New-York tribune., 1884-03-01
INDEPENDENT REPUBLICANS AND THE
TARIFF

To the EdftOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: The letter of 81. w. c. in THE TRIB-
USE of February g. In which he Attempts to define the
position OF Independent voters with reference to
tariff reform. should not he allowed to 80
without protest. He says that the party
which sticks 20 high Protection sin ths CAM
paign viii be defeated" As Independent Republican.
~ far rs can the logic OF the event Of the past
three years say that the party which sticks to FREQ
Trade will he defeated The party which sraddles the
question Of Protection and Free Trade as the Democratic
party is now trying to do will deserve defeat and win
probably defeated II IL does not happen that both par
ties try the straddng policy, when the chances for de-
feat will be even.
II Is absurd 10 hold that all Independents are "tarif re-
formers," which is only synonym for Free Traders
The only point of belief common TO all Independents Is
antagonsm bossism" Most of them believe in Civil
Service Reform but the question Of Protection and
Free Trade they hold their Individual convictions, which
may vary from tine extreme Of Protection to the other
trcme believe that OF the Independents who helped
elect Governor Cleveland IN NewYOrk. throc-fourtls
would vote for protection.
The policy OF the Democratic party to-day Juggling with
the words tariff reform" 10 make them mean any
thing md everything to suit both Proteotonss and Free
Traders dospicable peco of demagossm. 1t is dis
honest TO say the least. some Republicans would com
NIT the party to the policy TO catch part OF the
Free Trade or Tariff Reform " vote. The sooner the
party Is purged of euch Republicans the better. The
Republican party the past has been the party OF Pro-
lection It cannot Free Trade party 1t would
be dishonest to srndde the question. 1t must continue
10 be for Protection or cease 70 exist.
NV formula for platform for tho Republican party
would he:
l-PrOiectior to American Industry. With graded
tariff raw materials TO have the lowest duties OF be on the
free list and the duties manufactured products 20 be
i'm proportion N the amount OF labor required In their
productiOn The labor employed Ia the production
of an article the higher the duty Thus tin cans should
nav higher duty than tin plato; tin plate uinned sheet
from higher than the sheet iron from which IL Is made
sce iron higher than sheet barr the bar higher than pig
iron, and 20 Oh. -, Vt.
can marty may yet need 70 be educated npc belief In
bs reform ts had to be educated up 10 the abOli
on of slavery and t. universal suffrage but the Repub
can parry has never gone backward in any just policy
hereofore and II continues be the party of progress
it will be the party Of Civil Service Reform.
" - nj seontinue tho coinage OF the silver dollar.
The Republicsns never had better opportunity to go
before tire country the broad basis OF principle
AGAINST shrng principles The Democrats bid fair to
neonnpoze the shking business They rejected Randall
for sneaker because he Pr0tectiOnis and they re-
ieced Peudleton Senator because he Civil Ser
vce Reformer Yet the party by its cries OF tariff
form with Incidental protection" ana turn the raScals
oui will try TO make voters believe Ii opposed neither
TO Protection mild form nor TO Civll Service Reform,
the latter reform meaning giving Democrats the oices
Jct the Republican party stand firm 10 the principles tor
when the Democrats rejected Randall and Pendlcton,
and is slccess Is assured ISDETENDENT RefUBLICAh
,Trrgey Clty, Feb. 4. 1884.