New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-21
THE LEAGUE CONVENTION.

The Republican League was not organized to
delight Democrats. and has not given them any
pleasure 1t has not chosen to fritter away It's
strength in useless wrangling about the silver
question. though great hopes Of row in the
Cleveland Convention had assuaged the sorrows
of the beaten Democracy. Neither has 1t con-
scented TO help Free Traders Danish from public
thought the question to which they owe the
worst defeat for generation. Republican
armies are not in the habit of spiking their own
guns.
The sensible men Of all shades Of opinion saw
that any attempt TO modify or define anew the
position of the Republican party by action IN
the League Convention would be worse than
useless The people have legally intruste1 10
Rcpublican Congressman. elected last fall. power
TO act on that and other questions OF National
policy and ii would be n poor compliment to
them. MS well as particularly useless thing. TO
issue 70 them instructions differing from those
thcir constituents have given. What practical
settlement of monetary problems may be d."
vised even the ablcst members of Congress ar"
not now prepared to predict for II Is sensible ~
well as courteous to hope for useful results from
comparison Of views.
If II had been the function Of the Republican
League 10 declare the principles Of the party n
the clubs composing 1t had been organized for
INV such purpose or had been delegated any
such power. It might have been a duty TO urge
a distinct announcement by the Cleveland Con
vcntion. But the fact that it had no power 10
make an authoritative statemen: of the doc
trtncS and purposes Of the party. and that the
clubs were not formed for any such purpose. bu''
nv the very law 81 their being would be bound
,,,. Ionln az
National Convention next year. made 1t rather
more than inappropriate 10 attempt to fores'aii
the action Of the convention by action Of the
clubs. They have a highly important function
of their own. which would easily De impaired
or sacrificed II the League should attempt 10
dictate either platform or candidates 10 the
party
Wise avoidance Of any such effort Is consistent
" coupled with a vigorous statement or 'h" re-
cent experience which vindicatcs the principles
and purposes Of the party. as already au'hor''
tatively declared by It's convention and the latcss
Republican Congress. Never has there been Il
more conclusive test OF the Protective policy than
the last five years have furnished tariff
which was thoroughly protective. ana was even
regarded as extreme by many who voted Tor II.
was followed by the most wonderful growth ana
| the highest prosperity The country mas ever AZ
tanned. in spite OF all the rctarding influence OF
a vicious monetary situation \ mere decision
to change that tariff in the direction Of Free
Trade brought the worst disaster the country has
seen for fifty years. The Free Traders them
selves, when confronted with the necessities OF
home industry did not dare TO make tenth Of
the changes they had proposed. The mere de-
cision Of tho people deprlyins them OF power
TO do more mischief and assuring Republican
| Protection in the future has brought marked
Improvement in business. 1t would be sense
less for any gathering of Republicans to ignore
such evidence Of the soundness OF their prn
ciplcs and Democrats who indulge the hope that
their tariff Of infamy will he suffered to stand
unchanged. when Republicans have the power
to make such laws as they deem wise, may have
before them rude disappointment.