The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-18
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
4 WESTERN DEMOCRATIC EDITOR
SPEAES.

wv INV NVNNa
try-Not Hard Times" nor "Uarest,"
uut Csiversni Fear OF Free Trade - the
Cause Of the Democratic Disaster.
To the Enron or the sUS-Sir: Nothing
In connection with the recent crushing Demo-
cratic disaster, which Is without a parallel in
the history Of the republic, Is a. discourseins to
many earnest Democrvts as the utter failure,
apparently, Of the Democratic leaders over the
country to comprehend the political situation.
When a patient is sick, the first effort on the
part OF the skilful physician is TO ascertain the
cause and nature OF the malady. The patient,
Lee, the Democratic party. Ia now sick nigh unto
death; yet Of all the learned doctors that gather
around the sick bed IL would seem as though
only quack nostrums were offered. Has blind
ness, or something worse. fallen upon the sorely
stricken Democratic partv2
1t is possible that such astute Democratic
leaders as Arthur 7. German, Calvin s. Brice,
and David b. Hill do not comprehend the mala-
dy that lie eating the very vitals out of the DEM
ocrstic partyH II they do not, then, indeed, IL
the Democratic party bereft of all hope. In
that event, the disaster last Tuesday is not a
temporary defeat II IL the destruction of the
Democratic party.
We have heard Of individuals dying Of fright,
without the loss of q drop Of blood. What dis
passionate student of politics can fail to see that
the Democratic party. under tho hideous night
mare of Clevelandism. is dying OF the over
shsdowinR fear in the public mind Of " free
trade" Why cannot the scales fail from the
eyes Of the blinded Democratic leaders, who are
abjectly following the counsels OF an unwise
Administration and they be permitted to see
The rocks upon which the Democratic ship has
been dashed by the Cleveland Administration
Who that Is familiar with history does not
know that up to 1884 the Democratic party for
upward OF half a century had stood without
change or wavering upon the platform of Tar
IN for revenue. with incidental protection"
The fathers of Observation-Disclosures, Monroe,
and Jackson-were all protectionists. The DEM
ocratic party in the earlier days Of the republic
was the distinctive advocate OF protection.
Grover Cleveland, who Is directly responsible
for all the later Ills of Democracy, wrought the
change in the destiny Of the Democr attic party.
Following his Inauguration as President in
1854. he was captured by the free traders. lie
became violently imbued with their thco-
ries. His flaming message to Congress. subordi-
mating everything to free trade, followed.
He began n warfare upon the prominent pro-
lection leaders in the Democratic party. Samuel
j. Randall, before that the acknowledge Demo-
cratic leader, and the g~randcst man that ever
sat In Congress. was stricken down as. with n
edict from the White House, while every vestige
of opposition TO the free trade policy was rooted
p pst OF sns D cSupI aceomppi hstyii il, 81 te l1T pu as FsdeFAi
IL was the fortune OF the writer to spend an
hour, with tho Great Commoner,'' Samuel J.
eastern Pennsylvania. The distinguished states
man was then slowly dying Of an incurable dis
retained all his old-time interest in national af-
fairs. He talked slowly and with difficulty. but
terances of the dying statesman were at the
time published in a letter in The Sun. One SOL
Said he: Il fear for the future Of the Demo
cratic party with Grover Cleveland. His free
t tns policy, Il persisted in will utterly wreck
From tho time Of the appearance of the IA
can Be said that The shadow Of free trade has
the Beginning Of The tariff agitation in the T pres
ness. over the Democratic party. The tariff
plank of the Chicago platform was construed by
the Cleveland Democrats in and out of Congress
asa declaration IN favor Of free trade.
The tremendous Democratic defeat last Tues
against the Wilson law, which was in no sense
a carrying out of the Chicago platform. as 1t
the Democratic party. 1t is not n punishment
or the Democratic party by the people for pro-
], is rather a swift and terrible condemnation OF
the CLEVELAND element In the Democratic party
that Is determined to commit the party to the
Everything. in connection with the recent
tarin LEGISLATION In Congress has been a costly
biunder from the Democratic stand point. II
was, patent TO the, public that there was. no
shadow of principle in the Wilson Tariff bill.
II was from first TO last n hodge podge." n
bundle of compromises and inconsistencies that
excited contempt rather than admiration. even
with tariff r%eformers. The browning blunder.
however: was the Incorporation OF the Populist
hobby of an income tax in the Wilson law.
Then, TO crown the shame OF this British
rather than American measure. its author and
chief sponsor at all stages. Congressman Wilson
free trader. Immediately after it's passage, dis
played no more sense than TO rush over to Eng
and free traders Of Great Britain and to receive
their CONGRATULATIONS upon the severe blow dealt
oh. for a return OF the betrayed and wander
iSE Democratic party; lsshing itself vainly 10
OF American, industries and American labor.
oh, for a leader as able. as brave, and as saga
and he a Moses TO lead the cruelty betrayed
Democratic party out Of the political wilderness!
that until there is a change OF front on the
tariff issue the Democratic party is hopelessly
itself OF the free trade element. Il must re-
nonhce Clevelandkm, the heresy Of free trade,
does this we believe IL can say a long good-6y 10
No party standing upon an open ana
sHOS si,b free e, trade S. Pla 5 , !, e sPPsrsHs e. can
ans, Western state east Of the Mississippi River.
Of West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama,
North Carolina, well nigh one-half OF the
Ever in Kansas. misfortune has followed the
passage OF the Wilson bill, A blight has fallen
Son In this State. foreign salt being now shipped
rs ballast in vessels to Galveston and brought
by rail from that port and sold in Kansas at a
price than the cost of producing IL ready for
the market. In this State. The great West is
further to-day than ever from accepting tho
pernicious dogma OF free trade.
The cloud hangs dark over the future OF the
party. The masses Of Democrats
over the country must look 10 influential daily
papers like THE SUN, that are independent of
Administration influences, TO be fearless senti-
nels upon the watch towers OF Democracy, and
evangelists 10 preach the regeneration OF the
fAllsn and abased Democratic party,
WILLIAM T.. ToMLISsoS,
Editor Topeka DulU Democrat.
TOPEKA. Kan, Nov. IL.