New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-10
TARIFF AGITATION AGAIN..

TARIFF AGITATION AGAIN.
When a man has tn fight with deadly disease
for his bare life at least once year, with no
sure thing in any case, he can hardly be called
10 prime health. The heterogeneous ayglom-
Grafton called party, Which has now tile power
to rule this country, has its fight for bare life
with the free-t trade disease each year when
Congress meets. Al times the attack lasts for
months; the patient fingers in a state between
life and death and in great agony, with the
issue in doubt At other times the fight is
short, and Dr. Randall saves the patients life
for ano, her year without prolonged effort.
This year the malady breaks out with symp-
toms OF unusual violence. 1t had been thought
that the votes cast last month would make the
free trade attack Fighter than usual; the
patient was expected to take warning and to
use precautions in time. The President dealt
so mildly with the tariff, and seemed 40 mixed
in his mind about it, that some inferred the
seizure this year would be brief and mild, or
perhaps wholly averted. But it is already
PLAIN that these hopes were baseless. 1t may
be that the free-trade leaders are inclined to
push the fight more strongly because they think
the President has lost ground with Western
men by his spititless tone aud vague express
sioDs. Be the cause what it may, the free
trade faction in the House is full of fire and
fury. It says Mr.. Randall must walk the plank
Mt once; no truce is to be tolerated. Strong
leaders of the party have been slain by the in
fluence Of Eastern Protectionists, whose head
quarters, it ia said, are in the city which is Mr..
Randall's home, and the same men help him
who stab other Democratic leaders to the death.
There can be no peace, and the fight must be
made SO hot at once that all who will not help to
carry out the pledges Of the party shall be
forced to get out Of it and stay ont.
In this strong talk the Free Traders are en-
cOuraged by many organs. and especially by
British papers printed here. Just now there is
a deluge of advice and appeal to Democrats OF
the House; the large vote for Mr.. George. a
known frce-trader, is used as proof that the
w0rkngmen in this city do not care for PrOtec
ton; the voting in some Western States is
presented in a free-trade aspect; members
are told that the only way to avert panic
next year, With certain defeat for Democrats as
the consequence, is to cut down the surplus by
repeal of duties. MOrrison's bill will not now
do at all, says one British organ, which urged
that measure with great zeal last year; it was
never fit to be passed. and the thing needed is
a far more radical reform.
The other side is not dumb, but it threatens
less and perhaps works more. The one pill
which DR.. Randall prescribes for his party at
this time IS dose of great strength. revival
Of the old "steering committee" with full
power. Messrs. Carlisle, Morrison and Kendall
were the Democratic members of that COM
mittee, and the plan ID to give the right of way
to bills which the committee may agree to
name. But that is in fact abdication by the
House of lis power to make laws-abdication in
favor of three men. Mr.. Randall can then
prevent any vote ON measure which the two
Republican members of the committee think it
best to shut of, and lie comes to be, as to the
Democratic side of the House, the dictator
with sole power. Now four out of five of the
Democratic members of the House have voted
against Mr.. Randall. If they consent in spite
of that to give him the power proposed, and
80 make unconditional surrender, it will be
clear that the votes of the people have not
made the cause of free trade stronger or more
hopeful.
The Republican party can meet this issue
whenever the Free Traders are ready. II
makes no pretence OF doubt or wish to ev ade.
and does not try to hide the fact that every
free-irade assault on home industries Ia sure
to help the Republican party in future cleo
tons But such raids tenl to hurt trade and
labor, to shut W shops, mines and mills, and
therefore no true Republican will help TO bring
them OIL or encourage them. The House, it is
known. will not make any change in the tariff
for the better; it is folly to hope that it will
restore tho duties on wool. or make the duty
on tin plate or wire rods effective, or stop any
leaks by which home industry is harmed. This
being the case, it is not the part of friends of
homo industry to seek disturbing agitation
Of the question in the House. which can bear
no good fruit but must check business und
hurt labor. IL the Democrats insist their attack
will be met. and they may be sure that they
will hear enough of the question two years
hence, whether they face it now not.