St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-19
THE sENarE.s CoyTUMACy

III uio opCCCl db DOStOu Ou tIp OCCd-
sion of the celebration of Jefferson's
birthday. Comptroller Eckels uttered
some timely words that ought to be
needed by Democrats generally, and by
Democratic members of congress espe.
cially. After directing attention to the
fact that the Democracy is now in full
possession of every department of the
government by edict of the American
people, vino drove from power a party
that had proved recreant to the trust
reposed in it, and that it is responsible
for the manner in which the govern
ment is administered. he declared that
''by every protest Of its platform and
utterance of its orators it is bound to
reform abuses long charged upon the
opposition, or stand confessedly before
the people as false to its own profess
sions, and willing to make the general
good su5servient to private interests or
personal ambitions. 1t is confronted by
public more keenly critical in thought,
eXacting in demands and independent
in action than ever before in the history
of American politics-a public which
cannot be deceived by political arts,
blinded by fiattery or soothed into
silence by splendid phraseology. The
acts of it's public servants are the sub
ject of daily scrutiny on the part of
press and people who care little for past
traditions and cannot be swayed by
future promises. Entrenched in power.
it can no longer plead the lack of power.
or excuse itself upon ths ground of
fin fDr =; IL,
upon subjects now in hand"
While the charge of bringing about
the present deplorable condition of our
business and industrial affairs properly
lies at the door of the Republican party,
the responsibility for its continuance
will rest with the Democracy. That
party pledged itself to reform our tariff
system so as 10 relieve the masses from
the burdens of excessive taxation under
which they have suffered. There has
already been abundant opportunity to
redeem this pledge. 1t has not yet been
done, and the contamination devoutly
to be wished is apparently as remote
as ever. Months ago, after protracted
and tedious debate, the house passed
bill designed to reform some of the most
Odious features of our taIiff system. The
measure was sent to the senate. The
finance committee of that body con-
Sumed over two months in its considera-
ton and amendment, and finally re-
ported measure widely differing
from the original. Many of the most
Objectionable provisions of the McKin-
ley act. 1.-The eliminating atrocity of
class legislation" as it was declared to
be by the Democratic platform, were
retained. and others were added which
were even more obnoxious. After lying
| upon the table for three weeks more. the
bill has but recently been taken up for
| consideration. The first notable event
| in connection with it was violent as
Sault upon its provisions by one who
| assumes to be leader of the Democratic
| party, and an avowed candidate for the
presidential nomination in 1885, Other
Democrats are said to be prepared to
assail it, and there are indications of
deplorable lack of unity which portends
the ultimate defeat OF all attempts to
modify or amend the system that has
been fraught with so many ills.
| In view of its pledges and of the ne
cessities of the country. the delay of ac-
ton on the tariff bill is inexpiicable
and Infamous. Men must indeed be
purblind to so wantonly violate the
pledges they have made, and SO shame
lessly disregard the necessities of the
country which they are commissioned
to care for. 1t is useless for Democratic
senators to seek to evade their responsi-
bility. They cannot deceive the people;
! they do not even deceive themselves,
for they are forced on every occasion to
apologize for their acts, and to seek to
justify them by a cowardly resort to
Misrepresentation and an effort to shift
responsibility upon the shoulders of
| others.
But the senators are apparently joined
to the idol of protection, and are indif-
| fereut alike to the welfare of the coun-
] try and to their own promises. 1t may