Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-02-09
THE DEMOCRAT.
Mineral Point, Friday, Feb. 9, 1883.
Geo. Crawford. Robt. N. Crawford,
EDITORS AND PRoPRIzroRs.
Despite the wishes and maneu-

vres Of professional politicians, cir
have forced the tariff
question into politics, and it is now
before the country. It is
in fact the one great question which
engages the attention of the Ameri-
can people at this time. Every
body is talking tariff, the news
papers are full of it, and both
houses of congress are devoting
their whole time and attention to
considering the subject. The effect
of the general agitation of this very
question may not be
made manifest by the passage Of a
model tariff bill by the present con-
gress; but the good resulting from it
will be great and enduring, never
theless. When any question is fully
aired, and the pros and cons all
heard, the American people have
the saving good sense to declare for
a right political doctrine and against
a false one. And it would prove an
inestimable blessing if they should
now set the seal Of condemnation
upon the corrupting fallacy of pro-
lection, as securely as they did upon
its twin brother, fiatism, or green
backism, a few years ago.
Evidences of the success that has
tariff reformers in their
fight against the protected barous,
as the manufacturers who reap the
benefits of the spoliation system are
now fittingly termed, are to be seen
on every hand. The fact that the
reduction Of the tariff has become
the all absorbing question in poll
tics, is one great evidence of the
success of the movement tQNeld
that end. Fora shoFt time ago the
interchangeable Tree radenMohlbnl6t
bfs,o' dared' to1hope toIsee fhe,ques-
ton generally made an issue before
the presidential year of 1884.
Another evidence of success is, that
every body who discusses the ques-
tion-and almost everybody does
discuss it's a tariff reformer of
some degree or other. 1t is not
enough to say that it is generally
admitted that the tariff should be
reduced, it is almost universally
admitted that it ought to be done
right speedily. Politicians and news
paper editors whom one year ago
would have denounced as an enemy
to our industries the man who
would lay sacreligious hand upon
what they adored above all else
the present incongruous laws relat-
ing to import duties-now join in
the popular cry and demand that
these same laws be revised. This
sentiment in favor of tariff revision
seems to prevade the protection
ranks to great extent. Not only
are consumers, who, from prejudice
or a miseonception of what protec-
ton really is, believe in it's benifi-
cence while it robs them of the
fruits of their labor, affected by it;
but also may who derive pecuniary
benefit from the system which per-
verts and disarranges the natural
trade of the country, join their
voices i'll the general demand for q
revision. OF course this latter class
is not agreed as to the points at
which the reduction ought to be
made. Iron manufacturers are
more likely to be in favor of the re-
duction of the duties on sugar than
those in iron, and the sugar refners
vice versa. 1t is the same way with
the WOODEN men, the knit goods
men, the wood pulp men, and SC
until the end of the list of paupers
supported by the self sustaining in.
dustries of the country. In fact
any of them can stand n reduction
SO long as it is not made on the
goods in which he is interested. In
disagreement among the thieves
some relief to the over-taxed con,
sumers of the country might be
looked for if in nothing else. But
there are other signs which indicate
strongly that we will soon be blessed
with more rational tariff. The
Senate seems disposed to make ma
terial reductions in the most ex-
cessive duties on imports. We can
not look for so much from the pres
ent lower house of congress. But it
is said that President Arthur has
declared that in the event of the
failure by the present congress to
pass a tariff bill, he will convene an
extra session of the next congress
for that purpose; and it is believed
that in the next congress free
traders will predominate-tariff-
reformers will at any rate. In that
case bill will doubtless be passed
that will please those WAC favor
greater commercial freedom.
Rev i HYATT Smith the man