New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-17
1T hard to conceive ow any protective duties

1t hard to conceive ow any protective dutles
whatever conld be removed or acknowledgements
entity with the implied condition that useful In
vestments already made, or important enter
prises already undertaken, should not be dis
turbed. But Mr.. Hendricks fancies 1T could be
done. He wants to have protective duties
splaced In the line Iof gradual land persistent
reduction" and thinks that is the true way to
attain tariff for revenue only. No wonder the
Iowa Democrats were surprised and panied at
this evidence Of disposition to yield to the de-
mands of monopolists." His doctrine must
have seemed little short Of heresy to the men
who used to listen with delight to the philippics
of Henry Clay Dean.
The Democratic party Is not fit to beZintrusted
with legislative power, because 1t has too many
leaders and voters who resemble Mr.. Hendricks.
That gentleman betrays in his latest speech, as
he had in many OF earlier date, his strange igno-
rance of the nature and needs of diversified in
dustrY. lie does not com rehend that @grad-
ual and persistent reduction" would compel
both manufacturers and dealers to face steadily
falling maj kets for years, and would thus do
more harm than almost any other policy that
has been proposed. Nor is he able to compIe-
bend that each and every monopoly" at which
the launches his invectves is IAN importan
enterprise already undertaken" or the result Of
q useful investment already made" If this
enterprise is shielded, CT If this investment has
been encouraged, by protective duties, accord
ing to the theories of Mr.. Hendricks it must
impose burdens upon the many for the benefit
of the few in short, 1t must be monopoly
Such duties, lie aflirms, must be "placed in the
line of gradual and persistent reduction" and
yet nothing should be done to disturb the in
vestments or enterprises based upon these very
duties. Of course Mr. Hendricks imagines that
this is sensible position. But what would be-
come of industry, if left to the care of men who
know so little about it'll
This strange incapacity to comprehend the
conditions of modern industry renders the
Democratic party unfit for power. If body
of intelligent opponents of protection were in
trusted with the powers and responsibilities of
government, they would realize that many inn
portant industries had been built upon the tarlff
policy of the Government as a foundation that
millions of money had been invested In perma-
nent works which could not now be turned to
other use that vast army Of workers had
been enlisted, on the faith of this policy, and
had learned to do certain kinds OF work. and
that all these enterprises and investments could
not now be disturbed without disaster TO almost
every interest in the country. Hence. such a
body of men would hardly fail to maintain such
duties rs are still needed to make those indus
tries prosperous, and would seek TO remove only
those duties which seemed no longer needful.
But the average Democratic politician thinks 1t
the sum of all wisdom to insist upon duties
for revenue only" and if he becomes a little
timid will propose to reach his end 10y "grad-
ual and persistent reduction - OF the duties upon
which industry now depends.