The record-union., 1899-12-24

he forgot to mention the tariff These
incidents show how rapidly, in the re-
cent drift Of events in this country,
the protective tariff, as an issue, has
been left behind. The United States Is
now reaching out for world trade not
merely for home trade, and from this
time on the tariff will cut very little
figure as a political issue, though it
may have some Importance as a BUSH
ness question.
ASKING CONUNDRUMS.
Los Angeles Express: The New York.
World" in an effort to ascertain why the
Democratic party can make no progress
before the country, has been sending
out set of questions to various party
leaders, to which answers are requested
giving their views. These are the Ques-
tons:
why is there not Democratic Gov
ernor in any Northern State?"
Why is there not a Democratic Sem
ator from any Northern State?"
What is the cause OF this 2"
What is the remedy?'
So far apparently but two replies
have been received, one from Senator
Tillman of South Carolina and the
other from Senator Berry of Arkansas.
The first-named gentleman thinks the
efforts of the Democratic party to press
silver as an issue is largely responsible
for present conditions, and the latter
that it is the unfortunate tendency of
the party to fly off on tangent and
take the unpopular side Of the contro-
versy.
Both gentlemen are undoubtedly right
as far as they go, but they don't go far
enough. AS a matter of fact the rea-
son of existing conditions in the Demo-
cratic party is the simple one that by
its ill-advised actions the party has
simply destroyed all confidence on the
part Of thinking people in its integ-
rity and loyalty. The wild silver fallacy
was bad enough, with Bryan going
about the country spouting his fallacies
in season and out, and he was very
properly rebuked at the last election.
But when the party, in the face of that
lesson, deliberately picked up the dis
credited apostle of the white metal. and
further handicapped a beaten man by
attaching to him the idiotic so-called
anti-imperialism issue, it just about
killed the party. For years the Demo-
Gratis have been noted for generally
doing the wrong thing at the right time
and occasionally stumbling upon the
right thing at the wrong time, but in
the present instance they have got mold
of two fallacies at the wrong time. The
country Is in no humor to listen to
free silver and anti-imperialism just
now, and in consequence the Demo-
cratic party by its own acts is dis
credited before the Nation. The DEM
ocratic party has long outlived it's USE
fulness, If indeed it ever had any. It
should retire from business; there ID
no place for it's co-called principles in
the American republic of 1900.
THE ROBERTS CASE.
Visalia Delta: In the name Of commons
decency we hope Roberts, the polyg-
amist, will not be permitted TO rapre-
sent his district in Congress. Forturlate-
ly, opposition to Roberts is not confined
to any one political party. 1t is reason
ably certain that the final vote to deny
him seat will be about the same as
that by which the Tayler resolution
was adopted. There have been sever al
instances in which amnesty has been
another had lived polygamously, but
there is no precedent upon which Mr.
Roberts can base a claim, for he has
openly and persistently defied the laws.
The widespread and outspoken sentI,
ment against seating the Utah repre-
sentative Is an unmistakable evidences
of the respect in which the American
home is held. The ready acquiesence
of a large majority of the House in this
sentiment shows the value Of popular
appeal when the appeal is based ON
right. Mr.. Roberts will wait for con-
elusive action, but SO far as his Con-
gressional prospects are concerned he
might as well take his clothes and go.
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.
Tulare Register: 1t is perfectly right
and perfectly rational for those who
have little money to spare to take
stock in a corporation legitimately or
ganized for The purpose of actually ac-
quiring lands and putting down wells
in search Of oil The outlook would
seem to warrant this being done. but
beware of stock jobbing ventures and
trading in stocks that you know MOTH
ing about. Such exictements as that
now in oil are turned to account by
every sharper in the land, not to de-
velop oil, but to cinch suckers who can
be induced to speculate in oil shares.
Look before you leap.
THAT TOTEM POLE.
Los Angeles Times: If the gentle
men who robbed Alaska of that totem
pole we're compelled to carry the curio
back to Its former position, justice
would doubtless be satisfied, and SO
would the Indians who have been so
riithlessly shorn of a historical exhibit.
There is little. doubt that the present
contention over this purloined totem
pole will put a stop to further offenses
Of like character on the part of visitors
to Alaska
Denmark has no mountains