The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-10
ENDANGERING THE
PROSPECTS OF A REPEAL OF
THE PROPOSED TARIFF.

The threat and certainty Of tariff Of
prohibitory provisions does not seem TO
heal the old wounds between the two
wings Of the democratic party. The gold
democrats of Iowa have had represent
tatiye conference at Des Mones and
called a convention of gold democrats to
meet on July Z. This was done upon the
assumption of Il foregone conclusion that
the silver democrats Of Iowa would nom
mate state ticket and reaffirm in the
platform the Chicago platform Of the
last national convention.
The gold democrats determined on that
account to put gold ticket in the field.
Mr. w. w. Wilmer. one of the leaders
of the latter party, declared at the con
ference that the sound money peoDlc OF
Iowa team not bow down and yield all
the principles that we hold so dear Tor
the sake of old friendship nor for the
sake of victory" Col. Martin, another
gold democrat, said: ~ do not propose
TO stand long at the door Of the temple
beatng my breast TO get into an organ
ization ! do not want TO belong to-
We had hoped in view Of the duty in
cumbent on the democratic party by rca-
son Of the probable enactment OF the
most oppressive and obnoxious tarlll
laws by the present extra session oi con-
gress, that the democrats OF the reSpec-
tive statcs would at least unite for the
campaign of 1898 to win congressional
victory by which the present republican
representatives in congress would be
relieved and put in their places demo-
Gratis who would repeal such an oppres-
svc tariff, and if they could not further
agree, divide again in the presidential
canvass Of 1900 on the financial ques-
ton.
If the democratic party is true to its
traditions il, will first use all of its COM
bincd force in 1893 to elect democrats
to congress who are antagOnistic to the
proposed tariff. II will be difficult to
find any reasons TO keep the democracy
apart in 1885, when the tariff alone
should be the issue Even if the free
silver democrats are determined to make
free silver an issue in 1900, the agitation
of the subject would do them no good in
the next congressional elections, when
duty according to the traditions of the
party demands that they so align them
selves upon the well-settled principle of
u tariff for revenue only to defeat the
principle of protection becoming perma-
ncnt But we suppose that the politl-
clans who expect to ride the free silver
wave into official place and power are
afraid to permit the party to agree upon
an armistice in order to relieve the peO-
pie from the burden of taxation that
will be put upon them by the present
congress. Patriotic democrats will re-
greet the agitation of any question that
will still keep democrats apart and in
definitely postpone the repeal of the
tariff that will be adopted by the pres
ent congress. 1t is pity that the great
masses of the people will be compelled
indefinitely to bear the burdens of the
proposed tariff in order that the aspira-
tons of professional politicians may not
be endangered, when if the two wings
of the party would hold in allegiance their
differences on the money question long
enough to relieve the people of these
burdens, it would be accomplished in
1898.