The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-15
"A TARIFF FOB REVENUE ONLY


form upon which the candidate is to
stand. A discussion of candidates before
principles puts the cart before the horse.
There is an element in the Democratic
party to-day that believes the opportunity
for Democratic success in 1904 lies in
counting the support of men having spe-
cial interests TO subserve. Some of them
believe and others affect to believe that
the leaders on Wall street are opposed to
the reelection OF Mr.. Roosevelt 'if the
right man" is named by the Democrats.
Therefore they are arguing that the Demo
cratic platform ought to be written with
a view OF getting such support and q
candidate named who is satisfactory to
the Wall street interests. II the Demo
cratic party sacrifices its devotion to
popular rights and equal laws to cater to
these special interests. it will lose its
character and at the same time walk
through a slaughter house to an open
grave
There is no need in America for an
echo of the Republican party. The Demo-
cratic party cannot win the support of q
majority of the voters by becoming only
a modified form of Republicanism, prom
Using to give a SO per cent. instead of a
81 per cent. tariff reduction and standing
in" with the Wall street spectators and
trust manipulators. The friendship of
those interests would be fatal to the De-
mocracy 1t is no doubt true that Mfr.
Morgan and his associates resent Mr.
Roosevelt's attitude with reference to the
Northern Securities Company. Some of
them charge all the recent Slump to the
Presidents attitude upon that monopoli-
cation of railroads. and would like to
punish him. If the Democrats will adopt
a straddle platform on the tariff and
trusts and name candidate who is cheek
by fowl with the trusts-if it will thus
sell its birth right for a promise Of a
mess of pottage-no doubt it will get a
big campaign fund and the quiet assist
ance of some men who are accustomed to
vote with the Republicans. But for every
vote it would gain by such party per-
fdy and party dishonor,' it would lose
score of honest business men who see
in the trusts and in the present high tariff
"a menace to business independence and
a tribute upon industry for the enrich
ment of the men who absorb the favors
of protection.
The duty of the Democracy is as plain
as pike-staf. II its leaders will take
down the Tilden platform of 1876 and copy
word for word its declarations on the
tariff and reform in the administration of
government, with such additions and
will have a platform upon which every
true Democrat can stand. That platform
demanded in clear-cut words "a tariff for
revenue only" without any "ifs," "ors,"
lands" or Outs The 1904 declaration
on the tariff should be in the same words
there being only added the proof that
the bulk of the trusts have been built up
by the socialism known as protection. Such
a declaration will rally to the party the
hosts of successful business men who alb
hor socialism, whether under the guise
of Protection" or General Distribution"
1t will challenge the admiration of the
scholars and thinkers of America who by
truth of the Democratic doctrine.
The spirit of compromise now abroad
Gus danger to Democratic success. The
Democrat who stands for "a tariff for
revenue with incidental protection sur
renders the whole Democratic doctrine
upon tariff taxation. because then instead
of discussing the question as one OF prln-
ciple he must discuss it as one of per cent,
and juggle to see which section and in,
terest can grab the most incidental pro-
lection.
No, gentlemen of the Democratic party
there is no safety in looking for success
to the gamblers OF Wall street, who would
have the Democratic party to become
mere echo of Republican special privilege
There is no hope. no honor, no credit in
abandoning the strong Democratic position
on the tariff in the hope of getting the
votes of men who want special privilege
Such men know that by conviction and
profit the Republican party belongs to
them. They will encourage the Democrats
to straddle. Then they will put up the
money to expose the Democratic incon-
sistency and laugh when betrayed De
mocracy is defeated and left without
character or victory.
Democratic honor lies along the lines
laid down by Samuel J. Tilden and the
wise men who trained under his leader
ship. Let the tariff plank read "a tariff
for revenue only" and let a man be named
who fits the platform