The San Francisco call., 1901-12-04
FOUND AT LAST.

EVER since the collapse OF Organism and
r free silver the Democratic organs and lead
IL ers have been searching for a new is
sue and new man. The search has been
conducted with varying degrees of sagacity and
follv but without avail. The wise men have been
no more successful than the fools. Now at last there
comes from the Hearst papers sudden shout that
an issue has been found No more free silver, no
more Bryan, no anti-government- -by-injunction, no
more CRY Of anti-imperialism The new issue is to be
the whole thing. Let Democracy" said the Exam
iner of yesterday forget its quarrels dead is
sues close its ranks and forward to a victory
all the more welcome for being so long desired"
Strangely enough the new issue has been furnished
by the Supreme Court 1t but little while ago
the Bryanites were denouncing the Supreme Court
as an agency Of plutocratic control and an enemy Of
liberty. The acceptance, therefore, of a Supreme
Court decision illumination and electric
thrill by the Bryanites is really novelty The party
was dying amid its dead issues, but now it is alive
and lol II was the Supreme Court that did the
livening. Here is politics indeed
The explanation of the paradox of Bryanite bel
lowing for the Supreme Court is simple. The court
has decided that until Congress provide otherwise
the Philippines are to have full freedom of trade with
the United States. They can ship to Our markets
their fruit rice hemp sugar and other products with
out paying customs duties The American producer
will have TO compete with that cheap labor and find
no protection. Over that situation the Examiner
glOats 1t says: I'VE have free trade with the Phil
ippnes. All we have to do is to keep it.
Warming with enthusiasm the Bryanite organ urges
Democrats in Congress to resist any attempt tariff
legislation for the Philippines 1t cries big type:
The courts decision has given Democracy the op-
oortunity of its life"
tool Il 1o- -lred The
he Examiner is without predecessor to serve as
model for its uproar over the new issue. About the
lime the Southern Bryanites get fair kick the new
policy, however it will be sent clean out of camp.
The Democrats OF South Carolina, Georgia and Louis
ana are not eager for free trade with countries
where rice sugar, tropc fruits, hemp and other ar
icles OF Southern production be produced
.heaper than the South produce them 1t is true
he Southern Democrats for many year have been
lamorous for free trade, but with them it meant
mainly free trade in manufactured goods 1t no
onger means SO much as that for the South has
begun manufacturing The fate of the Wilson tariff
Dll shows what Southern Democrats think of free
Tade IN these days. They have had the experiment
)nce, and they are not going to try il again in a
iurry.
In addition to the Southern vote there is the labor
ote to be taken into consideration. How will the
vorkingmen- OF California enthuse in support of a
programme that will expose them to the competi-
ion of the cheap and pauperized labor of the Philip
ines? With what success will the Bryanites attempt
rally the workingnen in support of platform
alling for free trade and cheap labor?
The Hearst paper may for time cackle and crow
the issue, but by and by it will cease to be
novelty, and then there will be another call to the
arty leave dead issues and go forward to some
hing new The Supreme Court decision seems to
ave galvanized Democracy into sudden spasm. but
cannot save the donkey.