Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-02-21
SHERMdN on IdRIEE
He Thinks the Present Congress
should Avoid the Subject - ihe
Effect on Business.

| NES YORK, FvD. IA The Mail ana
Erp ess will print this +itsri Don AL inter
vies with Senator Sh-rlnan ON the pro
| posed tariff e,lslH ion from whioI the
following synopsis ID made. In reply 10 8
question as 10 the coming sction Of Con.
sress, Mr.. sherman said he did not he
lieve the result could be more
than guessed at. ''In tariff discus
sion II is the unexpected which
always occurs but 1 can tell
you just what think Congress ought to
do, and that is to let the subject severely
alone during the present Congress
There ia no question that the business
interests of the country generally were
somewhat injured by the last tariff bill,
but more 80 by the sensitive and unoer-
tain state of the money market.
"While the revenue law OF last winter
gave great relief in the reduction OF
taxes, 1t WAS very injurious to the iron
| and woclen industries. Ohio and Penn
sylvanis have suffered severely through
the operation OF last years bill. While
1t was true that the wool growers had
suffered severely, yet the full effect Of
the recent law was not yet known. II
would be very unwise by any fresh dis
turbancs OF the tariff to prevent the
country finding out the whole effect of the
last law. Besides Congress is in no oon-
dition to pass a harmonious and well
considered tariff. Not only are the two
houses not iu harmony with each other,
but there are differences of opinion
among members of the same party in the
same house."
He said that proper tariff law could
only be made when one party has the
power and the responsibility. In the
present Congress the responsibility would
be- divided between Democratic House
and Republican Senate. Even il another
tariff should become law, the people
would not know whom to hold account
able. 1t was probable that hereafter
party lines would be drawn on
financial questions, and he thought
it would be happy day for this
country when this 10 the case, go that
popular opinion might fairly decide for
or against protection duties. That the
Republican party has been, from the
beginning and ia in favor of such pro-
lection duties with a view to diversity
our Industries, is shown by the laws it
has enacted for "a years past.
ocratio party in power, it would take
ground against all systems of protection,
and frame laws simply with view to
revenue. | believe that when this issue
Is made, portions of the south will favor
prot lction duties and portions of the east
will be- for free trade. He said he had
observed a growing feeling in certain
of the states in favor of free raw
material, but he did not believe that
this would stand the ordeal of
popular election. Protective duties
must extend to all forms Of labor and
need not extend to capital which is, at
this period, almost as cheap and abundsnt
as it is in Europe. He had always thought
the development of raw material one
of the chief objects OF the protective laws
as, when raw materials are judili-
ously developed, manufacturing will ill.,
evitably follow. However, he did not
think that any industry which cannot be
reasonably expected III the lapse OF time
to be- selt-sustaining should get the
full benefit OF the protsotion by the
cheapening of home productions which
will follow from home competition. The
products OF the farm will have the ad-
vantage of home market caused by the
diversity OF employment. He expressed
the opinion that free trade rs advocated
by Frank Hurd, some college professors
political theonists-would bs utterly de.
struotive to the business interests OF the
country, and produce the same stagnation
in trade and financial ruin that follow ed
the tendency to free trade In 1887 and
1857.
What we want" said Senator Sher-
man in conclusion, sis system OF pro
lection duties, moderate in degree but
stable aud certain. This last is great
point and one which should obtain CON
sideration. Then we want marked
changes in our commercial laws to en-
courage American ship building and com
mercs on the high seas." ...z. ..-