The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22
TARIFF LINES.
Republicans Dividing on the ouostio
of Revenue Reduction.

Republicans Dividing on the Question
of Revenue Reduction,
Washington special to the New York Herald.
The opening day of tho tariff debate
made more clear than ever the fatal divi-
sions in the Republican party ON the rev.
enue question.
This division has so far made IL impos.
siblc for the Republicans TO agree upon a
measure in opposition TO the Mills bill,
and unless they do so agree upon hill OF
their own it is certain that number OF
western Republicans will prefer that.
Their constituents demand tariff revision.
They are not particular in what precise
shape II comes, and they would support
their representatives in voting for Re.
publican tariff reform bill in preference TO
that Of the Democrats, but they demand
something in the way OF reform, and they
are making their demand known here.
The Presidents message was bad blow
for the Republicans. Ii raised question
ON which the party has never been united,
on which the leaders have always felt
compelled To make promises which after
ward they violated, aud which they can.
not keep now without splitting their party
in half.
The eastern Republicans are extreme
protectionists They want not lower but
q higher tariff They would like 10 enact
strictly protective tariff, on the ground
stated in the minority report ON the Mills
bill:
"Our own market II the best. There Is
no market anywhere compared with It,
Let MS first al all possess IL. II is ours,
and We should enjoy II.
That IL the voirc oi eastern manufacture
ems, already highly protected, hut wanting
still higher rates 10 give them the cXclu.
siyc monopoly OF the American market,
and make the G5,OOOOO Of American
consumers their helpless victims.
Mr.. Kelley yesterday spoke definitely
the wishes Oi the eastern Republicans in
his reply 10 Mr.. Mills lie advocated the
total abolition 81 the internal taxes, and ~
10 the tariff he would not touch IL except
10 increase duties. llc said:
81 would promote byndcquaic duties the
growth of jutc, rdmic, flax, hemp and other
iibr0us plants, aud their manufacture into
thread, .corlage aud fabrics, and would
maintain the existing duties on sugar. I
would also impose such duties ON unplntc
aB would quicken tho mining oi tin. The
true principle OF revenue reform point
10 the abolition OF the internal roycnu,
system"
That represents The eastern half Of IA,
| party. hut It's western half disagrccs We
! hcmcntly with Mr.. Kelley Mr.. Brown
/ Of Indiana, also n member Of the ways anil
means committee, wants for his own con.
sliucnts free salt, free lumber, free tim
plates and a reduction on some hardware
products. Fcnaior Sabin Ol Minnesota,
rs The mouthpicco Of his people, speaks for
free salt, free lumber aud reduction on
steel rails The Last Republican platform
IN Iowa declared:
owe believe the tariff should be revised
and reduced"
The last Republican platform In Nobms.
kn demands that "a revision OF the tarin
shall boz made nj the earliest practical DAY"
The last Republican plailormin Minnesota
declared for
IAN early and judicious revision Of the
tariff, with simplihcation and reduction
Of customs duties"
The Chicago Tribune said only the other
day "Rcpublcan congressman cannot
afford 10 act ~ ohstructiOnists and labor Ia
defeat the tarill reform, Ia which the party
stands pledged. The Tribune desires in a
friendly way to warn them and urge them
10 such n course Of action ~ will disproye
ciicciually the change that they seek TO
keep a great surplus accumnluting in the
treasury IN order that II may b. squanicr.
cd In wuslclul appropriations from session
30 session."
Between these western demands and Mr..
Kcllcy's program there is Ear greater dii.
ference than between these western Re-.
publicans and the Mills bill The Rcpub-
leans make much al Mr. Randalls opposi-
ton 10 yhe Democratic bill, but Mr. Ran.
dali has certainly not m1rc than half a
dozen Democratic followers left, and the
Mills bill will get more than q dozcn Re.
publican votes. II is the Republican party
which is In difficulties on the tariIl question.