The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-02-17
SHERMAN AND THE TARIFF.

Senator John sherman, with other
notable public men, was invited to the
banquet rendered by the Home Market
Club, of Boston, on Thursday evening.
Being invited to address the assembled
guests he did so in his usual logical way.
The question of tariff being that which
is OF greater importance to the American
people to-day than any other issue, Mr..
Sherman took occasion TO expound brief
ly upon the subject, and to show the posi-
ton occupied by himself and his party
on this great issue. when | think of
the contrast" said the Senator, be
tween our home market and the fyreign
market, in magnitude and proportions.
the universal benefits of one and the
comparative Importance of the other, |
am led to wonder why SO many gentle
men of education and character are
willing to endanger the wonderful devel-
opment of our home industries 10 IN
crease our foreign competition. | be-
lieve the best We can do for mankind il
to do the best for our country"
Mr.. Sherman then referred Ia the
surplus in the treasury which has stood
Tor some time as menace to tue coun-
try in the eyes of the Democratic party.
While such large surplus as we now
have on hand is not entirely wholesome
II is much better than deficit. But this
surplus is not the outgrowth of a year;
1t Is the accumulations of % years. 1t
has enabled us to perform, as Mr.. Sher-
man says, the magnificent feat of rapid
ly reducing the public debt, a policy
which has excited the admiration ofthe
greatest statesmen of Europe. The
Senator then goes on to say: "Why Il
not this surplus applied to the payment
or purchase ofthe public debt? Whose
fault is it that it accumulates in the treas
ury? Plainly the fault of Mr.. Cleveland,
whose secretary of the treasury is au-
thorized to apply this surplus at any
time to the reduction of the public debt
II he had followed the example of his
predecessors he would, weekly on
monthly, have purchased and retired
the public debt under the main proyi-
sions of the existing law. But if the
President preferred to reduce the sur.
PLUS by reduction of taxation, why did
he not apply TO Congress 10 diminish
taxation without disturbing home pro-
ductions? | know that at any time in the
last Congress the taxation could have
been reduced but for the desire of the
speaker of the house and the president
to strike at the home industries rather
than TO reduce taxation. am decided.
ly in favor of tariff reform, always have
been, and always will be. The tariff
ought to be carefully revised with view
to correct any inequalities or incongTui.
ties that have grown out of the change
of values since the passage of the act o.
1883. Every imported article which
does not compete with our domestic in,
dustry, and is essential TO the comfort
and wants of our people, should be
placed upon the free list. Every raw
material Of industry VIII. oh does not com
pete with our own productions should be
especially selected for the free list W hen.
ever any industry which can be con,
Quoted in this country with reasonable
success needs moderate increase o.
duty for it's protection"
In these few sentences Mr.. Sherman
has struck the key note of the whole
situation. 1t is full well known by
those in position to judge that major
ity of the Democratic Congress to-day il
too cowardlv to tackle this tariff ques
ton for fear they will make some blum
der which will rebound to the detriment
of the administration in the pending
campaign. That they will discuss the
question in something of the manner o.
a school boy reading his first essay il
probable, but when through talking
they will have done little or nothing iol
the enlightenment of the public or the
reduction of the tariff. The very thing
which some of the ultra free traders
want are those which the Republican
party will not submit to, but any meas
ure looking to a wholesome reduction Of
tariff without striking at the very hear
of American industries and American
labor will receive the cordial support Of
Republicans.