The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-13
VERY POOR DEMOCRACY.

The Atlanta Constitution was at che
tire one Q: the foremost Democratic pa
pers in the country. bur when. for poiiti-
cal purposes. s. abandoned its standard
It's lost It's influence. II Is like an eie-
plant gambling. or a weakly, good
natursd nan being romped with BY boys
and pretending 10 like IL. Us tone is
artificial. because IL does not believe
what 1t says with that profound convic-
ticn which inspires confidence on the pert
OF others. A Populist paper has a ser
tairty Of note about il which cannot be
mistaken. Il may not be very hlgl
toned, but II has thai about IL which
inspires the belief tina. the man who
blows it IS blowing for All he knows"
Not so the Constitution Its best co-net
notes are those OF beginner who wants
20 make up in determination what he
lac n knowledge.
In the days when Democratic doctrine
vas based Upon sound theories. though
they might not always ere expedient In
practice. the Constitution was valiant
and logical. States rights may not be
now acceptable. but they were defensihie
upon certain line of reasoning. So TOO.
vas the attitude OF the Southern Democ-
racy. The South benefited nothing by
New England manufacture. The South
sold It's cotton TO Europe and wanted TO
buy its goods there because they were
cheaper. and ii cared nothing for North
ern interests.
Things are differen. now. The South
not only wants the trade Of the North.
but il is setting up manufactures of It's
own. Il wants protection for its devel-
op4ng industries. and desires 10 shaks eff
its old heresies and participate in the
benefits of protection. The Republicans
do net blame the South. on the contrary.
they are pleased 10 see reawakening Of
the South to the necessities of the hour;
they welcome a renewal of that common
interest which makes a national policy
possible. The Republican party. Itself
one OF progressive change and adapta-
biiity. halls with welcome the CONNER
cial growth of the South. II desires TO
take Southern cotton and. in return, TO
give Northern products, to take Western
wool and give in exchange the outcome
Of New England mills. The South needs
no apology for its change of heart,
The Constitution cannot take this frank
view OF the situation, because that would
be TO admit that the Republicans were
right. 1t therefore condemns the policy OF
the Republican party. but defends the
shnru Fnr haxr h.
South participate in its benefits. II says
that the Democratic senators are as much
opposed to protection as ever bun that If
there is 10 be any they want some. This
is perfectly safe position, because II was
inevitable that a Republican congress
would protect those industries which were
seen 20 need II If American labor is to be
employed.
II may have been observed that the Re-
publicans cheerfully voted for such
tariff on products. raw or manufactured
as the South showed ii would derive adj
vantage from. They only twittrl Demo-
Gratis with being inconsistent when they
refused 10 support a tariff on articles
which did not come into competition with
Southern products.
The Constitution evades this phase of
the situation, and adopts the PopuIistic
vernacuiar. denouncing trusts and monop-
olies and declares tina; the tariff is only in
the interest Of gigantic greed. If that is
so, the Constitution should rejoice TO see
the bill pass, because nothing will DO
held by that paper and It's Populistic
brethren than demonstration Of the fact
that the tariff has not brought a greater
degree of prosperity.