New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-12


the shired agents OF the great monopoiies''
A little shame would seem to be in order just
now. That is not much of q monopoly whicn
deliberately proposes to divest itseil Vi It's
advantages in part in order that thoso "u'a"-
tages may not become harmful through 'oo
general an appropriation OF them. As every
body could go into any branch OF pro,ec''u
manufacture who pleased, and the tehaehcy
of excessive duties in any branch is 10 ara"
too many persons into that branch, the Com-
mission urges removal of such duties. Du.
if Mr.. HAYES, the recognized representative OF
woollen manufacturers, and Mr.. Oliver,
recognized representative OF iron man
ufocturers. and Mr.. Garland, recog-
nized representative of woo-growers, ana
Mr.. Kenner, on behalf of sugar producers
recommend reductions of duties on wooliens'
iron, wool and sugar, there is not much evil
dence here of "grasping monopolies,' ana
there Is reason to believe that the great inter-
ests which they represent will favor the course
that they have proposed. 1t seemed to them
calculated to benefit their industries; probably
il will seem so to others of similar interests
On the other hand, the Free Traders distinct
" do not represent the people who have de-
reason they are so Discontinued. They had
hoped to weld together into one compact BODY
all the people who are dissatisfied WIN any
feature of the tariff, and to use all this force to
bring about the overthrow OF the protective
system. But nine-tenths of those who have
desired change have objected, not to the sys-
fem or general aims of the tariff, but to this or
that feature which was thought to be oppres-'
sive. TO defects of administration and errors Oh
detail. After preaching for years about these
very details, as if they were OF vast consequence,
and getting many people to listen, the Free
Traders Suddenly find the leading Protectlonlsts
themselves proposing to sweep away the errors
and excrescences that have reused Objection
II occurs TO the Free Traders at once that a
great part of the force upon which they had
relied for a general overthrow will be satisfied
with the changes proposed They are I'M
doubtedly right. More than half of the voting
force ON the side of those who ask for tariff
REFORM will vanish when such reforms as the
Commission proposes have been adopted. This
is particularly the case in IL commercial COM
munity. Its objection has been, not to a tariff,
not even to highly protective tariff, but to the
errors and defects which have caused endless
vexation, perpetual controversy and endless
litigation.
The question is whether the sincere Protec-
tionists, who seek public benefit rather than
private gain, and the conservative and reason
able reformels, who want errors and defects
removed, but not general smash-up OF indus
tries, constitute working majority. AS usual
in the presence of genuine reformatory move
ments, extremes meet. The extremist who
does not care what becomes of the country if
he can only burst up the protective system, and
the other extremist who does not -care what
becomes of the country, or of the tarifl either,
If only he can get thousand per cent duty on
his pewter spoons, will join forces. Men who
want no tariff, and men who think that any
tariff is too low will unite to oppose the Com
mission But these two elements are rather
more noisy than numerous. The hope for the
country, as usual, is in the sober and conserya-
tive common sense Of the average citizen. If
such common sense makes itself heard at
Washington, results will follow of great value
to the country and to its leading industries.