New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-16
ANOTHER ALLY GAINED.
ROBERT NJ. ELEPHANTS CONVERSION.

SUPPORT HARRISON. MOElON hNp 'hO'ht'fO-N'
The announcement in THE TRIBUNE that
Robert NJ. Olyphant president OF the Delaware
and Hudson Canal Company, who has been strong
Iy Democratic in his political proclivities for
wears and who voted for Mr. Cleveland in $751;
would this wear vote for the Republican ticket
because of the Democratic attitude against Pro-
lection was received with great satisfaction in
busincss circles Yesterday where Mr.. ELEPHANTS
high rcputation is known. Mr. Olyphant who is
ALWAYS avcrsc TO the use OF his name In print,
consented with extreme reluctance to the an
nounccmcnt of his position on the tariff question
When asked by a TRIBUNE reporter whether it
was true that he had decided 10 vote the Repub-
lean National ticket this year. Mr.. ELEPHANT
replied;
Yes. it is true. The reason why cannot
support Mr. Cleveland is because of his attitude
toward Protection | voted for him in Ss4. but
cannot do so this year, for he has proved him.
self TO bc-well-" and Mr. Olyphant paused as if
10 assure moderation in his words not the man
/ thought he would be. When voted for him
was told that he was not Free Trader
Do YOU consider him one now?" was asked
certainly think that he is inclined in the
direction Of Free Trade His message TO Con-
greSs was IA surprise to me in its character. and
his immoderate language on the Tariff question
should repel support When President says
wipe out all our industries in case his views on
the tariff arc not carried out. believe that he
ought TO he rebullcd. That certainly is n fair
Interpretation to be put on what he SAYS in his
message, when he remarks: Opportunity for
safe, careful and deliberate reform is now offered;
and none Of us should be unmindful of time
when an abused and rritated people. needless of
those who have resisted timely and reasonable
relief, may insist upon "a radical and sweeping
rectification of their wrongs
WISDOM GAINED BY EXPERIENCE.
1t seems TO me that the protective policy is
the only one which can sustain the prosperity Of
the country, and the history of the United States
is full of examples Of the evils of any attempt TO
move in the direction of free trade. AT least
five attempts have been made to reduce duties on
the lines of free trade, and on each occasion this
has been followed by the prOstration OF our in
dustries and by general bankruptcy. On each
occasion a return 10 the protective principle has
been followed by revival Of prosperous times.
have been through at least three of these periods
OF free-trade experiment, and my experience con-
vinccs me that cannot afford TO leave the
American system of protection. Why, the very
agitation OF this subject, no matter what may be
claimed BY some people, has checked and depressed
several important industries, To my own personal
knowledge If the agitation of Frec-rradc tariff
reductions can do this-and it is evident in every
branch of the iron trade, from the production of
ore upwaTd-what injury would not be done were
Mr.. Clcveland's recommendations carried into eff
feet?
As to the Mills bill itself, am opposed to
It because l co not believe il would reduce the
Treasury surplus but would most probably in
crease it, While it would greatly injure the in
dustries OF the country, it would also fail of the
object it aims at, it is fair to assume that the
increase the importatiOns, aid consequently swell
the aggregate of revenues from customs. If by
q lowering of the duty steel rails TO So We
increase our importation thrcc-fold the Treasury
will receive more money than 1t now does with a
duty Of 81 per tor. ! have been amused when
some of my Democratic friends have talked about
free whisley here. / have called their attention
70 the Inconsistency OF their UNFOLDING system
which they have always denounced as unconsti- !
tutionol and non-Amerlcan The internal revenue |
system was justfablc war measure, but it is |
the duty of Congress, in my opinion, to abolish |
it entirely when the opportunity offers as II does
now with the Treasury surplus to be reduced.
WHAT HURTS ONE HURTS ALL.
Claims may be made continued Mr.. ELEPHANT, |
" that some chcdpenng of goods might result from
tariff reductions in the direction of free trade |
but the fact cannot be altered that when the |
whole country il prosperous all Interests are pros
porous, and you cannot separate one interest |
and injure it without dsmage 10 the other in !
ierests, from the farmer through every branch |
Of skilled and unskllled labor The argument |
that even If wages OF labor were reduced the |
wOriQngmen could i've cheaper than he does now |
il bosh. There Is no country i'll the world where |
people can live as cheapIy as here, provided they
are willing TO accept the conditions that prevail
elsewhere. Our wOrlungmen can buy cheap enough |
goods but don't believe that they Will accept the |
style Of living that would be imposed by low |
wages.
Admitting that some interests might be bene
fitted in certain directions by the reduction or |
duties proposed by MIR. Mills. l consider that |
the loss IN other directions would offset the |
gain. For instance, there are many, railroads
rails arc little compared to the revenue they de-
rive from the manufacturing industries along
their lines. Even if they enjoyed the Iull benent
OF the reduction TO Sc proposed by the free-Ir rad
crs, they would lose infinitely more IN the loss
Of traffic that would follow the closing M or
curiament of interests now hOuriSlling and trib-
utary 10 their traffic 1 need hardly say that
the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company rail-
road is one of these But who suppOscs that after
the foreign manufacturer had, BY low duties
been enabled TO secure control of the American
markets until after another Of our mills was
shut down, prices woul remain low to the con
sumner? Our history shows that We couid only
look for an advance in prices after the British
had obtained supremacy IN America
by the destruction OF home industries
MAUDLIN FREETRADE SENTIMENT.
=" 1t is well that this question Of protection has
been brought up Tor decision III JhIs cdmpdIsn
III this maudin sentiment for free trade-fOr it is
nothing but "a maudlin sentiment-is TO prevail
as it has done at times in the past why, we
will simply have to adjust our affairs to meet
the new conditions. and wait until the damage
TO business that has Always followed u nom
tariff causes the inevitable reaction
and return to the American system: But do
not believe that the people will decide in favor
OF Mr.. Cleveland's experiment, and with settle.
mcnt Of the question decisvely on the side of
the iron trade will speedily Resume
prosperity and "a revival Of our general Industries
will be felt on every hand
Suppose Mr.. Cleveland in his letter Of &C.
ceptance removes all fear that he Is inclined
toward free trade ?"
Then / don't know what would be left Of
him." Mr.. Olyphant replied laughingly. People
adnircd him for his pluck In boldly grappinG