Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-10-08
Election next Tuesday
Oct. 18th.
Tariff Agitation Threatened i.

If there were any doubt as to the in
tentions of the Democratic party in re-
gard to tie tariff, the resolution adopted
by the New York state convention goes
far TO remove that doubt. For this is
nne of the states in which the Democrat
ic party has labored most assiduously to
conceal its hostility to the protective
system. The shrewder managers of
that party know that they cannot carry
New York. Pennsylvania or New Jersey
on platform avowing hostility to pro-
lection. But they succeeded 10 New
York aHd New Jersey last fall by sup
pressing discussion on the tariff and
turning attention to other matters, and
they hope to do the same this year. If
no action at Washington next winter
had been anticipated, therefore, brief,
formal Endorsement of the latest Nation
al platform would have been sufficient
But Secretary Manning. the principal
political manager of the Democratic par
ty in this state. has found it necessary to
prepare for an assault upon the tariff
next winter, and has sent out circulars
seeking ammunition for such an assault
1t does not matter how he came to take
this course. Perhaps President Cleve.
land peremptorlly ordered it; perhaps
the explicit pledges given last year in
order to secure the aid of free traders
could not be evaded; perhaps the over
whelming preponderance of Democratic
opinion against the protective system
has impressed the minds of the President
and the Secretary. In any case, the raid
upon the tariff is to be begun, and it be-
comes necessary for the supporters OF
the President in his own state to give it
some sort of countenance. HeAce the
state platform is not confined to a mere
echo of the Chicago aeliverance. but ex.
plicitly "calls for revision of the tariff. y
If there we're no other issue between
the parties, this would be enough. The
country does not want another prolonged
struggle over the du5ies on imports. with
all the uncertainty in business and pros
tratiOn of industry which such struggle
would unsvoidably involve. The time:
are not prosperous. Labor and enter
prise have quite enough obstacles to con
tend with already. The country has moi
yet recovered from the long uncertainty
and exceeding depression produced by
the Morrison bill last year, and by the
doubt concerning the effect of the Pres
after exhaustive investigation, has no
yet been fairly tested. for it has beer
tried only at a time when the hopes o.
some and the fears of others that the du
ties would be speedily altered have af
fected all branches of trade and industry
What is needed at this time is season
of entire relief from tariff controversy
in legislative halls, and fair. patien
and honest trial of the new tariff that WI
have, in order that notifications, if an.
are to be made, may be gnided by jus
test of its workings and effects.
Were it possible to hold an election OF
this single issue, the people of New Yorl
would undoubtedly vote by an over
whelming majority against another sea
son of tariff agitation. But that woult
not suit the Southern politicians VIII
control the Democratic party and fur
nish most of its electoral votes. Neithe
would it suit the foreign importing in
terest to which that party looks for tn
money with which to carry on expensive
campaigns. The President has callet
about him the Southern politicians a
his chosen advisers. Secretary MaDninI
knows how campaigns would fare in fu
ture if foreign interests would not con
tribute to Democratic expenses. Henc
we are to endure another raid on tn
tariff, with all its disastrous coDSequen
ces to industry. But there is still pos
sibility that the people of New York ant
Pennsylvania, by rebuking the Admins
tration and its threatened policy, ma.
compel Democratic leaders to refrail
from tariff agitation year or two, AM
that would be blessing to all indastrie:
IN. Y. Tribune.