Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-09-21
me Tariff and the Surplus.
TopNks CommonwraIth

|
! Topets Commonwealth.
The current number Of the North
American Review contains an interesting
article on 'Democracy at 81 Louis. in
which the writer shows that the free
/ trade wing OF the Democratic party has
B captured President Cleveland and the
House OF Representatives, aud that il is
not, as would appear on the surface.
President Cleveland who has captured the
Democratic party and bent il to his will.
Whether the free trade wing Of the Dem
ocratic party will follow up its victory
over the President and the House by the
capture Of the national vote at the Presi.
dental election. depends. the writer as
serts. on a clear knowledge Of the tariff
issue, and more especially Of the Mills
tariff bill. how il was concocted and VIII AT
II really means The birth-p place of the
bill is developed in mystery. AS the writer
sarcastically observes. even to this day
tho place where the present bill was
formed is as secret as the burial place Of
Moses. lie then goes on with his scath-
ing Indictment He says: After it saw
daylight. not one single interest affected
was permitted to appear and defend its
position. Capital and labor, and even
their representatives, on the floor, were
alike shut out Nothing but secret inter
views have been allowed and what took
place at those interviews no protectionist
Democrat or Republican-ha been al.
lowed to know The bill is thoroughly
and essentially geographical Where
Democracy has sway, the knife skins
lightly. Where the other side is repre-
scented. the knife goes to the hit Salt
is on the free list, rice is left with a
duty OF 6S to 100 per cent A party
caucus has been held. and some Of the
heaviest duties have been restored,
where Democratic representatives would
be disconnected. In other words, in.
dustries have been treated with favor or
disfavor on account of their politics
What the Free Traders so frequently call
the privileged classes have been con
iinued in their privileges. if Democrats
came from their districts. and refused if
they did not Briefly, the Mills tariff
bill is machine to catch votes at the
Presidential election. Where Democrats
are concerned. the Free Trade knife is
firmly tied up; but where they are not
concerned, IL is allowed full swing In
short, the bill is fragrant example of
principles sacrificed 10 the eXigencies Of
party. The writer then proceeds to es-
tablish what in fact is patent TO every
one, that the present tariff 10 grief and
a veXatlon TO no one. There have been
no public meetings throughout the coun-
try demanding a reduction on the tariff.
as ii now stands. There has been no
popular cutlery for lower duties on im
ported merchandise, and above ALL no
petition 10 Congress demanding relief
from the oppression of the protective
system. On the contrary. the popular
feeling is so evidently the other way,
that every DeGocrst. from the President
dOwnwards. IS careful To explain that the
Mills tariff bill is not a free trade bill, and
that every protected American industry
will in no way be injured by the passage
of that bill. Neither. il NUT be con
fessed-eXcept in few partisan journals
lis there any indication that there exists
in the country any profound dissatisfac-
tiun on account Of the surplus in the
treasury. Indeed. there are not wanting
Americans-and they are by no means
the least patriotic brethren-who are
proud OF the surplus as Of something es-
sentially Americas, and which no other
nation the wide world over can boast of
AS rule people groan over a deficit, and
not over a full treasury. 1t is true that
in languid sort OF way there has arisen
a feeling that il would be wiser 10 dis
uose Of the surplus than to allow il TO
accumulate in the treasury, and II is 10
this feeling that the Mills tariff bill pre-
tends to address itself Experience, how.
ever, has repeatedly shown that reduced
duties increase imports, and as con
sequence. that the treasury receipts are
increased and not diminished by a reduc-
ton Of the duties; 40 that the Mills tariff
bill so far as the surplus is concerned.
would rather increase than diminish il.
The only way. indeed. in which a tariff
bill could be made t. work So As TO strike
down the surplus would be by large al.
ditions To the free lit, but this would be
free trade with vengeance and the
party in power, notwithstanding its
secret proclivites. shripks from such an
open declaration Of its principles. Had
the aim Of the Democracy been simply "A
reduction Of the surplus and nothing else,
there was, as the writer i'm the North
American Review justly observes. mo
moment Of time since the opening Of the
session, when a bill could have been de-
featcd which took $50 GOO, 600 from
tobacco, So OOO 900 from alcohol used in
the art, and either Sl2 600, 900 or $25,
coo 600 from sugar. had the majority
presented it, The Government, for the
last six months. might have taken at the
rate Of Sjl 100000 less per year, than