Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-11-10
The Tariff Scare.

As might have been anticipated in the
event of defeat, the election is no sooner
over than the cry is raised that the result
has been due to premature tariff reform agi-
,ation. Had not the President delivered
his tariff message of December it is pretend
ed that his election would haveb cen sort
of triumphel march, How little truth ls in
this view lies upon the surface.
Ofall the States Of The Union, New Jer-
sew and Connecticut would have most visi-
blv revealed the effects of a tariff scare"
had it any existence. The glass, earthen.
ware. wooden, cotton and iron and steel
manufactures of New Jersey are the indus
tries which the tariff-mongers declared
would be ruined by the Mills bill. Newark,
Trenton, Paterson, Camden and other
tow ms TEEN with workiogmen ia these In.
dustries vel New Jersey has given to Cleve
land majority almost double that OF four
wears ago. Such is the emphatic protest oil
industrial New Jersey against the false cries
of the tariff slarmisis.
Connecticut, too. 10 State of the Union
sarpasses Connecticut in the variety OF Its
manufactures or in the intelligence OF
its workinemeD, and nowhere has the
tariff issue been 80 thoroughly discuss
ed. Connecticut was included in the
doodle programme OF the republican CAM
uajgu managers. When dishonest appeals
TO fear made no impression upon the work
ippmen ard mechanics of Connecticut,
every means Of intimidation and device OF
corruption were brought to b ar upon them.
But Connecticut has gloriously emerged
from the tremendous assault upon her integ
rity and her intelligence with tariff reform
inscribed upon her banner.
On the other hand, while the greatest
manufacturing centre in the counlry-New
York and ookyn-rolled up a majority
of 20 GOO for Cleveland aud tariff reduction,
this great vote was overcome by increased
republican maiorities in the rural portions
of the State. In agricultural Indiana the
democratic majority was etlaced, not by
tariff scared workingmen, but by farmers,
who were Indifferent TO the Issue Ofthe cam
paisn. Manufacturing Chicago increased
! its vote fer tariff reform by several tbous-
anls, while the republicans gained in the
| farming districts OF Illinois. In Philadel.
phia. the second manufacturing centre Of
the United States, the democrats have gain
ed 81 600 votes in four years, and the repub
lcan majority has fallen eff more than
70 600 from the majority of Blaine, while in
the interior agricultural counties OF rem
syvania the republican msjoriiies have
swollen.
These facts and many more of the same
| tenor demonstrate that, so far as the work
ingmen of the country are concerned, the
tariff ghost has been pretty effectually exor-
csed in one campaign of discussion 1t
would not be easy to carry on another ma
iional contest upon the fallacy that the
American consumers do not pay the high
duties that are levied upon raw materials
aud articles of necessity. This much ground,
at least. has been gained. So lar from furnishing
any occasion for dependency, The situation is III
the highest degree encouraging TO the friends OF
tariff reform. Revolutions against abuses IN leg
slation profitable to powerful class interests, and
fortified by ancient prejudices and party trad-
tions, cannot be accomplished in year and day.
But sooner or la.er-and sooner rather than later
this revolution will be glorionsy consnmmated
| in thorough revision of the existing system OF
| tariff spoliation.-Phitd. Record,