The Arizona champion., 1888-06-09
TARIFF REFORM" AMBIGUOUS.

What is meant by the tariff re- form" must be judged from the gen eral principles and policy of the man or party that uses the term.
 Somebody once defined orthodoxy as "my doxy." In other words, or thodoxy was the true doctrine as viewed from his standpoint, But other men. who differ from him in belief, also use the word orthodoxy as applied to their ideas. The Con gregationaists consider themselves orthodox-from the Congregational point of view; the Episcopalians re- gard themselves orthodox-sCeord= ing to their way of looking at things; the Roman Catholics esteem them selves orthodox--from the Roman Catholic standpoint, The other de- nominations likewise. One cannot judge. then, what is meant by Cor thodoxy" until he knows what de- nomination a man belongs to and what the standard doctrine of that denomination is.
 So it is with the expression ''tar- if reform" The democratic leaders have adopted this ambiguous ex- pression for a purpose. Knowing that the tariff Is not ur& as to its tariff policy, they have employed stradling expression which can be interpreted to suit the divergent views of the two wings. "Taritf re- form" conveys no definite idea as to the nature of the reform. It is in- definite and evasive. It is rare that representative democratic bodies which use the expression explain clearly what they mean by it, The republicans could use and do use the same words in speaking of their own policy, but they do not hesitate to say what they mean by reform. For instance, Senator sherman, in his recent speech before the home mar ket club in Boston, said: q am de- cidedly in favor of tariff reform, al ways have been and always will be. I have participated ;n tariff reform since 1855. but my idea of tariff reform is not especially to make our duties acceptable to foreign nations, but rather to promote the interests of our own people; not to take les sons from the Golden club or the English aristocracy, but from Wash ington, Jefferson, Jackson and Lin coin, and to follow the teachings of Webster and Clay"
 But even if Senator Sherman had not explained what he meant by 'tarifg reform" it would have been fair to judge what he meant from from the ruling policy of the party to which he belongs and the meas ures which he has advocated, And likewise when the democratic party advocates 'tarif' reform"--precisely the same words-it is fair to say that it does not mean tariff reform in the line of protection, because the dominant influence in that par ty to-day is hostile to protection,
 The kernel of the matter then Is this: The abstract expression ''tarifF reform" means nothing further than some change in the tariff. The tai if needs doctoring, to be sure, but it may be doctored in two ways. One will kill the patient The other way will regulate the system," and produce a strong, healthy condition. The public must choose whether it will have the true healing physician or the murderous quack. The repub- lican party will reform the taaff without losing right of its tradition al policy of protection. The demo- cratic party will, if it can, reform the tariff in the direction of free trade. That is the simple differ enoe between republican tariff re form" ard democratic 'tariff re- form" Fellow citizens, 1t is for you to make yoar choice.