The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-01-25
BOLD DEMOCRATS.

Their Position Lssson- ~ the Last Alec
tlon.
Signs 10 not point 20 &c station of
the tariff discussion. II j. far more
likely that the two great parties VIII.
in 1895. be- divided. as never before. On
this question. \ few days ago the New
England Tariff Reform league declared
against tariff protection ~ all kinds
TN ncccm Der - the executive commit
tee 81 the Minnesota Democratic asSo-
citation. in an address 10 the democrats
Of the state. giving it. views A. TO the
causes ~ the defeat Of the party az tine
last election. came out openly and
boldly for free trade and direct taxa
ton II l. unlikely that the national
democratic piatform 81 1870 will aSsent
e. such radical declarations, but il VIII
harm no one "a understand the argu-
meuis 81 these daredevil Minnesota
democrats Here i the address:
"A magnificent victory has been
turned into an astounding defeat. A
grand opportunity has been worse than
fritterci away. \ great party sits to-day
in humiliation because its representa-
tives refused obedience 10 its COM
mand> When We measure perform
ance BY promise. we Of the great rank
and file. the hell less victims of timili-
". cowariice aci trcachery of a hand
ful unfortunately placed where they
could manipulate the helm. must admit
the justice of the punishment. rough
and indi>criminatcly applied as it was
We promised and our leaders would
not perform. and the people cast us out
1t j. well 10 accept facts. because
they teach. and il is useless 10 indulge
in recrimination> which teach nothing.
1t j. only useful TO trace effects back
L. causes. il We would use the knowl-
edge gained for further efforts We
face the future. not the past. Demo
cratic principles are not destroyed.
The great mass 81 the party Is more
loyal 10 them than ever The nation
never saw the day when there was
greater need II the asccnlancy in gov
eminent OF democratic policies based
on democratic principles.
Amid the causes ~ defeat three
stand ont prominently:
The panic
The failure 70 redeem promises sol
.mnly made.
--BO>sl>m.
.-For the first we are without fault
DR. responsibility Il was the child of
republieanism laid on our Goorsieps
and its paternity malic.ousiy charged
On nS That mas passed The other
two cause. remain IL democracy l. 20
regain it, lost station il must address
itself 10 the task * RI moving the cause
for which il i responsible. Il must be
honestly democratic. and being % will
remove both.
why was the pledge made at Chica-
70 not redeefnci9 What was the
pledgcsa To eliminate protection
from our tariff system and lay tn xcs
for revenue only We attacked pro
lection and won bv convincing the
majority ~ it, wronyfulne>s. We did
not win because we had presented and
explained ad defended our policy OF a
revenue tariff we had no precise policy
IL offer; we simply attacked the other
position. We could offer none. becaus,
a revenue ta.iif is incapable Of precise
Limitation. Concepts OF itare as variou.
a. the men who form them IL il q
sague. misty. meaningless expression
That j. why the pledge could not be re
deemed We were a party of agrees
5ive opposition without an aggressive,
definite policy
When congress met 10 reform the
tariff there was no unanimlty Of pur
pose or action tariff for revenue
covered the ideas Of men a. far apart
a. our own Free Trade Hall and Collars
and-Cuffs fIaines Of New York Thi
was inevitable. \ revenue tariff is
protective one as far as IL goes Th'
virus Of protection turks in the system
and is ineradicable. The result Of al
this diversity was The haggling Of com
promise the mo al mushineSs Of con
~sption The outcome was protec
live tariff act enacted by a part
pledged to destroy protection. ]
burned our candle at both ends |
drove away the protectionist> in gu
oarty and the free trade republican
.ve have converted. and il attracted n
me
what lessons does this teach us2 !
I not the danger of an indefinit
s.clicy. one inca pablc Of precise defini
ion: the absolute need Of adopting on
!, hat Is both precise and democratic
.vc cannot again win by merely oppo-
mr. projection. That i dead. Rcpul
licans will not da.e make its resurrec
.ion an issue. We have got To present
policy os our own. one we can argu
and explain and defend as democrati
and right. a revenue tariff is ne
THESE or either Of them. II is nc
democratic To IA. men on what the
4 consume and except all other forms Z
property. There j. but one thing I
y 10 We must declare openly and bolc
4 IL for free trade under which no in
e port will be taxed except it. like
> taxed for internal revenue. We mus
: accept frankly the resultant Of dircs
n tax levied a. provided in the constit'
: tion If the United states sufficient
. compensate for the tax removed.
4 we must take up the work OF ed'
n cation again We taught the pcop
= That protection j. wrong. We mus
teach them tina. free trade is RICH
: Il, will bc the easier task 1t will !
: an appeal 20 the conscience Of the a;
@inn ~ ree.sr.afya "A rirht - Inherent