New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-06
4 DUTY 70 BE MET.


The Republicans of the House have to-day
another opportunity to decide whether Demo-
cratic threats shall continue t. parayze in
dustry. There can be no dispute about the evil
effects Of the present agitation. Mills and
! furnaces and mines all over the country have
suffered ever since the effort to disturb the
tariff began. What the effects Of the tariff Of
| 1883 might have been, had there been no such
disturbing influence it is impossible to say. but
the reductions made last year did certainly IN
crease the pressure upon some industries very
greatly. Time, and uudi>tarbcd experience of
the workings Of that tariff, were needed to de-
| termine whether the reductions made were at
some points too great. But the added cmDar-
rassment Of grave uncertainty as to the MAIN
tcnance Of even the present duties has proved
too great a burden for many Industries. There
has not been a time for several years when the
depression has been more general, or the pro-
portion of idle establishments larger, than at
this time If the discussion and uncertainty are
TO continue, the prOstraton of industries must
90 on, probably through the summer, for at this
season the manufacturers need to know what
they can count upon for the fall trade. II rests
with the House, therefore, to decide by its vote
to-day whether the depression has gone far
enough and lasted long enough.
II rests with the Republicans Of the House.
There is no doubt, we believe, that enough
Democrats will vote against the pending bill to
make with all the Republicans, a clear majority
of the House. If this be 50, Republican members
will be responsible if the assault upon Rerub-
lican tariff, which has had no fair chance as yet
70 show what its effects are, shall be continued
any longer. It rests with them to say whether
they prefer Republican to Democratic prin-
ciples.
The Democratic patty has not been united on
this question, it is true. That has been a strong
reason for the past success OF the Republican
party-becausc it did know what it wanted, and
was faithful to its pledges. But there can be
no doubt as to the intentions OF large majority
of the Democratic members. The votes III
caucus and the House have given fresh proof OF
their purpose. If the Democratic party were
left TO itself, there would be a vote of about
three to one, not only for the Morrison bill, but
for a far more offensive and dangerous meas
uc. If the small number of Democrats who
oDposc tariff changes find that they are power
less through division among Republicans 1t Is
70 be expected that their resistance to the over
whpluing preDonderance Of Democratic opinion
will not be sturdy or lasting. The tendency
will be to sweep them into the current, so that
the party may appear more united III Prosi-
dental contest
Republican members have 10 right, at this
juncture, to sacrifice public interests to any mar
row calculations of party advantage. 1t might
be exceedingly helpful to the Republican party,
it is true, to have the industries and the trade
of the country utterly Frustrated by disaster
during Presidential campaign. But Republic
cans know that they have no right, and they
have many times shown that they have no dis
position, to make public disaster a stepping
stone to party success. The people, moreover,
are clear headed and shrcwd. They will see
what the Democrats are trying to do, as well if
tbey are defeated without delay as if the bill
should be further debated or passed by the
House. The people will see, too, that some Re-
publicans are not faithful to duty, If they allow
this dangerous war upon American industries to
continue.