The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1894-03-21
a Queer Annonncenent.

sue the approaching campaign is
a ets ling piece otinformation.
Ta tariff wac the Issue in the
last campaign. The democrats
cIea set forth in their declaration
of nciples the purposes which
they ad in view with respect to
|tariI reform. There was NO eva
sion. straddling, no temporizing.
The nrposes of the party were
plnin stated. Some of the pro-
iessi Al politicians and trimmers
mad Fry faces over the tariff plank
but p that plank as ono of the
issue the party went before the
peop and the people endorsed its
posi- 6n by an overwhelming ma
|jorii1
III it was that the Democrats
s4e16 gixeh clear commission By
the people to frame a tariff for reve-
nue. only, to substitute bimetallism
for the Sherman purchase act, and
TO carry out their pledges and their
policy to the fullest extent.
Why, then, from democratic
point of view, should the party nm
dertake to make the tariff an issue
in the approaching campaign2 1t
was an issue in the last campaign,
and if ever the people settled an is
sue by their votes they certainly set
tied that. They endorsed the plat
form, they selected democratic
congress and democratic admins
tration to carry out the reforms
promised, and that was as far as
they could go. But, SO far as the
people are concerned, the tariff is
sue was settled when they placed
the Democratic party in power
with the understanding that the
Mckinley law was to be wiped ont
and . tariff for revenue only sub.
stituted.
In view of all these facts and cir
cumstances the announcement of
the democratic congressional cam
paigp committee that the tariff is to
be the issue in the approaching
campaign is more than interesting.
1t is absolutely startling. 1t is diff
ficult to say whether the campaign
committee regards the people as
vastaggregation of OUNCES, or wheth-
er the announcement isin the ma
ture of q joke.
We can understand very well how
the Republicans might be anxious
to make an issue of the tariff for the
purpose of overthrowing democrat
ic legislation, but it is difficult to
understand how the democrats, in
full control of the government, can
undertake to make the tariff an is
sue in an approaching campaign.
The people settled the issue in 1892,
and it now remains for the demo
Gratis to carry ont their tariff policy
and pledges. What is to prevent
them from doing it2 What is stand
ing in the way2 The Republicans
have no power to defeat tariff re-
form provided the Democrats choose
to redeem their pledges.
1t is impossible to deceive the
people in this matter. There can
be no break down in the democrat
ic policy unless democrats them
selves connive at it. There would
have been no collapse in the demo-
cratic financial policy if Democrats
had not united with the Republi-
cans to defeat that policy. Are we
to havera repetition of that specta-
Gle with respect to the tariff quest
ion2 Let us hope not.
On what ground, then, and with
what hope of success, can the demo-
cratic congressional campaign COM
mittee make the tariff the issue in
the approaching campaign2 The
issue ought to be settled now when
the party has complete control of
all the branches of government. 1t
ought to be settled now SO that the
party could go before the people in
the approaching campaign and say
t, them: "We congratulate you'll
The tariff issue has been settled in
accordance with the promises and
pledges made to you, and in accord
ance with your desire. We have
lightened your burdens of taxation.
We have struck out protection for
protection's sake, and hereafter
your government will be supported
by the revenues derived from Gus
toms duties. We have carried ont
your commands with respect to the
tariff and we confidently ask you to
endorse what we have done"
That is the only way the demo-
Gratis can afford to make the tariff