The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-11
The Issue Grover Cleveland Gave Us.

The Issue Grover Cleveland Gave Va
The one positive thing that IL asserted Of
Mr.. CLHvKI.AND's services to the Demoo
racy. II that he gave the party an issue
when Of issues IL had mono. It is not pre-.
tended that he invented tariff reform, OF
that he was the original tariff reformer
But II IL said. and said with truth. that Mr.
CLnvELAND's annual message OF 1887. de-
voted. as It was, entirely to the question Of
the tariff. and setting forth. as IL did, In
strong and Ineligible language. the srgu-
ments for tariff reform. consolidated DEM
ocratio sentiment and put this great ques-
tion 1t the front, there TO remain until II
should Be settled By popular vote and legis-
lative enactment.
The Democrats who had been earliest
and foremost In denouncinR the protective
system and demanding = reform OF the
tariff. experienced genuine satisfaction and
Legitimate pride when the Chicago Conven-
tion Of 1897 nominated Mr.. CLEVELAND for
President. on platform containing this I'M
qualified declaration against protection:
We t-s~,s' Rv-ss.s. S-sssss- Rod, rosss-y n
~ srsas --tsrts 80. dawes. s,pb ~ No s.-4H "a.
~. " d..i.., = sss r.6s-.~isi p-t.epL y q. D.r~
-a.ps,v ass q. k-s~si es,~-~-s A.. .s-.sa<tO..i
s.-~ t-pss - susss~f ssss, ssopsJs- n. s-p-- n
p-.-. s.t. 81 S--~,d a.s as ..n.,-. II ~. s.p--
sAsn It-s-s I. - ..s--i- 90. ss-~--s.i vA- ae...0y
- sco.s-t-.is sd-a-tSsr.G-
The leaders, the enthusiasts. the rank and
nle Of the tariff reform cause. all felt that
the goal was near: and when. after spir-
tied canvass In which this issue was con-
stantly Oh the front. great majority Of the
people Of the United States voted that Mr..
CLKvxbAND and Congress Democratic In
both Houses should 60 ahead and abolish
the protective system and establish in place
Of IL constitutional tariff for revenue only,
'file Of the tariff reform cause felt that the
goal had indeed been reached. Nothing
remained but to oonsummate by iegisla-
zion the Tremendous change for which the
country had voted.
The record Of this extraordinary Incident
Of American politics. the history Of the Issue
which CROWN CLEVELAND gave MS. cannot
be written mp to date without an analysis Of
the present state Of Democratic opinion con-
corning the square declaration and solemn
pledge quoted above. We have examined
with care and with candor the utteranoes Of
many representative Democrats. and Of
many OF those newspapers which labored
hardest to put this Issue at the front; and
our conolusion u that with respect Of the
declaration and pledge which 1t IL now pro-
posed 10 ropudiate. Democrats are divided
into the following olassesi
L Those Democrats who squarely acknowi-
edge the party's obligation. and want TO
SEQ 10 redeemed. To assert that such Dem
ocrats are In the minorityi u to assume that
honest men. mon OF their word. men who
do not believe that mere Inconvenience of
execution u sufficient release from Q de-
ubersts promise. are Q minority among all
OF the members Of the party; and that IL
proposition which TIE Sun L. not prepared
70 enunoiatA.
II. Those Democrats who believe In pro-
lection and are not afraid to say so: who
frankly admit that the WILSON bill and it
variations fall to fulnl the promise regis
tered at Chicago; but who hold that as they
themsslves never favored the adoption Of
that plank OF the platform. they are not
obliged to regard is a. part Of their creed
as Democrsts. and are mot bound by It.
Senator SMITH Of New Jersey Is an OUT
spoken representative OF the Democrats
who take this position. There arc other
Senators and Representative who are
quits - manly - he L. 10 II proper to
say that while their attitude upon the
Issue which GnovKR OLKvxLAND gave u.
would render them. under other circum-
stances. liable to party discipline. or even to
the present management
Of the Democracy is In NO position to quss-
ton their orthodoxy or to order them out
4 favorite argument with those who refuse
10 ignore. but venture TO defy. the COM
mand OF the Chicago Convention concerning
tho tartn. II that the plank was inserted In
bad faith BY the enemies OF Mr.. CLEVELAND
with view 10 defeating him at the polls.
The weakness OF this argument lies In the
fact that tho MEAL substitute was inserted
In the platform by vote OF b64 to s42: 90
that II the vote for the resolution that Il
now part Of the platform. represented the
to Mr.. CLKvxLAHD's nomination.
he never could have been nominated.
III Those Democrats who do not deny
that the WnSoH bill fails to meet the re-
auirements Of the platform. but maintain
that IL 10 Q step In that direction. and the
only step possible under the present con-
ditions. Their position II entitled to q GER
tain degree OF respectful conslderat ion mas
much a. they favor. or pretend to favor, the
Ultimate redemption OF the pledge at its full
Iace value. Great reforms ara not accom-
plished In . single day. or even in a single
year" Is a maxim often at the ends OF their
tongues and pens. "The best We can do
underline circumstances. is another phrase
which they md handy. Their favorits plea
Tor the passage OF the WILSON bill. inade-
auate aud unsatisfactory as they regard It
when measured by the ideal In their minds.
3 that the business Of the country has been
70 long disturbed by uncertainty and APP
prehensiOn that the first duty is an imme-
date settlement: better tariff unsatisfac-
1ory to tArin reformers than . continuation
of the uncertainty. The answer TO ali this
3 obvious TO the dullsst comprehension.
Great reforms car be accomplished in .
single day. A constitutional and Demo-
ratio taTin could be enacted between sun
Use and sunset. II the party leaders had
or deeds the courage and honesty which
H.. as.NN N.4 81