The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-10-13
ATURDAY. OCTOBER 10. 1894
THEORY AGAINST FACT.

senator Hill opened Ine campaign III
New York Thursday at Syracuse. In
his opening remarks he said
Gin country like ours, which is gov
erned by political parties, and not by
royal families, the existence of at least
two great parties is essential to the gen.
eral welfare. There must necessarily be
difference of opinion on some public
questions, aud such differences honestly
entertained furnish no excuse for coarse
abuse nor bitter personal reflections. I
propose to conduct creditable canvass
in behalf of my party, which has hon.
Ored me ewith its leadership, so that at
its conclusion, whatever the result may
be, I shall be able to retain at least my
own self-respect, and hope. as well, the
present respect of my adversaries. Facts
and arguments are weapons which 1
shall invoke, rather than vilification and
vituperation. In great political con-
tests, measures and not men should be
essentially the controlling factors"
However much we may disagree with
the opinions, theories or practices of
Senator Hill, we honor him for the SEN
timent expressed. Abuse is not argu-
ment, and noise and fury and vitupera-
tion are poor weapons indeed. Politic-
ally the population is pretty evenly
divided between the republican and
democratic parties. For the sake of
this argument we will assume that it is
evenly divided. That each party, and
the individuals who compose each party
are conscientious in their beliefs, we be-
lief to be absolutely true. We do not
believe that either party, or the mem
bers of either party, would willingly do
anything which they believed would in
jure the country. We do not believe a
republican would advocate protective
tariff if he thought that system was do
ing what the democrats claim for it.
Nor do we believe that any democrat
would advocate free trade if he believed
its effects would be injurious to the
country. Neither party can ipjure the
country, its trade or prosperity, without
iniuring itself and every member of it's
party, as well as those of the other.
So much for that; yet it is because of
this belief that we see no possibility of
the country further clinging to the de-
mocracy. Because of this belief we pre-
dict a sweeping victory for the republi-
can party throughout the entire north.
The level-headed democrats realize that
however attractive the theories of free
trade may have been; however sonorons
the rounded perorations about trading
with the world may have been, that the
facts and the theory do not conincide.
The free trade picture is not true to the
free-trade fact. The theory was ro-
nance founded on sentiment, the reali-
zation is a sorrowful story founded on
fact That is the democatic condition
On the other hand was the protective
tariff fact. The country was prosperous,
the capitalist found investment for his
money, the laborer employment for his
hands, wages were good and employ
ment<to be had for the asking. This
was the protective tariff fact which the
dissatisfied traded off for the democratic
theory. The change has been tried, with
what degree of satisfaction the parties
who caused the change can say for them
selves. The American voter is honest,
and he is intelligent. He realizes the
mistake and will walk up to the polls
cneerfully to rectify it, just as soon as
the opportunity is given him. Therein
lies the certainty of democratic downfall
and therein lies the assurance of repub-
ican victory. Abuse will not change
the facts. 1t will net aid or strengthen
either side. The campaign is one OF
measures and of principles. 1t is a fair,
square issue, not between pure and good
men on one side, and impure and evil
ones on the other; but trial of conflict
ing systems, with the American people
in the jury box, can there be any doubt
as to the Yerdic?