The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-04-10
The Platform the Remedy.

The Platform the Remedy.
The Courier-Journal, which is Il tariff
reform eXpert-thc custodian and guar
dian Of the star-eyed goddess Of reform
makes Il tremendous attack on the meas
ure which the Wilson committee of the
house framed, and which the senate
finance committee has just given the
finishing touches to-
What Mr.. Wattcrson says is worth
noting, for he is by all odds the most
conspicuous tariff reformer by reason
Of both his zeal and his position, to be
found in the democratic ranks. lie is
not only a tariff rcformer III theory but
he would not hesitate to put his theories
in practice. believing as he does most
sincerely that the scheme of protection
which is ramnantly manifest in the Nc
Kinlcy law is unconstitutional i'll its re-
lationS to our system of government and
corruptly unjust in its relations to the
people.
We print what Mr.. Wattcrson says of
the Wilson bill in another column. He
declares that the democrats in congress
partly through II lack of sense and
courage, and partly through venality,
have given up to monopoly what was
meant for the masses" and he closes
the sevcrest attack that has yet been
made on the party in congress with
these singing words: "For Gods sake,
let us have done with coWardice and
lyingr
What is the origin of the trouble? Does
IL IL in
the house endorsed the Wilson bill they
are equally cupable with the trainers
who surrendered TO the east? We say
no. The Wilson bill as it came from the
house was essentially and exclusively,
an eastern measure. Parag graph by para
graph it was built up after consulta-
ton with the secretary of the treasury,
and it was well known that the measure
was approved by Mr.. Cleveland The
democrats surrendered to the admins
tration and its eastern connections in
the matter of protecting the east, and
| leaving the south and vest to take care
| of itself, Just as they had surrendered
| in the matter of the Sherman silver law
That is the whole truth. and since
Mr.. WattcrsOn is in the humor to blurt
out facts, he may as well go TO the bot
| tom of the whole business. The Consti-
| tuition was and is in favor of the prompt
passage of the Wilson bill as it came
from the house, and urged it most siren
uously. Not because we were enamOred
with the measure. for it does not 90 far
enough in the direction of the democratic
platform. but because we desired to pre-
vent that which has actually happened
the collapse of party unity in congress.
We see the fruits of democratic sur
render to eastern interests ripening every
day We see the factions pulling and
caWing at each other at every 0ppor
tunity-the east against the west and
south, victorious, intolerant and AFRO
giant.
Silver and gold arc not the standard
money of the country is the platform
commands. There is no hope for a tariff
for revenue only, 10 which the platform
pledges the party. There is no hope for
the repeal of the tax on state banks. The
eastern money power refuses to make
one single concession to the people who
are robbed by tariff taxation and ruined
by the increasing purchasing power of
gold 1t is no wonder that the war of
factions is now on 1t is no wonder that
Speaker Crisp cannot afford to leave the
leadership of the house to represent his
state in the senate.
These things are so we'll known that
the most ignorant white voter in the land
| does not need to be told of them. But
there is a remedy, and it is Il sure one.
| The people understand that the demo-
! Gratis who represent them are handicap
! ped by the powerful coalition of the
eastern democrats with the republicans.
The situation is so plain that they do not
need to have it explained 10 them. The
remedy is for the democrats who have
not been bought by patronage and who
| have not Succumbed to eastern influences
| to get together and make an effort to
carry out the pledges of the platform.
| It is not too late for such an effort to
| be made. 1t is not too late for such an
effort to convince the people that the
| real democratic party in congress is still
! true to its obligations and to the pledges
| Of the platform.
| But the matter is very simple. We
| think Mr.. Watterson will agree with us,
on reflection, that if the party had car
ricd out the financial pledge of the plat
form when the Sherman law was up for
discussion, both the house and the senate
would have felt in honor bound to stand
by the letter and spirit of the tariff
pledge In fact, they could not have
avoided it. TO go at once to the very
source and origin of the party disloca-
ton, the platform would have been lit
orally carried out by congress If the
legislative body and the executive had