The sun., 1894-05-04
who Has Turned Victory and Hope
into Defeat and Humiliation

into Defeat and Humiliation 2
The Democracy came into power fourteen
months ago to-day, fresh from splendid
victory won at the polls with q new and In
splring battle cry. Its pledge to the people
was not merely for tariff revision. which
means nothing but tariff change. It was
not merely for tariff reform, which may or
may not mean anything moro than tariff
change. It was for reform OF the tariff ac-
cordlns to u definite principle, declared to
be tho fundamental principle OF Democratic
faith, namely, the determination OF uncon-
stltutional protection and the enactment OF
tariff for revenue only. No simpler task
ever confronted party. No party was ever
rcader or more anxious TO perform Its first
and most obvious duty. No party was ever
In better position to carry out the will OF
tho people and to redeem Its own promises.
On March 4. 1903. for the first time In more
than thirty years. the Democracy had pos
session at once OF the Executive and Of both
Houses OF the Federal Legislature. and was
ablo to make laws for the country In ac-
cordance with it's political belief and Its re-
corded pledges.
The Democracy came in under the leader
by a great majority OF Democrats In all
parts Of the land. and was blindly wor-
shipped by not few. His power for good
or for evil over tho destiny OF the party was
enormous one year ago. There is scarcely
anything In political history like the gen.
eral confidence and enthusiasm which ac-
companied GROVER CLEVELAND to the
threshold OF the White House. Those very
qualities OF personal character which
seemed to n few Democrats to involve the
possibilities Of danger. seemed to the great
majority OF candid observers to guarantee
the successful performance OF the Democra-
cy's self-appointed task. What II he were
persistent 10 stubbornness in pursuing the
line indicated by his individual Wilt His
individual will with regard to tariff reform
coincided with the purty's declaration and
the nations decree. What II his courage
was near akin to obstnacyp All the more
prospect that obstacles would be overborne
In quick order. and tho goal reached by the
shortest road. What II his notions were SO
cloudy respecting the coordinate functions
OF Executive and Legislature that he re-
garded himself as n President with Con-
gress on his hands? All the more reason
for expecting that the masterful spirit
would tolerate no deviation from the
straight path. but would keep his hands on
Congress until duty had been done.
These expectations havo been so far JUS
titled that at every step In the progress OF
tariff legislation since Congress met In ex-
ira session last summer the controlling In
fuence and the dominating will have been
those OF the President. He took hand In
the Speakership contest. In order that he
might have a hand In tho formation Of COM
mittees. He arranged the composition Of
the Committee on Ways and Means. Ho
nominated the Chairman Of that commit
tee, the titular leader OF the tariff reform
movement. He practically dictated the meas
ure to be presented to the House. for he
was able to announce the provisions OF the
committees bill before the committee itself
had formulated 1t. He lent all Of the power
OF Federal patronage. all OF the immense
and multiiorm influence Of the White
House. TO assls. the men nominally engaged
In whipping tho bill through the House.
When the so-culled WILSON bill encountered
In the Senate an opposition that tore II into
shreds; when 1t became, 80 far as the Ad-
ministratlon was concerned. question not
OF forcing q certain measure through. but
of forcing through some bill. no matter
what. he became the prime negotlator for
tho purchase OF votes. aud the White
House became the actual mart for oil
the traffic in unconstitutional protection.
Tho new measure now reported TO be Ia the
womb OF darkness Is already known us
"the Presidents Tariff BILL" WILSON.
VOORHEES,. Committee on Ways and Means.
Senate Committee on Finance. have dropped
out OF sight; and In the present aspect
of affairs ono figure remains as the main-
spring OF unconstitutional legislation. tho
author Of proteetlonist schedules, the ar
blter OF discriminating duties. the brigand-
in-chlef OF fraud aud robbery prosecuted
under the mask OF taxation.
How. then. has the President fulfilled his
responsibility TO the platform. the party.
and the peopleS
BY using srery means in his poOsr to pre-
Uent the consideration by Democratic Con-
0rsss Of anu Democratic bill for u tarig for
rereEue only.
How has he fulfilled the trust reposed In
him as q representative OF Democracy
by tkrusiin0 upon the Democracy the RpW-
list income tar. aud insisting that q must be
accepted IN order that bM may be passed
which preserves srery feature Of high proiec-
ti0n. and postpoRes iHdefRitelv the enactment
Of a taTi0 for rereRae only.
That is the story of foutteeu wasted
months. Stand steadfast. ye Democrats.
II there be any left in the Senate Of the
United States.
VIII Ireland He Relieved from the CO.