Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-08
The fight between the rival schools Of politi-

The fight between the rival schools Of politi-
cal economy has resulted, 30 far as this cleo
ton is concerned, in favor Of the protection1sfs
and against the advocates of a tariff for revenue
only. The protected industries which have
been threatened have fought with desperation.
No doubts of the course toward which self
interest pointed them have hampered and
weakened their blows. The revenue-re-
formers. while firm in belief in the sound
ness of their reasoning upon question OF
POLITICAL economy, have not felt the spur
of threatened direct business loss stirring
them to extraordinary practical effort to sus-
tain particular political party; and many
among their number have been embarrassed
by doubts concerning the applicability of the
beautiful and plausible doctrines of free trade
to the existing nations of the world, with the
great diversities among them in the nee. 60
the cost of living Of the worthwhile tbev ace
peting communities. Iase free trade between
has fourished With the workmen are sub
the variousffra level, and with protection
stannathe cheaper labor Of parts of the out
a~ world. Whether this prosperity has been
promoted exclusively by internal free trade or
exclusively by external protection or by the
combination of the two policies is not an easy
question to decide, and if in putting ones
theory into practice the wrong element is Sc
lected for elimination, the prosperity which is
conceded to have existed is gone. The revenue
reformers, therefore, propose an experiment,
their interest in the practical application of
their theory is largely sentimental, and as po-
litical workers they are inevitably no match for
men who firmly believe that the proposed ex-
pertinent touches their pocket-books.
After hearing the tariff arguments the work.
ingmen in manufacturing districts show
tendency to adopt the policy of letting well
enough alone. Their condition, all admit, is
far above that of the foreign work ingmen with
whom it is proposed to put them in COMPETE
tion, and whether this superiority is attained
through or in spite Of the protective tariff they
are in the main content to have things remain
IS they are, and to refrain from experiments
which, they are told, will be dangerous.
The farmers, upon whom the revenue
reformers have placed the greatest
reliance, do not respond, at least in
sufficient numbers to bring success.
More time for educational efforts might have
accomplished a different result in parts of the I
northwest, but with the distinct issue sprung |
with comparative suddenness upon the country, |
and with advanced revenue reformers at the |
front of the democratic forces, the result has |
apparently been to drive to extraordinary /
effort those individuals, classes and commun-
titles which favor protection, and which seeing |
their own interest clearly move rapidly, with
out stirring to great enthusiasm and the hard |
work of practical politics those who from
locality, occupation or study of political econ
omy are naturally inclined to oppose protec-
tive tariff as hurtful
The revenue reformers, though they have
missed fire this time, will undoubtedly pick
their fints and try it again. The republicans
should not and probably will not be led by |
victory for the protective principle to neglect
tariff revision and surplus reduction, which are
clearly demanded by public opinion.