fodder or
no fodder. l shall vote with my party on
principle, and because I believe it will re.
suit in the largest benefit to the people of
the Sixth district in the end.
II democrats representing the various
industrial districts in the United States,
ask for protection for their respective in
dustries, it is h einevitable conclusion that
protection is beneficial to those indus
tries. And if protection benefits them,
what is the excuse for the abstract "tariff
reform Of which Mr.. Baldwin speaks 10
t~eelingly? The prosperity of the whole
country depends upon the prosperity of
the several communities. And if no at
tention shall be paid to the interests Of
communities how can the nation, which
is but the sum of these communities, be
a prosperous one? It has been the en-.
deavor of republicans always, to frame a
tariff law, protecting each industry in
nearly an equal measure, and when the
statement is made that 8 bill will. be
supported, merely because of blind party
prejudice, and with a disregard of how it
will affect communities, the maker of the
statement puts himself in a light which
makes him ridiculous.
HENRY CLEws weekly financial re.
view, the last one of the old year says;
1T is a long period since the old year
has closed under such serious conditions
as now everywhere prevail. Every coun.
try in Europe has it's troubles, worse
than u own; and they are of a charac.
ter 80 radical that it will require time to
heal them. In this country, the de.
engagements are acute, but they are of q
kind more directly under our W con.
troll than are those of the European ma.
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