Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-11-27
1anrasfer FntpIliqsnrrr.
TUESDAY EVENING, NOV. az, 1888.
IsusIness Interests.

~
" declared their choice of Randall 70
speaker, on the ground that the Demo
cratic party should not frighten ava.
the business interests" of the country
on the eve of the presidential election
by the agitation of the tariff question
which Is believed to be the policy of Mr.
Randall's opponents for the speakership
while his position Is we'll understood tC
be not TO disturb at the coming session
the tariff arranged by the late Congress.
We observe that this is taken rs their
chief position by the supporters Of Mr.
Randall at Washington, among whom,
very naturally, Is the chairman of the
Democratic committee of our own state
who Is reported by the Philadelphia
Times as saying that with Carlisle will
come chaos. Probably the allter.
alton of the expression induced
its use, for we hardly think any
result Of the speakership contest will be
thus destructive. We are chiefly in favor
Of Mr.. Randall's election because he is
a Pennsylvania and friend, and
because he has proved by long
and trying experience in the position
Of speaker his remarkable fitness for it,.
These are quite sufficient grounds upon
which to strongly urge his reelection.
We are opposed to tariff revision during
the coming session, and approve Mr..
Randalps position in this regard but
we can hardly say that we d. this because
the agitation of the tariff would be dsas-
trous to the business interests of the
country, since the fact seems to us rather
to be that our business interests in their
present condition will be quite unaf.
fected by any change in the tariff
likely to be adopted. 1t is be
cause the time of Congress will be
wasted, in seeking TO molify tariff
which is not at all responsible for the
existing depression in manufacturing
industries, that we oppose the undertak
ing Of any such modification. The iron
industry of Pennsylvania is now ina con
dition OF prostration because there is
production exceeding the demand. Com
petition with foreign products does not
affect 1t, and is not likely to do so in the
future, in view of the severe competition
which has grown up in the South, and
which no tariff will save it from meeting
because it is competition at home.
But we may accept ex Senators Eaton S
and Gordon's opinions that our business
interests would be alarmed and driven |
into opposition to the Democratic party |
by the determination of the representa-
tives in Congress to revise the tariff. 1t
has for 80 long time been an article Of |
faith Of the manufacturer, that his !
business interests demand as high I.
tariff as he can get, that he Canu0,
readily divest himself Of i, when the |
conditions of his business prosperity have .
changed. Men generally are not very !
sagacious. There is no doubt that the |
day is drawing near, with rapid steps, |
when our manufacturing interests will
demand free trade, so that foreign
market may be reached for home pro-
ducts. II is not here yet, but we are
taking long strides towards il IL is
not likely that iron either raw or
manufactured, for instance, will ever be
much higher in price than now, what
ever may be the tariff. The cost of
manufacture will come down, as the |
price of the manufacture canuo. 20 Up |
because the home production will |
always keep pace with the demand. |
Capital is too abundant and too ready to
Do employed in converting our natural
resources, to ever let home demand get
far ahead of home supply, and will soon
be clamOrous for cutie. into foreign
fields.
We do not believe that our business
interests !" as yet generally recognize
this tendency, and that therefore they
would be very likely TO be alarmed by
tariff agitation. And If the real interests
Of he country demanded tariff mollGca.
tion at present we would not wish the
Democratic party 10 shVn the issue be
cause Of the possible danger. It's because
we do not believe that tariff modi.
hcatiOn Is an important issue that we
oppose its agitation.
Bill Chandler, Of unsaYOry MEMORY.
We see, has seized hold Of Senator Cor
Ions declaration that the question of ,
'arin revision should be postponed until ,
sfter the presidential election, that
democratic success may not be leopard .
zed by 1t, and he has chucklingly :
'eferred to IL ~ bad exhibition Of pol :
tical morals. SO 1t would be, if construed :
ss Chandler's nature and methods in ,
luce him to cOnstrue it, as a recommen. q
iation that the Democratic party shall :
aveid declaration upon an essential ;
political issue because of the fear ,
hat the expression of its true
opinion would damage its chances
II success. We would never favor
my such cowardly policy. We
sil always demand that the Democratic
party shall inscrlbe its real principles ,
upon its banner, popular or unpopular.
!, tney are vital principles, and upon ,
Them stand or fall.
Dut when we see our business intereats ;
down In the depths, in spite of suficiant
against foreign imports, we
snow That the tariff is not the :
iisease, and that raising or lowering ,
. VIII not work the cure, which ia To be ,
waited in the adjustment of natural
onditions. Believing that tariff revision