The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-04-20
The Tariff Dabate In the Country.


The Democratic apprehension that the
Presidents message WAS a political
blunder, and the Republican confidence
that it, had secured Republican success,
are hardly justified by the courss OF
events. 1t is now four months since
the message was laid before the country,
and the election of the delegates to the
nominating conventions are at hand.
But the situation is certainly very dif-
ferent from what was anticipated. Ii
is plain that the prospect of vast over
taxation. and OF an enormous corrup-
tion fund in the shape of q surplus has
not aroused popular enthusiasm. More
over. the cry OF high protection has not
united the Republican party. but on the
contrary IL has revealed decided and Sc
rious difference OF opinion nor is there
aDy agreement amoog the high protec-
tionists upon a scheme for reducing the
surplus upon protective principles The
leading Republican journals both in
New England and in the Northwest
have declared for tariff reform. East
ern manufacturers demand free raw
material, and Western farmers q reduc-
ton OF the tariff tax. The whole ques-
tion has become more familiar. The
usual assertions which have been accept
ed as arguments have been more care
fully scanned and Investigated. The
message was called elementary. 1t WAS
meant to be elementary. I. was in
tended TO inculcate simple primary prin-
ciples, and to show that the common
welfare required a diminuIion OF the
surplus by the reduction OF customs du-
ties.
This is the rapidly extending view of
the Republican Northwest. The repre-
So -. -
alarmed by the cry Of free trade, be-
cause they know that there is no de-
mand for free trade. The President
not cnly did not demand 1t in his mes
sage, but he expressly disclaimed the
demand. He stated the mischief and
peril which luIk in q swiftly increasing
surplus, and he suggested the general
plan upon which relief should be sought.
II Is to be best attained by repeating
taxes which oppress industry. and which
largely neutralizs the benefit OF higher
wages. The message, like the 1rst tar
i'll scheme or the old confederation,
proposes to foster American industry
by the freedom CT raw materials. That
scheme specified as such materials wool
and cotton cards. The mass OF voters
in this country cannot master all the in
tricate details of tariff, nor handy re-
IOElS VIII lnOoc upon DOSu eluto WDO
distort statistics and facts. They must
conduct the argument upon general and
simple principles which everybody can
comprehend. But geDeraliZations are
not principles. To infer cause aud ef-
feet from the coincidence at certain
period Of a high tariff and general pros
perity is a process which can be applied
to all co-incidences. Nothing requires
more searching analysis and exposure
than this trick, which is very attract
i've and very common. The Presiden-
tial election OF this year will not turn
exclusively upon the tariff, but the dis
cussion will be OF great service in ma
turing the question as q real issue.
President Garfield said that he Was for
the protection that ultimated in free
trade. President Arthur and hi. three
secretaries of the treasury, Folger.
Gresham, aud McCulIoch, favored the
reduction OF the war tariff 10 a moderate
protective point. The Minnesota, Iowa,
and Nebraska Republicans demanded
last year a revision and reduction OF the
tariff. So long as Mr.. Nelson is a Re-
publican representative, and the Chica-
go Tribune, the Providence Journal. and
other leading papers are Republican
journals, and manufactures who de-
mand free raw materials are members
OF TIE Republican party, high protec-
tion will be true party issue.-Hdr.
per'S Weekly.