New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-12
A CONTHaNT.

| Mr. Morton was Vice-President two years
ago. and Mr. Stevenson is now Nicc-Prcsidcnt,
AMI 1t happened that the letter of Mr.. Nor
! ton accepting the nomination for Governor, APP
reared the same day with the speech OF Mr..
Stevenson opening the campaign in Illinois
These two statements ought fairly to represent
the position and purposes of the two great par
ties. and the Republicans at least have no
occasion TO avoid the contrast. While Mr.. Nor
TONS letter is in part devoted TO State ISSUES
which he discusses with vigOr and candor. his
remarks on National questions condensed into
few hundred words conclusive reply 10 the
several thousand words delivered by the Demo
cratic Vice-I'rcsident.
Mr.. Stevenson appears as an apologist for his
party because. having promised complete re-
versal of the Republican policy and great result
ing prosperity for the people 1t has neither
brought prosperity nor satisfied Democratic de-
mands The extra session Of Congress, he OBJ
serves. was entirely consumed in repeating the
silver law enacted by Republican Congress;
but he omits to state that the delay was Sol'Iy
because Of Democratic opposition, and that the
repeal was effected by Republican votes These
essential facts Mr.. Morton supplies stating
also the melancholy result-that the grand re-
yival Of business which President Cleveland
and other Democrats had expected from the re-
peal Of this enactment did not arrive.
The Tariff bill enacted Mr.. Stevenson adj
mits is not all that he wanted, but he insists
that il is better than the Mckinley bill. lie
earnestly desired the entire abolition OF duties
on coal and iron ore, but rejoices that these
duties have been reduced almost half, 10 the
injury of miners in Eastern and Southern
States. He is happy also about free wool. as
the wool growers of Illinois are not for they
have learned by painful experience how false
was the pretcnce that free wool would give them
a larger and better market for their product
He welcomes free salt and free lumber, but is
careful not to mention the fact that neither mas
affected prices for American consumers Rely
ing upon the ignorance of his Democratic au-
ditors Mr. Stevenson remarks that the Secre-
tarv Of the Treasury recommended the recn-
ton in the new bill Of the lax on raw sugar
and that las matter If Government necessity
II was retained" But probably his hearers
knew by their own experience that they paid no
tax on sugar under the Mckinley bill, and that
the tax they now pay was not ''r"'ained.' but
imposed by Democratic Senators who had been
purchased by the sugar monopoly.
Mr. Morton deals with the subject Ike an
honest man and statesman. He shows that
the highest prosperity ever attained in this co,In'
try was under the Republican tariff of 1880,
that peril 10 American industries was announced
In the change Of administration, and that the
"menacc alone was sufficient TO still the looms,
go darkcn the furnaces. to clog the wheels Of
business, and 10 precipitae financial dcprcS-
sion UNPARALLELED in our annals for severity
"and DURATION He shows that the measure
enacted after a year Of Frustrating uncertainty
was false alike to the promptings Of true
"Americanism and 10 the professions Of the
"Democratic party" and that 1t was "a thing
"of incongruites, patchwork OF Protection
land Free Trade, Of protection TO favored 10
"calities and OF nurture TO Trusts. but Of hos
Utility 70 the masses of the workingmcn. Re
"pudiated by it's principal Trainer, characterized
"by a Democratic President as a bill Of pcriidy
land dishonor, denounced by the senior Senator
from this State. and manifested by the sig
mature Of the President. proclamation Is al
ready made that it Is only the beginning If the
attack which will be persisted in upon Alncri-
"can wagp-earncrs"
Il is not difficult for voters in the light OF
these two statements by leaders Of National
reputation, 10 perceive one great and striking
contrast. The Republican Is proud Of the latest
enactment by his party, and can point without
blushng equivocation 10 its magnificent re-
suits The Democrat Is ashamed OF the tariff
passed by Democratic votes, begins and ends
by apologizng for it, promises that 1t VIII
be only step toward something better at
tempts to hide or attributes to n different cause
the terrible disasters 1t produced. and conccals
the unspcakable corruption and infamy attend
ing its passage In this contrast alone there Is
ample ground for a verdict against the party
which has reason to be ashamed Of its own
work