New-York tribune., 1909-12-05
Az ENSOUND PARALLEL.


Henry watterson has been counselling
his fellow Democrats 10 talk less and
ruminate more. His idea is that the
Democrats in Congress should hide
themselves in bomb-proof and from
its safe shelter watch the Republicans
fight out any differences which they may
have on the tariff. the House rules or
any other question arraying the "organi-
zation" against the insurgents" Mr..
watterson holds that the Democratic
party is I'm no condition, 10 help itself
and can only profit from Republican
blunders and dlssensions. He is con-
tinually comparing the state Of the Re-
publican party of to-day with that OF
the Democratic party before the war.
The ante-belium Democracy's hold on
the government he says, was only bro
ken because il split on the slavery ques-
tion. To complete the parallel, Of course,
the Republican party must now oblige
its enemies by bisecting itself on the
tariff issue.
The WattersOn programme may at
tract many Democrats because IL prom
ises 4 surcease from rather prOfitless ac-
tivity. Its lazy mans logic will appeal TO
those who feel that they have been Ia
boring long and making no headway.
Yet IL has the serious defect that the
parallel may not work out and the eN-
pectancy of success through inaction
NAV not he realized. His natural opti-
mism leads Colonel Watterson to exag-
gerate the strength Of the forces work
ing for discOrd i'm the Republican party
and 10 overestimate the capacity of the
Democratic party 10 discipline itself 10
silence and 10 encourage others 10 quar-
rel without mixing In the quarrel with
more impetuosity than discretion. The
editor of The Louisville Courier-Jour-
nal" stakes his hope of Democratic de-
liverance on diSSensions likely TO he ere
ated among Republicans 10y the tariff
issue But the Democratic party is far
more divided on that question to-day
than the Republican party is, and its
members are more ready 10 quarrel
among themselves than To unite tO make
capital out of possible Republican divis-
ions. The Republican party is I'm sub
stantial agreement on the tariff problem.
I
the national platform Of 1908. The Re
publican Representatives and Senators
who voted against the Payne law are
just as emphatic in upholding the prin-
ciple Of the platform as are the Repub-
lican Representatives and Senators who
voted for the Payne law. The TWO groups
differed only as TO the facts in the case.
there being no satisfactory evidence to
guide Congress in applying the declara-
ton that the duty on an imported article
should measure the differential in cost
Of production here and abroad and allow
q reasonable margin OF profit TO the do
nestle producer. As soon as the differ
ential can be accurately determined the
Republican party is prepared 10 carry
cut with completeness and unanimity
its original promise 10 the voters.
But where does the Democratic party
stand: Half its Senators and a large
proportion OF its Representatives in Con-
creSs have repudiated the tariff declara-
tion Of the last Democratic national plat
form as mistaken I'm principle. Mr..
Bailey and his followers say that Mr..
Bryan's free raw materials policy is
un-Democratic and Mr.. Bryan and his
followers retort that the Baileyites are
quasi-prOtectiOnists and therefore Re
puhlicans. The breach has become COM
plete. Mr.. Bryan and The Houston
Post have recently been engaged i'm
lively controversy over the Democratic
larty's tariff policy. and have reached
Numerically opposite conclusions. Here
Is The Posts:
Texas is not going to apologize TO the
Democracy of any other state. No con-
glomerate mess OF Democratic Populist
fuSionists ever wrote Texas Demo
Clatic platform. and II is our belief
founded upon experience I'm Texas far
antedating Mr.. Bryan'S political activity
that the Texas Democracy will stand by
its colors but will never stand for a boss
with a bullwhip.
Here is Mr.. Bryan's:
The Post may be ashamed Of its Re
Tublican company. IL is on Republican
grounds and must become accustomed 10
its Republican environment, for il will
have no other kind Of company when the
issue Is properly understood.
Colonel Watterson ought TO find some
way 10 induce these gladiators 90 give
up talking and take 10 Illuminating. While
they talk his parallel spOiis. They de-
plOnstrate that what he says the tariff
issue may do To dissolve the Republican
party il has already done TO set brothers