New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-05
h4pIPr RFDTCTION.

,o,,,.rcan statesmen and leaders al 'a,ious
.:,,,os within the last twenty-seven years "r'e
declared that reduction OF the ''''n 90 no
or reduction in this or tha' .-,Io "a
tariff was I'm their opinion ue''' ao.I
nleases Democrats now to deVo.e 80, - Co.
of space to these utterances, as IL '",'
more valuable than the present u'o." .som
- tho same Republican leaders ana S.aV'''non
a.. 49, dr,;es Of a protective character heeu
-.;sod rather than lowered. Canuid men
iii consider whether, in view Oh uho s.
ohoroe in circumstances and IN o"'ieS' ~ .ec
80. .. ouo,e statements regarding 'he 'ar'ii
no"0'' w &C evidence about the tariif OF
to-day. s.,n. IN nr,ces
twenty years ago great decline In prl.eS
.,rnrohout the civilized world ou' s'ea'9'
lar. than anywhere else because OF inc pie'.V"s
;naa,ion Of the currency, made the duties ,naO
49, .~;s,ea comparatively ineffective. ne
80 80 the tariff in 1866 and 1861 met thae
.n,.rcencv and industries began to develop
ran;dlv. From that time to this there mas oee"
ro;s;no of the tariff whatever except the re-
nan, If a single temporary reduction Oh III per
..rt The tenor of all changes 1or '"enN
wears has been to reduce duties. Inc Tree 'i''
has been so enlarged that imports unuei ~
only $4,000, 600 in 1868, have riSe" "
90 a. ooo mo. Duties on almost every class
=, .rt;cles have been greatly reduced. Ai'er
sn.,v ,ucb reduction the problem for reason
.hIa mon has been whether the work OF cu'Vins
down has been carried too lar
An this time changes in methods Oh hian-
.,f,.,,re in wages and in cost OF productioh III
~,her countries have continually tenueu "
.,oL. the reduced duties here less effective IMAM
thew were expected to be when adop'eu' 0'a.o'
men who consented to this or thai feuuouon
in the belief that foreign prices couio oo w
,ressed no further. and that the reduced uu'S
,vonld afford fair defence for home lnuusu!'
h.yo AGAIN and again been compelled TO adnl.
thai an unexpected decline in the price aoroau
has rendered the reduction excessive anu ,.n'
oh;ovous Such admissions have been peculidI-
~ freouent since the revision of 1883. FOR
o;on nr;oes Of many products declined SO rapidly
that the British average OF all quo'a'ionS was
16 per cent lower in July, 1886 than III ou'J >
1882 and of course the fall in many pIouuo's
was much greater. Important branches Vi
home industry were greatly injured by the
erormouslv increased competition to which 'he
reduced duties of 1888 opened tho door,
This brief recital Of facts shows thai IL Is
dishonest to quote Republican advocates OF
reduction of duties, at any time prior to 100 o.
40 evidence that after all the reductions whlch
have been made the duties ought still TO De
lowered. The truth is that as experience mas
proyed the reductions in 1888 went TOO lar Ill
MANY particulars, though in others not too 1ar'
What any man thought about the proper rate
of duty FIVE years ago is Of exceedingly h'ue
value now, moreover because of the unprece-
denied change which has been made IN the lor-
eign prices of many imported products. FAR
minded and practical men are therefore aware
that such quotations of ancient opinion as Il
they applied to the tariff of to-day, are es-
sentally deceptive and dishonest. The true
question for all citizens to-day is whether the
great reduction of thirty-eight millions IN pro
.ective duties now yielding about one hundred
and four millions, which the Mills bill actually
proposes, with its distinct change OF pohcy
toward free trade, is either expedient or safe