New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-19
FORNING FOR THE FIGHT.

As Picketts division came out Of the distant
woods at Gettysburg, with splendid order and
discipline advancing for the decisive charge OF
Inc civil war, so Democrats In Congress mean
60 emerge from secret consultations with the
tariff bill on which decisive struggle OF our
political history will begin The industry and
the civilization of the century fight against
Carlisle, as they fought against Pickett, and
President Cleveland has not General Lees rare
capacity in leadership Few Of his followers
now deny that he damaged his cause by the
ignorance shown in his message. He did not
know the dividing line between protective and
free-tIade beliefs, and so committed himself
far beyond his own intent. "The Mobile Reg
ister," the leading Democratic journal Of Ala
bama, says with truth: "The reasoning Of the
President is precisely that of the Bright and
Golden school. Happily, the world has dis
carded the doctrine unsOund." Yet there
are Northern journals, such as "The New
York Herald" which persist in denying that
the term " free trade'' fits the message or the
bill which is being secretly prepared by Demo-
Gratis of the Ways and Means Committee. The
falsity Of this defence ought TO be made plain
to every voter before the struggle begins.
The coming bill, according TO "The Her
a,d'sD Washington dispatches, will take off
duties on wool and corresponding duties on
woolen goods on the ground that as " The
Herald" ai1irms, Tho manufacture would. in
fact, be per cent more highly protected than
now" That is not true. The assertion rests
upon the frec-tradc theory that removal of the
duty on wool would lessen the cost of wool to
manufacturers by the full amount of that duty
Of "a
not. Every one knows that repeal Of duties
here would tend to raise prices of wool abroad
Even now the Free Traders arc parading prIcc
tables to prove that wool is, in fact, cheaper
under protection than it ever was under no
duty or a revenue duty. Resting upon this
false free-trade theory, long discarded by
everybody except the most impractical thco-
rists the measure is properly called free-trade
bill It's effect would be, first, to kill wool
growing here, and to make the manufacture
dependent upon foreign supplies controlled by
British rivals second to put up the price of
wool abroad, and so to enhance the cost of
materials third to leave the manufacture
without the corresponding duties on goods
but with raw materials dearcr than they arc
now. and consequently to crush the manufact-
IRE. Thus, both in theory and in practical
effect the measure follows the message and is
properly called free-trade bill.
In support of this measure "The lIerald'
resorts to disingenuous quotation from the
memorial of woollen manufacturers to Secre-
tary Manning setting forth disadvantages
which the duty on wool involved for them.
The fact is suppressed that in the same memo
rial the manufacturers then unanimously pro-
- -f..a
removal of the duties on wool, and submitted
most convincing reasons. The growers are
far more numerous than the manufacturers Of
wool If the growers do not get fair returns.
they cannot purchase literally of goods. En-
lightened protection does not attempt to build
I'D ono interest by destroying others; that Is