New-York tribune., 1888-04-19
TIE TARIFF-A CONTRAST.

The Tariff bill and its opponents, the Presi-
dents policy and the National policy, the Demo-
cratic party and tho Republican, can all DO
judged by the speeches of Mr.. Mills and Judge
Kelley. Mr.. Mills. Chairman Of the Committee
by which the Tariff bill was reported, was ex-
pressly selected as Democratic leader in the
House and the representative OF the Presidents g
policy because he was deemed better informed
on the tariff than any other supporter Of that
policy. The Mills bill, if not the product of his
own unaided efforts, is publicly fathered by him.
Judge Kelley is simply the Oldest and most ex-
perienced of many advocates OF the Republican
policy in the House. On which side is there
truth knowledge of facts wisdom, and Ca
pacity to serve the country?
The argument of Mr.. Mills turned upon a sin
gle assertion, that woollen clothing worn by
workingmen is rendered 100 per cent more
costly by the tariff An intelligent reader,
however brief The time he may have to devote
to the comparison, will see that Mr. Mills chooses
the woollen duties for the keynote of his ar
gument as the President chose them for his
chief point of attack because it Is believed by
Mr.. Mills, by the President and by the Demo-
cratic party, that consumers suffer more di-
rectly and In larger measure from these duties
than from any other point of the present tariff.
If what Mr.. Mills has to say of these duties Il,
unsound, his entire argument Is worthless. II
he Is incapable as lawmalzer because Of igno-
rance on that precise point which he chooses
as the key Of debate, which the President chose
as the turning point and vital feature Of his
policy, and which the ablest leaders Of the
Democratic party have been studying for an
entire year, more carefully than any other part
Of the tariff they intended to attack, then the
party must be condemned for incapacity and
the policy rejected as ignorant and vicious
The assertion upon which Mr.. Mills's entire ar
gument turns is palpably untrue. The ordi-
nary wo0llen clothing worn by workingmen Is
not enhanced in cost 1 90 Per cent by The tariff,
nor by any other influence, for the conclusive
reason that it does not cost twice az much as
such clothing costs elsewhere. Clothing Of
that kind, it has been often stated by those who
have the best reason to know, Is on the whole as
CHEAP in this city as clothing of the same quality
in London. But this is absolutely certain, that
It does not cost twice as much. If Mr.. Mills
does not know this, that only proves the gno-
rance which makes him and his party incapable.
Certain kinds of goods are cheaper in Eng
land than here, though the difference even as
to them is not 90 per cent, nor anything like
it. Other kinds, in all respects as useful at
tractive and desirable, are cheaper here than in
England. This Is a question Of fact Mr..
Mills can buy excellent suits Of all-wool cloth
ing, fit for the wear of any man who wants
sound and durable goods, at prices ranging
from $40 to $40, and he ought to know per-
fectly well that he cannot buy suits as well
made and attractive. of as sound and durable
cloth, for So or $40 In England or anywhere
elso He can get shoddy cheaper there than he
can here. He can get the finest and most
fashionable qualities of woollen clothing cheaper
there than here, though even as to them the
difference is not 100 per cent. But the asser-
tion that substantial all-wool goods for ordi-
nary wear cost twice as much here Us in Eng
land is simply proof of an ignorance so deep and
dense and benighted that it fits man to lead
Democratic party In the House.
Judge Kelley speaks with knowledge gained
by personal investig CATION. He has spent months
In the centres Of British industry, studying the
condition and wages Of worldngmen. learning
from their own lips what they have to pay for
the things they buy, and gathering from them
and from employers the rate of wages paid.
That sort of study, voluntarily undertaken, not
at public cost, has qualified him TO speak and to
vote with knowledge His study and his aocu-