New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-05
RIP VAN WINKLES TARIFF.

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RIP IAN WINKLES TARIFF.
If Mr.. Hewitt were not man of very peculiar
mental qualities one would be compelled TO IN
troduce him to the Democratic party as an en-
tire stranger. Speaking of the Tariff bill, which
Mr.. Morrison and Mr. Hewitt have been lncubat-
ing-and which is likely to fare about as badly
as any other egg on which two rival hens Try to
set at the same time-Mr. Hewitt expresses the
belief that it will be found so excellent that
Republican members will not wish to vote
against it. Is Mr.. Hcwitt's faith in his party
really sublime? This bill, as it comes from the
hands of Mr. Morrison, proposes reduction OF
about 20 per cent on duties generally. But Ii
also provides that no reduction shall go below
the duties levied by the Morrill, tariff OF 1851.
The first step, Mr.. Hewitt says, will be to Apply
this beautiful "principle to every item III the
tariff, and to correct any case III which IL
would be injudicious or i'll which 1t might be I'M
proved" In other words the first step is TO
abolish the sO-called "principle," and to make
a new tariff throughout. We suspect Mr.
Hewitt is right in supposing that this will be
necessary. if the tariff bill is to be anything but
q disgraceful hodge-podgc. But it is precisely
the most difficult of all tasks for which Mr.
Hewitt supposes the Democratic majority is
| competent. Verify, such faith is rarel
What a beautiful principle" tits to be sure, to
cut oft eyerybody's head 20 inches, provided
that nobody shall be made shorter than NJ
| Morrill, was in 1861. This is peculiarly and
DELIGHTFULLY."- Democratic. To come failing along
some years behind the Republicans is the one
virtue of the Democratic party, but i'll this in
stance it is little further behind than usual,
Twenty-three years is a good while, to one who
knows anything of the development of industries
| within the last quarter of a century. But our
Democratic friends have so little conception of
the changes that have been going on in the
world that they doubtless are sincere in the
belief that it is entirely safe to do exactly what
the Republicans did twenty-three years ago.
I he country would be better satisfied # these
would be rulers would catch up little more
closely with the age in which they live. Ten
or twelve years behind the age might answer
but twenty-three! 1t reminds one OF the con-
scientious but timid old surgeon, at the begin
ming of the war, in officers school, who was
asked the proper position of the surgeon in line
| of battle, and answered, very slowly and
| thoughtfully, Opposite the centre of the bat
| talion-three miles-tO the rear"
| Not having known what was going on since
| slavery rebelled and Democrats began burning
powder the Democratic party is excusable.
| But party that is twenty three years behind
| the age is rather too slow to govern. Industries
have been revoutionized since MIR. Morrilrs first
tariff was enacted. In this and all other civil
| lied lands the very basis of manufacturing pro-
duction has changed intellectually Really, 1t
| would take more hard work to adjust old
| tariff of 1861 to the present needs Of the cOun-
| try than to frame new one out of hand. But
| the DOOR Rip Van Wrinkles, who are rubbing
| their half-opened eyes, and gazing at strange
new world, and trying to be live Democratic
statesmen at Washington, since they know too
little of the age they live in or of the needs OF
modern industry to frame tariff, think the
country can get along well enough with the one
the Republicans made in 1861, especially as il
was never quite worn out. The trihing circum-
stance that the boy outgrew that suit OF clothes,
and has outgrOwn many others since, never oc-
ours to these sleepy gentlemen. The suit must
have fitted once, for the Republicans made 1t
! Therefore, let us put it on again. Perhaps il
may pinch in some places if So of course there
are overgrown monopolies " there, which must
| be cut Oft.
Such is the latest manifestation of Democratic
craftsmanship. As for Mr.. Hewitt, he proposes
to let out the old suit of clothes here and patch
| it there, and so make it fit The notion OF
making new suit of clothes is not to be toler-
| ated. That would involve going to tailor
and there is not man in the Democratic party
who could cut a tariff to fit anybody or anything
more modern than the resolutions of '9S
| Happy thought, therefore, that the Republican
tailors did make up tariff in '61 which was
never worn ont. Bring it in at once, and let Ii:
patch it. BY stitching in piece of the furled
banner" We can pass it off as Democratic
| tariff.