The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1895-04-20
"MORE IDIOTS YET"

MORE IDIOTS YET"
Charles A. Dana, the talented editor
of the New York Sun, is Democrat
among Democrats: but is not at all in
harmony with the present organiza-
ton. Under the above heading he
pays his compliments to the party in
different states in the following Ian
guage:
SIN the present condition of the
Democratic party. anybody is free to
start a movement for changing that
condition, which is about as bad as it
can be and crying aloud for improve
ment. The opinion among some OF
the Minnesota Democrats seems to be
that the party must be gobbled up by
a new one, and that they have under
taken to furnish. That gifted conca-
tenation known as the State Demo-
cratic Association of Minnesota has
broken out with an idea, and is carpet
ing the country with circulars in sup
port of that idea, and asking further
support for it. The gifted concatena-
ton believes that the Democratic
party on its present basis is played
out. A party devoted, not to say con-
secrated, to out-and-out free trade is
the necessity of the hour in the opinion
of these giants of Gopher thought.
They propose to hold free trade pow
WOW at Chicago in October, and they
have rained invitations upon the just
and the unjust, Democrats, single-tax-
ers and Populists. Tom Johnson, the
free trader and single-tax man, who
doesn't believe in the income tax;
Henry George, Jerry Simpson and
Postmaster-Gene Wilson, who may
be described as Protectionist-Pop
list, are among the great men sum-
moned to appear with speeches in their
pockets next October. We are afraid
that the postmaster-general will re-
gard the invitation as an ill-natured
sarcasm directed at his cleaving to
protection when he was helping man
ufacture the present tariff. In prac-
tice he is about as much of a free
trader as Governor Mckinley is. 1t is
cruel to bother him now that he has
settled down to his new job.
According to dispatch from Min
neapolis, the association will not at
tempt to convert Mr.. German and Mr..
Brice, and it is even possible that
Tammany will be ignored, since the
association is impressed with the idea
that the reform club of New York,
headed by ex-Secretary Fairchild, is
more likely to be in harmony with its
views 1t is all very well to leave out
Mr.. German and Mr.. Brice and Tam
many, for they are not free traders,
and even if they were, it would not do
to admit them to the new party, which
must be kept comfortably small, so as
to convince the better element that
it is in the right place. But can de-
pendence be placed even upon the bet
ter element? Did not the better ele-
ment, including the great and only re-
form club, no others genuine, give tar
If reform the cold shoulder last year
and back up protection tariff? The
gifts of the gifted confederation are
great, but it is taking very large job
when it tries to yank the Democratic
party, which either did not want to or
couldn't hold its leaders to the prom
ised policy of tariff for revenue only,
into free trade. Still, it is easy to
praise the courage, if not the discre-
tion or the memory, of the Minnesota
Democrats that are shouting for free
trade regardless of the sternness and
the force with which the country
showed its belief in Republican pro-
lection in 1894. Perhaps it doesn't
really matter much what sort of econ
omic policy the Democrats declare
their adherence to. Since 1892 Demo-
cratic promises have not been quoted
high. Still, to the POpulist Democrats,
free trade must prove highly attract
i've. Knock down the customs tariff,
and series of rousing direct taxes
would have to make up the deficiency.
The Hon. Roger Quarles Mills, great
prophet in the southwestern country,
was preaching free trade and the in
come tax in Minneapolis four years
ago. Evidently his crying in the des-
ert has been heard.
'sThe Democrats of Illinois, state
still punished by having an anarchist
governor, elected as Democrat, the
chief city. of which has just given a
Republican plurality of 10000, are also
devising means for Democratic reor-
ganization. AT least the Democratic
state central committee is. That body,
whose chairman, Mr.. William 81. Hin
richsen, is devotee of free silver
coinage, and says that ninety per cent.
of the Illinois Democracy is ditto, has
resolved to call a state convention to
meet at Springfield June 4th, and de-
termine the policy of the party on the
currency question. 1t is considered
certain that the convention will de-
clare for free coinage at the rate of 16
to 1; ratio which seems to have the
authority of divine law with its sup
porters. 1t is explained that the Illi-
nois Democrats lack confidence, a lack
which is natural under the circum-
stances, and a convention and good
plump approval of free silver are re-
lied upon to supply the want.
''We infer that the Illinois Demo-
Gratis don't regard themselves as suffi-
GENTLY licked at present, and are anx-
ious for a more thorough basting.
They seem in good way to get it."
ITEr1S IN BRIEF.
From Saturdays Daily.
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