The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-08
q TARIFF 1 L

country at large. In defeating the MORRISON
bill the Republican congressman were true to
their constituents and to the interests of the
business and laboring men of the nation. A
slipshod measure, it could but be fraught
with harm, and harm only. Assuming the
necessity for reform in the laying of customs
duties, the bill proposed to avoid all labor and
consideration by one stroke of the knife, UNI
mindful of the serious fact that while it cut
the hair of some, it must inevitably lift
the scalp of others and slit the throat of not a
few. It was the baldest confession of incom-
potency ever made by legislators, and invited
its well merited defeat from the mo
ment it was drawn. The RepubE-
can party is not opposed to tariff re-
form. The last Republican Congress, as an
earnest of its purpose, took in hand the report
of a commission of experts, appointed to con
slider the whole question and to devise an
equable plan for the reduction of the tariff.
Each item of the law was taken up seriatim,
discussed, and a vast deal Of information col
lated and tabulated Out of the conclusions
reached by this commission a bill was drawn
and passed reducing the duties on almost the
entire list, and largely increasing the free list.
The result of that reduction of rates is not yet
wholly apparent, not enough time having
elapsed to prove it conclusively. But what
ever opinion may obtain of the merits of the
results reached, it must be conceded by men
Of every political bias that the work was under
taken in a statesmanlike and businesslike man
ner, and gave every evidence of a desire to
arrive at the wisest conclusion.
The Morrison bill, on the contrary, made
no p~retense of elaboration or discrimination.
1t proposed simply to put an ak into the trim
fifth from each tree, and branch, and shrub,
without regard to symmetry or effect,
and to spare none. But for the
fact that a few indiscreet Democratic
ninnyhammors wanted to make political cap
ital, no such measure would have been sug-
gested. There was no wisdom, elaboration
III SOhCSSihdiiSulp III ~ " USSdlhihS w
end. TIL effect of such a battle-ax stroke
might be coniectured, but could not be accu-
rately measured. The better sense of the
Democratic party took the alarm at once, and
set about to unite with the solid Republican
minority to defeat it. How well they succeed
ed, after the fullest liberty accorded ranting
4han,;e+, -, n ,Oa+%ar oF raocrd NON Tha die
appointment Of those who fathered and fos-
tered this pet scheme must be tempered by
the reflection that they have had an accession
of information. This ''frst step toward free
trade" as it has been called by its imprudent
friends, has been a disastrous one to those
who attempted it, and they will hardly repeat
little more discrimination
Practically, the matter is again relocated to
the Republican party, as the only political
organization that has ever been able to treat
this vast and important subject in a way that
shall command the confidence of the peo-
pie. The business interests that have suffered
dDDlOlCIHiOu 90 W Nhdt lax
majority might do will now be assured again
of some little respite from continual agitation
and threats of Interference. And just so soon
as circumstances demand another reduction the
Republican party will make it, but will not
stultify itself by going at it in a b~ullin-a-
china-shop fashion. If Congress had more
1noo1 xAsy1al wat, sn - and faxnar EaaAdlaa
who cannot see beyond the confines of their
own districts, the country would be blessed
with better legislation. Instead of placating
constituencies by voting for the 'improve-
ment" of every goose creek in the country, a
few millions of the surplus that now vexes the
minds of these implscables might well be ex-
pended in increasing the size and efficiency
of the navy and the coast defenses. In
time Of peace it is an excellent thing
to prepare for war. In our present condition
we are not prepared to do anything against
any nation that may choose TO insult and defy
us, nor could we even offer any formidable
defense should the weakest naval power in the
Wofid cohcluoe 10 h"ho wal on our shipplhS
and seaports. So long as these conditions
exist it is demagogy to appeal to the people In
behalf of reforms" that do not reform. and
in The accomplishment of which we must strip
ourselves of national dignity among the pow
ers Of earth.
In this workaday world of ouIs fine writing
and sophomore nonsense go but for very lit
tie, and in the intensely practical business of
life fapdeodle does not count, Hence, the