The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-07-26
THE TARIFF.
TRUST ITS FATE ONLY To ITS REAL
FRIENDS.

1t is the common plea of those
who are directly or indirectly aiding
to bring about Democratic tri.
umph in Pennsylvania, that Dem
ocratic victory in this State cannot
in anv way affect the tariff, as the
/ Democrats are as good Tariff men
as the Republicans, and that Tariff
will be as safe in their hands as in
ours. Even, they say, if a majority
Of the delegation in Congress from
/ Pennsylvania should be Democrats,
their election can in no way imperil
the safety of Protection.
To some this may seem plausible
but when carefully examined. it has
not the merit even of plausibility.
! The difference between the Re
publican and Democratic parties,
stated broadly is this: That while
/ the mass of the Republican party is
for protection. with here and there
an occasional Free Trader. the mass
of the Democratic party is for Free
Trade, with here and there an occa-
sional Protectionist, as in Pennsyl-
vania. New Jersey and New Eng
land. The Republican Congress
man, therefore, who is a protection
ist, has his party behind him to
back him up and sustain him, and
the Republican Congressman who is
a Free Trader, has his party against
him with the effect 10 render him
nearly powerless. The Democratic
Congressman, on the contrary, who
is a protectionist, has his party,
with Its organization, Its caucuses,
its power and its influence allayed
against him, and he is as powerless
in his party for good on the tariff
question, as the Free Trader in the
Republican ranks is for evil. Each
is permitted for party reasons to
differ from his political associates
on that question, but each is without
influence in his isolated condition.
Now, while it is true that Penn
sylvania Democrat in Congress feels
compelled by the force of public
sentiment at home to vote in favor
of Protection, when occasion offers.
1t Is equally true that he is not al
lowed 10 shape, or aid in shaping,
the policy of his party on the tariff,
and all the force he has to WELD or
can WELD, Is MS vote on the final
passage of revenue bills. The only
force he can cooperate with, is that
to be found in the Republican ranks,
and as, IN so cooperating, he loses
political caste in his Cwn ranks, be
Is naturally unwilling to be found
working with Republicans unless
when driven 10 do it by the stern
necessity Of keeping mis- Tariff record
clear
An instance of the total inability
OF Pennsylvania Democrats in Con
gress to maintain effectively their
assumed position as Protectionists,
is furnished by the Forty-fourth
Congress. That Congress, as is well
known, was largely Democratic. In
the Democratic caucus to nominate
a Speaker, there were two candi-
dates, Kerr, Of Indiana, an avowed
Free Trader, and Randall, of Penn
syivania, nominal protectionist.
The Democratic members from
Pennsylvania supported Randall !; /
but they were utterly helpless and /.
were outnumbered in that caucus. I
The free traders rallied around Kerr
and nominated him.
What did the Pennsylvania Dem /
Ocratic members do III that emer- /
gency? They knew as every one |
else knew, that the Speaker would |
appoint ali the committees that /
the committees shape and control |
the legislation of the House that
a Free Trade Speaker would appoint
a free trade Committee of Ways and
Means and to vote for such a man
for Speaker, was to put all the pow
er OF the House into the hands of
the enemies of protection. Yet,
with this fact staring them in the
face, and with the full knowledge
that they were in effect playing into
Inc hands OF the Free Traders by so
ioiag, they, ereTy one, ,eitLout finching
jr baking, rOted for Kerr. and volun-
.arily placed in his hands the power
o shape the legislation of the House
II favor of Free Trade.
A vote tor Kerr in this case, was
4 vote for Free Trade.
The Pennsylvania Democrats in
hat Congress, protessed TO be Tariff
men, just as they profess to be now,
Iut they were Democrats, and they
lad TO follow the lead OF their or
In the next Congress,
I it is Democratic, they will have to
10 the same thing and when the
egislation of the House is shaped
n favor Of Free Trade through their '
gency and by their aid, they will
ave the poor privilege Of voting
gainst the legislation they have {
ided TO frame. The real bulwark I
gainst free trade, will be. in that /
ase, the Republican phalanx, and
Ot the few scattering votes from the G
Democratic side.
Every one who has watched legis- :
alton at Washington closely knows 7
hat there are many occasions in 5
-hich member is called on to vote,
esides those in which the yeas and b
avs are taken. When in commit
ee of the whole, when all Tariff leg &
.lation is considered. there can be C
o yea or nav vote, and the same is
-ue when the House merely divides b
ithout call for the yeas and nays.
n nearly all such cases. where there V
e no record of votes, it has been h
oticed by ohservant men, that the f
protesting to be Tariff
Ten, frequently either do not vote, s.
r vote directly with the Free Ira Il
ers. There is abundant oppor:uni-
: in this way to keep up their g
atus in their own party, without
eing liable to be called to account II
" il by their constituents at home.
The fact is. thev are, at least most
f them, Tariff men only because =
ley have to be, and not from con-
iction. They are not at heart de- jo
Dted to the principle of protection. p
hey know that their party lost a