New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-31
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
A DIsGUsTED DEMOCRAT.

DIsGUsTED DEMOCRAT
HE BELIEVES IN FREE TRADE. But HE Re
LIEvEs MORE IN Courage AND HONESTY
| To The Editor of The Tribune
Sir: After years of waiting have arrived at
what? Disgrace. humiliation and shame l belong
to Democratic family whose adherence to Demo-
cratic principles dates back in this country to those
old Knckerbocker ancestors who originally settled
Manhattan island We have voted the ticket
through thick and thin. We have hoped against
| hope and. Almost blindy at times. have chung 10
! the old party. thinking that the day would come
| when the party Of the people would triumph and
I that right should rule.
We have, after years of patient waiting. the
! Democratic party come into power. for the first
time within the remembrance OF many OF us. We
have the manner in which they welded that
power We sincerely hope in few months to see
them take again their deserved pCston--that OF
the minority. They have abundantly demonstrated
what has always been said by the opposition name
ly, that they Incapable. and therefore not to
be trusted with the affairs Of government. The
mark OF Mr. Reed to his constituents tells the tale
fully. They have no settled definite underlying
principle
Tariff reform has been the wachword OF the
Democratic party that and free trade, which Is
the same thng-for when the tariff is reformed SO
that Industries. which have grown to such size
that 1t Is question which is the stronger they or
the Government. shall be protected by duties which
shall represent the difference between wages abroad
and home articles coming into competition.
then shall practically have free trade. Many OF
manufactures now. If they had no protection
further than cost Of transportation would be suhi-
GENTLY protected And YET. tariff reformers or
free traders the Democrats are by right we
find that In published interview OF Mr. ). a.
Webb. of Texas. by Tribune reporter. Mr.. Webb
Is quoted as saying: Il am Democrat. but am
Republican when 1t comes to wool and protec-
! tive tariff
! And a Democrat from the Democratic State OF
| Texas fails to get denomination because he votes
for free wool. What do these people mean? Where
in are they Democrats? II Democrats believe that
the Republican doctrine Of protection Is in their
best interest why they not honest enough to act
as they believe and call themselves Republicans? We
find only who has stuck to his coors We
! find him whore we least expected. And when DAVID
! u. Hill made his proud CD boast, Il am a Demo-
crat." he meant what he said.
| But where IL Champion the man we loved?
Is he dead? No. but better far for him. for his
place In history. had he never entered his second
term az President We had reason to believe that
In him had protector; that If a tariff bill be-
| came a law 1t would fulfil the pledges made to the
people We thought that Grover Cleveland would
sign IA bill II 1t In the best interest Of the
people and veto IT If in his judgment. which We all
admired and trusted, 1t was not for the people
good. There could be no middle ground with him.
Either he must come forward in his usua. upright
| and manly fashion and administer ms approval or
dsapproval. or be ,randed "A coward. He has chosen
his course RequIescat In pace. Whittier shall Wa
turn We Democrats whose last party hope is gone?
| There Is only one way. The Republican party al
| though It has carried the extreme its policy Of
protection and thereby done more than any other
| one factor 10 promote class feeling In this country,
! has always been true TO its principle Protec,ioh
| to American industries has always been its party
| cry and it has nailed It's colors TO the mast ana
never said die 1900
/ Ions OF
! How many Of us there are you Will
/ know after the general election. But let US
! say this to you. We believe In tariff reform w
| do not want taxes continued forever. - ne
| time has arrived when they are not necessary we
| believe she leaders Of your party recognize ths
| fully They not blind that they 10 not see
| having seen It. think they will profit by H.
stick 10 your policy or protection ohIy 80 I9Hb
as Is necessary properly to protect our industries
! anl when they have arrived at the age when they
case with the industry. then reform your tari
and finally abolish 1t. This the original intent
and do you carry 1t out , ,-,...,..
| We DO not believe that any party IL absolutely
essential to the existence Of the country: We nave
faith enough In the wisdom Of the American citizen
| TO believe that finally raise up party that
mnnd And We will vote with you uncil it is demon
| strateI that you Will not 10 II.
II n, is necessary to raise revenue, then put IL on
Injuries. tobacco wines, ETC. ana reduce II oh
| for one am fully convinced that ripe for
free trade. and I believe that for the raising or
revenue the single tx theory OF ,ba e psech Of the
Hon Tom L. Johnson as given IN your edlIon o.
August D fanatical II you like, but It appeals to
thinking people who are not a6so1iey W W. 8I 10
New-York Aug. 2S. 1894