Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-11-08
I 9l)G cai,faster Jirtelligeuss
LAAcAsrER NOVEMBER q, isss.
10 vrsssisaal Elections and the Tariff

+ f&ongreoetenal Elections and the Tariff.
t = amusing to watch the frantic ef-
1 41En Of certain newspapers to score free
gode reverse out Of the Congressional
>oecti0ns OF last Tuesday. Closely analyz-
1ng Al they say, it appears that in Car
11le1 and Morrison's districts organized
\ e6nrfs were made for the defeat of the
present 1ncumbents on the tariff question.
s Eloewhere the contests were apparently
decided upon the basis Of personal fitness.
OF the thirty-f1ve Democrats who voted
Z against the consideration of the Morrison
tariff bill, but fifteen were reelected. 1t
y di1icult to see in these figures any spe-
tinl victory for those who were opposed
70 the views of Messrs. Morrison and Car
4 Nile.
Il The facts seem to strike both ways, if
they are significant at all of changed con-
dition Of the feeling OF the people on the
tazi6 issue. II Mr.. Morrison in Illinois was
/ beaten because he is in favor of free trade,
and the Pennsylvania congressman were
s lat 1t home because they were in favor of
pgutection, 1t would seem to show that free
trade feeling is falling in Illinois, while the
rg0tection fever is dying down in Pennsyl.
vsnia; and probably the fact is Just
-. The sensible thought of the coun-
Try b growing into the conviction that
netther the extreme free trader or protec-
+ Zionist is right, but that the path of wis
dom lies between the extremes, as 1t gen.
erally does in everything.
The fact is that to talk of free trade and
protection, as the issue between the parties,
btotalk very loosely and inaccurately. The
question is not one of free trade, because
there ID no important body of people in
the country who advocate it. Even MI.
Morrison who has been stricken down as
free trader, according to the journals that
|wo are criticising, is not in favor of free
trade; and certainly the Democratic party
has never professed to be. There are too
many important industrial pursuits in the
country which have been fostered by the
protection policy and that must be
kept going for the sake of the men EN-.
pioyed IL not of the employers. The
measure introduced by Mr.. Morrison into
this Congress was not free trade measure
ntall; 1t was in fact a bill to continue the
protection enjoyed by American manufac-
turers and to increase it by letting in free,
or ct less rate of duty, certain raw mate
rails used in their manufactures.
That policy may be said to be the Demo.
cratic policy and it may be said to be
policy that will take the country a step
nearer to free trade, because it will enable
the manufacturer to meet foreign competi-
tion, With smaller duty on foreign i'm.
ports, BY reason Of the smaller cost of bis
product.
Now who does not want this end accom-.
plishedr What person does not want the
naanufactories of the United States put In
= position to manufacture without the aid
of protective duty, to the end that they
may have the whole world for their
marketS
There is no diversity of opinion at all in
this country as to the need of protecting
it, manufactures. The only question is as
TO how they may be best protected and fos-
tered. The Democratic party proposes to
Do It by strengthening them so that they
can walk alone. The Republican party
proposes to give the child the bottle after it
~ grown to manhood.
II the late election shows any tendency
~ popular sentiment on this issue, 1t
shows the growing popularity of moderate
Dem0cratic view of it. New England,
which has been planted immovably on pro-
fiction vote, because of her manufacturing
interests, advances toward the Democratic
embrace, feeling that the Democratic mode
q protecting her industries Is the true one.
The South has shown by its refusal to re.
elect certain Democratic congressman of
too radical free trade views, that it is ready
20 counsel a course that will fully protect
Al the country's industries; and this is
the natural outcome Of the South's new in
dnstrial development. Pennsylvania Demo-
'Cxacy refuses to approve the failure to in
erease the free list of raw materials. And
Hennsylvania protectionists find no other
means In their desperation, to stay the
demand for tariff modification than
- have emissaries to go out into
the districts Of prominent advocates
oe tariff modification, to defeat
them. II the means they used had been
honorable and the fight they made had
neon open, their success in defeating Morri-
- and lowering Carlsles majority might
hound to show that the people of these |
xicts disapproved the views OF their
eesentatives. But when 1t is
nown that their fight was made |
eofly and their success achieved without |
Rnion and agitation Of the issues. II
- % claimed that any verdict at al, !
sendeped upon it.
- DEMOCRATIC party does not propose
~ = snail be thrust into the position q,
cfng free trade party by any false state
enfs on the part Of preludiced observers
- Democratic doctrine 10 that ths nra..
blgh taxes must be equitably reduced
- being taken that existing industrial
cuuots shall not be hurt. Both parties
oGyoed that ths tax burden Is too heavy,
how 1t shall te reduced causes collision
oclnlons. The last Republican president