Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-07-23
VIII Not DO Damage,

Will Not DO Damage.
The Mills bill has passed the Demo-
cratic House with practically solid
Democratic vote against solid Republic
can vote /; the issue having already been
made q party one by the action Of the
Political conventions, such capitalization
OF the vote in Congress was to be looked
for. The few Republicans who voted
for the bill and the few Democrats who
voted against it undoubtedly did so
from honest conviction, since their
political interests and prejudices would
have led them different way but that
their judgment is superior to that of the
great majority Of their party associates is
not at all to be presumed. Mr.. Randall
and Mr.. Sowden are men of great force
and determination of mind, and found
themselves unable to yield their
associates upon a question of politi-
cal economy. II they did not think
with them, they could not be expected to
vote with them. Upon this issue they
have placed themselves apart from their
party; but they have not neces-
sarily ceased to be Democrats.
They are not Republicans certainly and
doubtless would be more unable to
agree with tariff bill of the Re.
publican majority than with that of the
Democratic majority. Though the tariff
issue has been made the most prominent
one in this campaign, 1t is not the
chief issue involved in the question
Is to whether the Democratic administra-
tion shah be retained in power. The rec.
ord 1t has made in practical government
il wholly outside that which it makes
upon tariff reform; there is abundant
opportunity for the highest of tariff men
to continue in Democratic fellowship in
this contest, and none supposes that such
old and reliable Democratic leaders as
randall and Sowden will need to search
FOR any other political fold.
The tariff issue is peculiar one, ant
there has never been unanimity of senti.
ment upon it in either political party
We approach it closer now thar
we ever have before; and it il
because the Mills bill drops al
pretension Of free trade, and Is mad
up to give due protection to a
the manufacturing interests of the cour
try. The additions OF raw material.
which it makes to the free list, are d
rectly for the benefit Of the manufactuI
ing industry and generally offset any re
duction of duty made upon manufac
tures. No such reductions are made, OF
at least none are intended to he made
that will cripple any industry. The ides
has been to give adequate protection t
all existing industries, and we believ,
that 1t has been done. The Democrat.
who voted against the bill must beliey,
that in important particulars it has no
been done for surely they should moi
ask more than adequate protection fol
manufacturers.
This is the Republican demand and
with it we believe no Democrat can have
sympathy. Super-abundant protection
simply affords opportunity for combina.
ton OF capital TO control the home pro.
duction and such monopoles have al.
ways had the opposition Of Mr.. Randall
and Of Mr.. Sowden. They have always
bsen tribunes of the people; and the
error they now fall into Is one of the head
and not of the heart. We believe tina,
they do err in believing that the Mills
bill will do damage to any manufacturing
industry.
1t is generally good and logical bill,
topping off only excessive duties and not
increasing the free list as much as it
should, for coal and the ores of all metals
might well be added TO it, as raw ma
terials OF manufacture. The admission
OF cotton ties without duty seems TO be
The only illogical provision of Importance
IN the bill. 1t was done in the interest of
the cotton producer and though there
does not seem TO be any reason why cot
ton ties more than nails should be free,
the concession made was not very seri.
Gus one to crafty the demand of so i'm
portant production Of the country.
The measure on the whole is one that
may be very strongly defended, and can
be but weakly assaulted especially by a
party that has been able to agree upon
no other measure that will set off against
1t. The Republicans occupy very weak
position before the country in practically
confessing that they cannot agree upon
tariff bill. Against the Democratic
party, presenting great trout for a mea.
sure passed by the almost unanimous
democratic House, is opposed party
that disagree with the Democratic posi-
tion without being able to agree upon
its own. 1t is not position Of
dignity and strength. There is a
situation confronting the country that
must be met; 1t is the necessity of re.
ducing revenue and taxation. This is
conceded and il the Democratic plan of
reduction is bad, it can only be shown by
the presentation of better plan. Free
whisky will not do for the Republican
party campaign horse and yet that is
the animal they are astride If they cannot
agree upon a plan Of tariff reduction.
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