Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-02-15
JOHN SHERMAN.
True TO His Purpose to Help the Few at
the Expense Of the Many, PITTS
Himself
On Record as an Opponent of the Morri.
son Tariff Reform Bill on Very
FIimsy Pretexts.
He is Still the Champion of the Monopo.
lists and is Opposed to the Ne
eessit0rs Masses.

New YORK, February 1.-THE Mail and
Express will print this afternoon an inter
view with Senator Sherman on proposed
tariff legislation, from which the following
~synopsis is made: In reply to the question
as TO the coinin9 action OF Congress; he
said he did not believe the restlt cotild be
more than guessed at. In tariff discussion
it is the unexpected which always hap
pens. The best l can tell you is just what
Congress ought to do, and that is to let
the subject alone during the present Con-
gress.. There is no question that the bust
ness interests of the country generally
were somewhat injured by the passage of
the last tariff bill, but more SO by the sen-
satiO1al sna uncertain state of the money
market. While the reeef;ae law of last
winter gave great relief in reducing taxes,
yet it was very injurious to the iron and
wooden industries. Ohio and Pennsyl-
vanis have suffered severely through the
operation OF last years bill. While it was
true the wool-growers had suffered Sc
verely, yet the full effect OF the re-
cent law was not yet known. 1t
would be very unwise by any fresh
disturbance OF the tariff to prevent the
country finding out the whole effect of the
last law, because Congress is in no condi-
ton TO pass an harmonious n wellcon-
s:dered tariff law. Not only are the two
houses not in harmony with each other,
but there are differences Of opinion
among members of the same party in the
same house. He said a proper tariff law
could only be made when one party has
power and responsibility. In the present
Congress the responsibility would be
divided between a Democratic House, a
Republican Senate and Executive. Even
if another tariff should become a law the
people would not know whom to hold
accountable. Uit was probable that here
after party lines would be drawn on finan-
cial questions, and he thought it
would be a happy day for this country.
When this is The cFse popular opinion
might DECIDE irG-- or against protection
duties. That the Republican pasttyy has
been from the beginning, and is, in favor
of such pr rejection duties, with a view to
diversity our industries, is shown by the
laws it has enacted for twenty-four years
past. 1t is almost certain that were the
Den ocratic party in power It wonld take
grounds against all systems of protection,
and frame laws simply with a view to
revenue. He believed when this issue Is
made a portion OF the South would favor
protection duties and portions of the East
would be for free trade. He said he had
observed a growing feeling in certain
States for free raw materials, but did not
believe this would stand the ordeal of a
popular election. Protective duties must
extend to all farm labor, and need not
extend TO capital, which is at this period
almost as cheap and abundant as in Eu-
rope. He had always thought the devel-
opment OF raw material one of the chief
objects of protective laws, as that, when
raw materials are judiciously developed,
manufactures will inevitably follow.
However, he did not think any industry
which n n be reasonably expected in
the lapse of time to become self-sustaining
should be protected. The consumer should
get the full benefit of protection by cheap
ening home productions, which will follow
from home competition. The productions
of the farm will have the advantage oil
the home market caused by a diversity Of
employment. He expressed the opinion
that free trade as advocated by some col.
lege professors and political theorists
would be utterly destructive to the bust.
ness interests of the country, and produce
the same ~stagnation in trade, financially,
that followed the tendency to free trade in
1887 and 1857. "What we want" Senator
Sherman said, in conclusion, sis a system
of protection duties moderate in degree,
but stable and certain. This last is the
great point, and one which should obtain
consideration. Then we want marked
changes in our commercial laws to encour.
age American shipbuIlding and commerce
on the high seas"