The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-15
GA REPUBLICAN DEMAND"

 ian has this dig at Democrats:
 Why didn't the demand for tariff re- form make more Democratic votes? The reason is that tariff reform Is not Democratic but a Republican demand. You can find in Democratic newspapers and Democratic speeches plenty of hos tiIity to protection, just as you can find hostility to everything Republican. But 1t Is in Republican papers and in the mouths of Republican members of Con- gress only that is to be found an inteli- gent discussion of the need for tariff re- auctions on trust-controlled products of protected corporations. Where is the stronghold of tariff revision? In the Middle West. in the Republican news papers of Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Milwaukee. Who is It's recognized cham pion in Congress? RepSt sentative B b. cock. chairman of the National Republi- can Congressional Committee. Reciproc- ity is similarly circumstanced. Not from Democrats. but from Republicans, come it's promotion and advocacy The Demo- crats are finding fault enough, the Re- publicans propose to do something
 This is rather severe, bat can any Dem ocrat declare that 1t is altogether or very materially unjust or undeserved? Has the Democratic Party ceased to be the cham pion of low tariff and the enemy of op- pressive revenue laws? If it has. why Is lit? If it has not, what evidence has 1t given in late years that it is still the Party of the people? All who know any thing of political affairs know that "a tariff for revenue only was the dominant ssue in the campaigns when the Demo- crats fought for principle and elected Presidents.
 Now we are tauntingly told by one of the most influential papers in the great Northwest that ''tariff reform is not a Democratic but a Republican measure" | and we are powerless to refute the charge! It is a humiliating confession, but 1t sticks, and there is the shame and the hurt of 1t. Democracy was once the synonym of low tariff, moderate revenue laws and just and equitable taxation. Then it could appeal to the people of the United States with confidence in the jus tice of it's position and reliance on the fairness and intelligence of Democrats. No man then could taunt the Party with having deserted it's principles and turned it's backs on it's friends.
 But in an evil hour there arose a new prophet the apostle of dangerous here sy, whose earnest manner and skill as a word monger drew the Party away from
 the firm ground upon which it coult march to success and led it through un safe and devious ways to defeat
 If it has ceased to be the exponent of genuine Democracy, it can thank those who blinded it to the truth and its owr credulity in following an unsafe leader.
 Now it is lamentably true that the talk of tariff reform comes mainly from the Republican side of the house. Democrats in various portions of the country have something to say on the subject. but we know of no Democratic leader who pro- poses to make it an issue in Congress. The initiative must come from our polti- cal enemies, and Democrats must set back and see the fight made by those who are new converts to the doctrine of tariff reform, and who will get all the credit for a movement which should have been a paramount duty to Democrats. They can if they choose, assist the reformers with their votes, and when the victory Is won. they can quietly remain in the shadow and hear the Republicans com placentiy boast that we did 1t" with the applause of q relieved people. It is 2 humiliating position for Democrats. They must arouse themselves and get back tc their correct position.