The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-02-03
.DODGING DEMOCRATS.

a
DODGING DEMOCRATS.
While "distancs le IDS enchantment
to the view" all D mocrass are free
traders, says the Inter Ocean, When
a nearer approach is made not few
Of them protest that they are not ex-
actly free traders. but advocates of
"revenus tariff with incidental protec-
tion," and here and there one ventures,
like Congressman benson, Of Alabama,
to say, 81 am for tariff and incidental
protection. I am an Andrew Jackson
Democrat" or, like Congressman
Beltzhoover, of Pennsylvania, to say:
ST am in favor Of protection to Amer
lean industries, and this was the old
Democratic creed"
But Mr.. benson forgets that the
Andrew jackson Dsmocrats-good
Unionists and sound protectionists,
every one of them-became Republi-
cans in 1861. And Mr.. Beltzhoover
fergets that however preten.iously the
Democratic party may have resolved
in favor of protection to American in
dustries when feeling itself sadly in
need of the labor vote, its whole
course, since Jackson's time at any
rate, has been toward free trade. In
1892, knowing that the labor vote was
in state of irritation, occasioned not
bv the condition of labor, which was
superlatiYely good. but by the ex-
tremely prosperous condition of man.
ufacturers, which excited the ground
less envy of some of the labor leaders.
the Democratic party threw off all pre-
tensions to admiration of protection,
and declared in convention for free
trsde, pure and simple.
The result is not only known but
felt. Smoksless chimneys, tenantless
factories, unemployed men, famishing
women and children, are evidences of
the success OF the Democratic party in
Turing the irritated worknen to vote
for its candidates. The workmsn have
repented. Have congressman Beltz-
hoover and benson repented? They
say that they accepted the platform
with this mental reservatien-''as it Is
to be interpreted by Cleveland and the
New York World." believing that Pu.
litzer would interpret 1T otherwise than
according TO the plain meaning of the
resolution. The worknen say that
they voted with the Democrats believ-
ing that their tariff resolution was
mere buncombs. They have discovered
that it was in sad earnest, and having
so discovered they have made their re-
cantation by veting with the Republi-
cans in all the recent elections. Den
son and Beltzhoover have discovered
that Cleveland is favorable to the res
olution as it stood in the platform,
that he is not q Jackson Democrat but
q Calhoun Democrat. Are they ready
to abandon the Democratic party, as
the workmsn have abandoned it? We
fear net. "
Yet the industries by which their
constituents live can be protected
only by the adoption CT a soundly Re
publican policy. No Democrat, no
combination of Democrats, in congress
can secure protection to any one in
dustry. 1t is only bold detection of
Democrats from the Wilson bill as a
whole, by Democratic demand for its
that an alliance can be
effected with the Republican minority |
for the salvation Of the country.
In the day of reckoning at the next
congressional election it may not avail
benson and Beltzhoover to plead that
they spoke against the Wilson bill.
They will be on record as having
voted for or against it, and we believe
that each day between this and the
FIRST Tuesday in November will in
,rease the magnitude and the bitter
,ess Of opposition to those who shall
ae on record as having voted for it.