The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-17
PROTECTION AND THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.
Eirn1n the Cincinnnti GnzeIfc.

From the Cincinnati Gazette.
The Democratic journals, particularly the
New York World, propose that Republicans
who advocate reform of the present tariff
shall join the Democratic party. They do not
desire that the Republican party shall reform
the tariff, but rather that the present odious
system shall stand, in the hope that it will
split the Republican party. And it has been
observed that the Democratic members of Con-
gress act upon this policy, and that when
questions of practical tariff reform come up
in such shape as to make them show their
hands, they are found unreliable. number
of times during the tariff debate of the pre-
sent session important ameliorations of the
present proscriptive system might have been
carried if Democratic members had sup
ported them.
On the other hand Horace Greeley who
may be accepted as the representative Of the
Republican proscriptionists, co-operates with
the Democratic plan of splitting the Repub-
lican party on the tariff, by declaring that
their scale of q tariff is IAN impost of 300
ton on pig iron, with like duties on every
thing made of iron" and the application of q
like scale of duties ito wool and woollens,
plain and printed cottons, linens, etc, etc. 4"
in short, absolute prohibition. And that he
is willing to concede something to harmonic
the party, but he says 1.-The tariff, as it is,
makes enormous concessions from our mark,
which we assent to for quiet's sake"
He therefore lays down terms to tariff re-
form Republicans, which in substance are
these:-Protection means prohibition. But
he will compromise on lower scale of duties
than 800 a ton, provided it be practically
prohibitory on the articles of the favored
interests. Therefore he will accept the pre-
sent tariff as an ultimatum. If there are Re-
publicans who will not accept these terms,
then they may leave the party. If this party
reconstruction shall take place, then he de-
clares for a revision of the tariff on the scale
of 800 . ton for pig iron. All this was laid
down in an article in the Tribune few days
ago, in the insolent and abusive style which
Mr. Greeley deems proper to apply to all who
differ with his prescription lunacies.
We do not pretend to say that the Tribune
and the World plotted this concerted policy
for splitting the Republican party. 1t shows
a striking coincidence, and Mr.. Greeley has
been reported as in very suspicious Demo-
cratic company lately. AT any rate, the 1ri-
bune is playing the game laid down by the
| World for dividing the Republican party,
and with most Incorporate zeal, by refusing
to know any such thing as tariff reform; by
| declaring that all who are not for prohibitory
| duties are free traders, and their professions
of tariff reform a lie; by heaping upon them
its stock charges and epithets about British
| BOlO dud Drltlbu luISrcstS, allu Dy pTOclhlmlOg
its prohibitory ultimatum for the existence OF
the party.
But this joint game for splitting the Re-
publican party will not win. The sincere
tariff reformers are not going to wait for SC
| ronoto prospact as the ascendancy of the
Democratic party. Nor have they any GER
tainty what the tariff policy of the Demo
cratic party would be. The organs cannot
now define it. 1t is not long since the World
apparently becoming alarmed at the strength
of the tariff reform movement in the Repub
lican party, changed its note and advised its
party to accept no compromise on tariff re
form, but to demand absolute free trade.
The present tariff has grown up on variou.
frauds, pretenses, and grabs during the war
When enacted the EXTREMIST protectionists
avowed that only the war and the heavy in
ternal excise justified it. Now the excise il
abolished, and there is a surplus revenue o.
/ $4,000, 900. 1t can not stand, and it grow,
weaker every day. Another Congressiona
election will bring in the moral and materia
forces that will reform the tariff upon a sys
tenn which will make revenue and not prohi
bition the object, while wise discrimination
will give sufficient advantage to home manu-
factures without creating monopolies. L
the prohibitionists are content with this, they
will have an opportunity of joining thosl
whom they are now serving by their efforts
to split the Republican party.
GOVERNOR HOFFMAN AND THI
ARCADE RAILROAD.