Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-11-18
The Tariff Question in the Election.
Iof1 of NJ Mnrrirnn and Mt

The Tariff Question in the Election.
The defeat of Mr.. Morrison and Mr..
Hurd and the CLOSE CALI for Mr. Carlisle
in the recent election are balan ced by
the election of two tariff reformers in
Massachusetts and by the plurality cast
for one in Rhode Island, the fight having
been made in all these districts on the
tariff issue. Mfr. Morrison has succumb-
ed to the vote of ignorant workingmen
befooled by the talk about "pauper labor
of Europe" Mr. Hurd has again lost his
election by the same means, but as he is
not a member Of the present Cons
eress, the election in his district does not
count AS loss to tariff reformers. The
close run in Mr. Carlisle's district is the
greatest surprise of all. 1t Is not yet
clear whether bis well>knOwn views on
the tariff question were the principal
cause of his loss of votes IN the cities
and large towns of his district, or whether
the uprising in behalf of an obscure fur
niture- maker was similar in character to
that which gave so large vote to Mr..
George in New York
Whatever may have been the influences
in Mr. Carlisle's case. it is not to be de-
MED that the defeat of Morrison and Hurd
has given check to the tariff reform
movement 1t is equally true that the
success gained in Massachusetts has, to
some extent, shifte | the centre of gravity
of the movement The success gained
in Massachusetts and Rhode Island points
To a state. %: uae iSinesS amolg manu-
factHIcrs and 20 IL suspicion among the
more intelligent of their workingmen
that the tariff is no longer helpful to
them, that it is, in fact. what Mr.. Henry
George, in Letter written to Connect
icut friend just before the election said
it was, - fraud on workingmen." Now
that the Blaine high>tarif organs are fiat
tering Mr.. George and ''soft>soaping' his
followers. We think that they ought to
pay some attention 10 this letter, written
in the very thick Of the fray.
New YORK. October IL, 1886.
am a free trader, pure and absolute,
and regard protection as a fraud on
workingmen. Ii were citizen of Cons
necticut | would sign your circular or do
anything could to show the workers
how they are humbugaed by tariff
which. while protecting favored capitals
isis and land owners leaves them free to
grind the faces OF their employees. Yours
truly. HENRY GEORGE.
We shall not esteem it misfortune if
the movement for tariff reform is
taken out of congress for a time 1t
must be admitted that the country has
not vet been educated on the question.
1t is clear also that education must have
its beginning in those places where the
tariff pnches the people SO that they
feel it 1t is in New England that the
pocket nerve has been most severely
touched by the insrnsate duties on tools
and raw materials. The tariff question is a
question of dollars and cents. 1t appeals to
sentiment. 1t does not touch the heart
1t moves no religious feeling, 1t is an |
economic question, almost as cold as the
problems of astronomy. Ii can make its |
way to public notice only as it is demon |
strated TO the perceptions and experience |
Of individuals by the actual workings of
tue tariff that the existing system causes !
losses which might be avoided. 1t is in |
the manufacturing states that this fact |
will b. soonest learn ed, because here the |
tariff has exhausted itself. The benefits |
to particular classes have been anDulled |
by the course Of time, and the effect of |
all taxes-to take a shaving eff both |
wages and profits has begun to show |
itself No more striking illus tratiOn of |
this fact can be found than the access
sion of Abraham Hewitt to the ranks of |
the tariff reformers. All of Mr.. Hewitts
business interests are manufacturing
interests He is not moved by ideality
or considerations of universal brother
hood to be a tariff reformer. but strictly |
By the knowledge, acquired in business,
that the tariff is Il losing operation. 1t |
is this knowledge that has given the |
tariff refOrmers so strong a fOothold in |
Massachusetts 1t is this which has |
stirred up the wollen operatives in Rhode
Island and Pennsylvania. We expect 10
see this knowledge spread and increase
in the East, and we expect to see protec1
tionism of the Chinese wall type dwin
die and decay in its stronghold sooner
than in any other part of the country
where it is really strong. At present il
is political stalking horse without any |
snimating principle.