New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-28
TRYING TO DODGE.

What Is there surprising In the attempted
abandonment Of The tariff issue by Democrats!
Was It not clearly disclosed by the concerted
efforts Of Democratic leaders, big and little,
gold and silver. TO force upon the country the
currency question in some form? blind man
in the dark would have detected the purpose
when the leaders went TO war with each other.
rs noisi| and obtrusively as possible, about the
one matter on which their party was divided
Each side saw that the tariff question meant
ruin to their party. and hoped that an agitation
for free silver or else an agitation against free
silver would serve to divert the public mind.
Messrs cveland and Carlisle on one side and
Harris Jones and others on the other rushed
into The fray dsagrceng vociferously about
mcncy bn perfectly agreeing in their conviction
thai the tariff must somehow be shclycd.
Yet The NewYork Sun manlfests surprise
AT the declaration Of Chairman Iiarrity. who
managed the tariff reform campaign for Presi-
dent Cleveland il 1892, but who now says: Il
think the Democratic party as whole will not
care to have any tariff agitation as a prom
"lnent issue ! do not think that the National
convention will call for any more tariff re-
"vison. The Democracy. rs II now looks. Will
stand on the let-wclcnough-ao theory"
Chairman Harriy evidently understands Mr..
Cleveland and with him has learned from tho
results of elections that the only chance of sue
cess the Democratic party has is TO evade the
tariff In some way Perhaps in so doing the
party will defeat itself by splitting on some
other question. That is risk which must DE
taken. and AT the worst can only end In the
destroying defeat which another tarin campaign
would involve. In place Of certain des'rncuoh'
desperate men welcome any chance however
unpromslng,
But "rhc Sun" quotes President Clcvclands
stolwort declarations Of 1902 and 1904. that no
success short Of complete accomplishment can
tempt the party to neglect the tarin cause
Inn, the Marty will not turn It's back upon The
"n,ople's cause 10 wander after false and I'M
STEADY lights In the wilderness OF doub' anu
danger" and that he refuses TO accept INC
bin passed in 1894 c'ause "the deadly blight
"of treason has blasted the counsels OF the brave
"in their hour Of might" All these loud-volced
assertions. even the last In his letter to Mr..
Catchings after the present tariff had been
passed. were prior 10 the tremendous defeat OF
the Democrats IN November 1894 Does any
body suppose Mr. Cleveland so fat-wtted that
he learned nothing from that phenomenal over
throw? Instead. he saw that some other issue
must be forced TO the front, and in his next mes
sage in December pushed the tariff to the rear
as far as he could. and began fierce fight about
State banks, bonds and currency.
The people make issues, and Chairman Har-
rity does not nor President Cleveland. nor Secre-
tary Carlisle. If the people find, by practical
experience under the botchcd protection which
the Democratic party has been forced to give,
that they cannot earn as much nor do as well
as they did under Il thorough and genuine pro-
teciivc tariff, it IS certain that they will
make the tariff an issue whether Democratic
leaders try 10 dodge II or not. In fact, the pco-
pie are thinking and caring more about that
question to-day than about any other that can
be named, because they are aware that 1t stands
in the way of complete restoration OF the pros
perity they enjoyed in 1892. The 'lc-wcl!-
cnough-alonc' policy of Chairman Hariy can
be applied with some safety to the money ques-
ton, lor no real danger threatens there. But the
people know whcthc- their wages are as high
or their business as profitable as before the
Democratic victory three years ago, and they
are quite likely TO have something TO say about
1t whenever they vote again.