St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-23
AIDING THE ENEMY,


in the discussions of the Republican
press IS: Which has profited the
most-McKinley by the Endorsement of
some of his tariff theories by the Demo-
cratic congress, or Reed 10y the partial
adoption of his quorum counting rule
by the house? The question interests
Democrats only so far as indicating
which of the two Republican leaders
shall have advanced his chances of OBJ
his party IN 1896.
For some time past the contest has
been narrowed down TO these two men.
Harrison is out of the question. He has
permanently retired from public affairs.
and even if he should feel the fires of
ambition once more, he is destined to
disappointment. He is back number.
But Reed and Mckinley are in the har-
ness, apparently to stay, and to one or
the other the prize will undoubtedly
fall. AS to ability, there is little
difference between them. Each pos
sesses an abundance of audacity; each
holds practically the same views on
questions of public policy and taxation.
AS the author of the existing tariff
law. Mckinley has permanent inter-
est and notorleiy. The system now in
vogue bears the impress of his name,
and, whether its results are good or evil,
he cannot escape the credit or response
bility for them. That those results have
been evil is apparent on every side in the
depressed conditions of industry. and the
distress in which trade and commerce
are involved. Every workshop that is
tenantiess and silent is eloquent il pro-
test against q system that was designed
to protect and foster the interests of
wealthy monopoliStS at the expense of
the industrious poor. A million honest
and industrious laborers and mechanics
are today idle and suffering for the
necessities of life because the monopo-
lies have driven competition from the
field of industry. All enterprise except
that which is backed by millions is dis
armed and left prey to the giant devil
fish that have grown to such prodigious
size under the fostering care of our
tariff system. But the Democratic con-
gress seems likely TO perpetuate this
system. 1.-The eliminating atrOcity of
class legislation" and thereby give its
Endorsement to the craftsmanship of
Mckinley, instead of plotting 1t forever
from our statute books in accordance
with the solemn promise of its repre-
sentatives in the last Democratic ma
| tional convention.
Mr.. Reeds Endorsement by the Demo-
! cratic party is not as emphatic as is the
apparent approval of Mcklnleyism. The
| eX-speaker had succeeded in compelling
congress to transact business, but in
order TO do so resorted TO methods fit
| only for despotism. By the truancy of
Democratic congressman all business
| was at standstill. No progress could
| be made in removing the vicious legIs-
lation placed upon our statute books by
previous Republican congresses. After
! many futile attempts to awaken the
| derelicts TO a sense Of their duty the
| house was compelled to resort to eX-
| IRENE measures, and rule was last
| week adopted requiring the presence of
! all members at the sittings of the house
under penalty Of a fine. and compelling
| them to vote when present. This is
f, widely different from the Reed rule, but
| is nevertheless arbitrary. and would be
| reprehensible under ordinary circum-
stances. But the present is not an
/ ordinary occasion. The emergency is
the greatest in our history The fate
| OF millions depends upon reform of
our system of taxation, and if the chosen
representatives of the people persist
entity neglect their duty they must be
compelled to attend to it. even to the
extent of the enforcement of the ex-
| IRENE rule of the body to which they
! belong-the arrest and punishment OF
| delinquents. 1t is not the Reed rule,
yet is it arbitrary. 1t would not have
been adopted but for the criminal con-
duct of the congressman who have vio-
| lated their oaths with impunity, and
neglected the interests of their constit-
f! uents shamelessly. Yet it is regarded
| as concession 20 Reed-to czarism-
| and perhaps it is. But it is all expedient
to which the Democrats forced their