St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-01
TARIFF REFORM


B. Sanborn's Clear-Cat Opinion.
Gen. John B. Sanborn, one of the
leading lawyers of this city and one of
the most prominent Republicans in the
state, communicates to the GLOBE. i'll re-
Spouse to an Inquiry, the following
views concerning the effect Of President
Harrison'S election on tariff reform:
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Nov. 2S, lSSS.-You
ask me ''if believe that the election Of
President Harrison means a cessation in
the tariff reform as inaugurated by
President Cleveland's message and the
Mills bill, and it | believe that the pend
ing senate bill will be passed by the
present congress" In answering these
questions permit me to premise by say
ing that it is of very little consequence
what my belief is i'll regard to these
matters. 1t is, however, a settled be-
lief with me that no bill will be passed
by the present congress i'll relation to
the tariff. and that the agitation OF the
tariff question as now inaugurated will
continue until bill is passed by con-
gresS reducing the tariff to the lowest
standard consistent with the require
ments of the revenue and the demands
of industries engaged In the production
of manufactured articles now protected
from foreign competition by the tariff.
Upon this question the result of the
recent election is, i'll my opinion, with
out much significance so far as an ex-
preston of public sentiment upon this
question is concerned. All parties had
resolved that tariff reform is necessary.
The Democratic party OF the house had
passed the Mills bill. The Republican
majority of the finance committee of the
senate had made an elaborate report
upon the tariff question. opening with
the statement that revision and reform
were absolutely necessary. The queS-
ton submitted to the electors by the
statements of Republican statesmen
and orators was whether free trade or
protection should be the policy of the
country, while Democratic statesmen
and orators submitted the question
unreaSonably high tariff, such as
now exists, or a reasonably low
tariff, such as we ought to have.
Old party associations and ties. personal
interests and aspirations, sectional ami
| moSities, and a thousand other minor
matters entered into the motives and ill.,
fuenceS that determined the vote of the
electors. There can be no question i'll
I the mind of any one that it all political
| parties had agreed to submit to the
electors the simple question: ''Shall the
tariff be reduced from it's present stand
ard, or allowed to stand where it is?'2
that most overwhelming majority
would have voted for reduction. But
many who would thus vote would also
vote that the Republican party was the
safest party to make it: while all DEM
oerats and many Republicans were and
are Of the opinion that the leaders and
managers of the Republican party are
50 involved i'll the mesheS and tolls of
capital and capitalists that that party
cannot be relied upon to make
such reductions of the tariff as are re-
quired by the best interests of the great
laboring and producing masses of the
country.
The question of taxation affects so
yitaliy all interests and all classes that
it must always remain one OF the lead
ing questions that will agitate the pub
lie mind. While limited to the necessi-
ties of the revenue, and to such protec-
ton alone as promotes the public well
fare, all its influences and operations
are on the side of liberty and righteous
ness; but when it is carried beyond this,
and is used to raise revenues not needed
by the government and to take the prod
uctS of the labor of certain classes of
people, and hands them over to another
class that have done nothing towards
producing OF earning them, its lnfili-
ences and operations are all on the side
of tyranny and oppression, and nothing
but evil. and most serious evil, can be
the ultimate consequence. 1t is not
strange that Republicans desire to test
farther the ability of their old party to
remedy this and all other wrongs; nor is
it strange, | think, that many old Re-
pubicanS have lost faith in the ability
OF that party to remedy these wrongs,
after so long delay and apparent neglect
of so grave questions. Yours truly,
JOHN =. SANBORS.