The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-05-10
The Truth Of the Situation.

We have no doubt that our esteemed con-
temporary. the New York Times. Is entirely
honest, at bottom, In its devotion to the
cause Of tariff reform. however simple
minded may be its strategics. We agree
without qualification In the opinion ex-
pressed yesterday by the Times that &" the
Tariff bill presented by the Finance Com
mittee and overhauled by the peacemakers
is. In sober fact. very much In conflict with
the doctrine Of the Democratic platform.
and with any reasonable Interpretation Of
Democratic principles. No authoritative
leader could have defended such bill be-
fore the people," We should put 1t In even
stronger language than the Times uses.
The Peace-at-any-prioe tariff bill Ia not q
compromise. but an unconditional surren-
der; an absolute liquidation OF the Demo-
cratic platform; q cowardly betrayal OF
Democratic principles.
The admission which We have quoted Is
important because. so far as we are aware.
since the tariff reform movement passed
out Of tho stage OF promise and entered
that Of performance. this is the first and
only distinct recognition Of the binding
force Of the Democratic platform on the
part OF the Times or OF any other prominent
newspaper rejecting the views Of the Ad-
ministration. The cue has been dead silence
concerning the doctrine OF the platform"
It Is encouraging. as q sign of awakening
conscience. to see CLEVELAND organ hold
ing up the Democratic platform pledge Of
1892 as test and measure OF Democratic
performance in 1894. 1t Is bit OF blue sky
IN the leaden and lowering heavens.
Therefore. when We find q hypnotized
tariff reformer like the Nep York Times
recognizing tho pledge Of Democracy to
abolish protection utterly. as .unconstitu-
tional and as robbery and fraud. 1t begins
10 soon as II honesty and truth and politi-
cal good faith wore not sleeping the sleep
that knows no waking.
It required tho immense provocation OF
such an Atrocity bill as the President now
offers TO the party. to bring the Times back
to 1.-THE doctrine OF the platform" Now
that 1t has got there. We should very much
like to know In what respect the present
Atrocity bill. UNANIMOUSLY aud cravenly I'M
Democratic as 1t is. Is more in conflict with
the doctrine OF the platform" than was the
bill reported on March 20 by the Senate
Finance Committee. or the bill which
passed the House OF Representatives on
Feb. 1. or the bill reported to the House on
Dec. 10 by the Committee on Ways and
Means. or the original bill submitted to
that committee by Mr.. WILSON on Nov. "a.
and warmly recommended by Mr.. CLEvE-
LAND in his message. These various meas
ures differ somewhat In the figures OF
their schedules. somewhat In the details OF
their redistribution OF atrocities, some
what In the degree OF protection afforded to
favored industries. They are precisely
alike In the essential principle OF their
construction. One and all, they are tariff
bills. not for revenue only. but openly and
Avowedly framed for protection; deliber-
ately and avowedly framed for that protec-
tion which the Democratic platform de-
nounced as fraud and robbery Of the many
for the benefit Of the few. and as a violation
Of the Constitution OF the United States.
which Mr.. CLEVELAND and every Demo
cratic Representative and Senator has
sworn TO obey.
All OF these various phases through which
the original CLEyELASD-WILsoS bill has
passed In its struggles TO buy its way 10
enactment, are also precisely alike in the
additional particular that they have ali
carried the Populist income tar. tax I'M
known TO Democratic doctrine and hostile
TO Democratic principles.
There is no middle ground for compro-
mise between the principle Of protection
and the Democratic principle OF tariff for
revenue only. There are no degrees OF dis
honesty In the violation Of a pledge Ike
that With which the Democracy vent 70 the