The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-04
APPEAL.
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1856
THE BILL.

standa. with all its defects, injustice,
inconsistency and damaging influence
upon traie are, 30 lar, less noisy in
their obi sctions TO the Morton bill
thau-co asidering the clamor ia'sed
against his "horiz1ntaP bill-might
have been expected. The TACT is that
there is a growing conviction reach
ing even to some Of that c'a'P, that the
obvious and provoking blunderings
and wrong.doing OF the present tariff
stand in need OF reform, in the interest
Of those who profit by the tariff as we'll
as OF the public generally. There are
a few newspapers that are conspicuous
for their devotion TO the system Of
protection, that advise their readers to
accent the Morrison bill, "a more mod
crate in lis provisions than n would
be that would come at a later day,
when the defects Of the existing tariff
have excited feelings OF strong animoI-
ity, auch as would give rise to demands
for q much more complete revision OF
the tariff than the Morrison bill pro-
poses. That bill has the advantage to
them OF requiring but very slight
change , while the people would be
pleased with the free admission OF
several specials thai would have the
effect OF increasing the employment Of
labor, an object 1t is go desirable to ac-
complish. The more thoughtful and
intelligent protsctionists see that the
faulty, mischievous and uni ust feat
ures now causing 30 much dissatisiao-
ton cannot always be quietly acqui-
esced in, and that II would be better to
let the Morrison bill pass than to wait
until the public indignation is aroused
and mere stringent claims urged. The
changes that have taken place IN
American industry, new inventions
and the vicissitudes OF trade ell com
bine TO make a change certain, and
that change, these reasonable protec'
tionists urge, had better be made
when the public mind is quiet than
when il Is excited upon the tubiect
The misfortune is that among those
who acknowledge the necessity OF 1
change in the tariff, few arr
willing that the change should aifecI
products in which they are indi'
vidually concerned. Iron is willing
TO concede sugar, and wool to lowe
the rate on lumber. II the advocates
for each article affected by the MoTri
son bill are thus to have their special
ties individually excepted, il is evlden.
that no tariff revision will be mad,
until overwhelming public sentimen
compels and forces changes OF a mucl
more radical character than are pro-
posed by the Morrison bill. 1t is
question whether, even now, tn
moderate charges that bill would in
duce ara sufficient to prevent NOR
lsweeping changes at OF early day. II
b meantime the tariff reiormers ar
Try well satisfied with the signs o
Ie times. For them the MorrisoI
IN is good AZ far rs 1t goee, on til
tincipls that "halt a loaf is bette
has no bread" but they view it {
DO narrow and superficial to meet til
demands Of commerce and the view
of an increasing number Of the peopl
II the Morrison bill passes there wi
be quiet upon the subject until 1t
seen how it works. II it be %rejecte'
n more comprehensive and effectu
measure will be adopted at a not vel
far of future day. Tariff reform,
any event, will not stand still.