Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-19
GROWTH OF AN IDEA

 frmed invalids.
 GROWTH OF AN IDEA The growth of the tariff reform idea since the last election has been rapid and substantial. When the heat of a polit- ical campaign is no longer raging and men can sit down quietly in the silence of the mental closet it is easily conceived by the average mind that reform of the existing tax schedules is absolutely and unavoidably necessary. It is this that is making new recruits every day for the cause of reform and that too in circles where there is no leaning or yielding towards democratic ideas. It is the natural and unavoidable evolution of national conditions as they enter into the prosperity of the country and it's people.
 Among those who have lately declared against the unnatural and unrighteous tax on raw materials" are Mir Joseph M. Wade, the editor of the Fibre and Fabric, Governor Ames, Hon Peleg McFarlin and MT Curtis Guild, the editor of the Commercial Bulletin, men whose train ing and experience have not been such as to imbue them with anti-protection ideas. It is not through sentimental notions or pretty theories of political economy that such have been brought to believe that the present tariff system is an ini- quitous system, but rather the conclu- sions of experience and study that have been only to unwillingly reached. With their republican affiliations and faith in the traditions and principles of their party it has required something out of the ordinary to bring them to the belief that the present tariff stands in need of reform in the direction of lower taxes. They are making their present demands-one for free carpet wool, another for free raw materials, and the others for free coal and iron ore and lower taxes on pig iron-because, after closely and honestly looking into the situation, they have had facts forced upon them which nc amount of faith in the value of the system of protection will permit them to construe otherwise than favorably to the system. It is high ly encouraging to tariff reformers that such men yield assent to the idea when they have thoroughly and conscientious ly investigated it, having considera- tion of their own interests and the in- terests of the committee in which they live. It is an inspiration to renewed effort and an encouragement that the removal or great modification of the tax on raw materials is the proper and only basis for the tariff revision that must be made in the near future. The manu- lecturers of New England cannot afford, through any sentimental attachment to the republican party, longer to allow themselves to be hampered and burdened in order that the iron and coal masters of Pennsylvania and the wool growers of Ohio may enjoy protection that is most unjust and iniquitous in its distri- butive results. Free trade in raw materials, low tax on half-finished commodities and reasonable protec- tive tariff on finished goods, which is the basis of the tariff system of Ger many, ought to be sufficient for all pur- poses of protection that has not the enriching of certain favored individuals for it's purpose and design. It is be- coming more evident every day, as the country expands an the interests of various sections come in conflict, that raw materials must be admitted free in order to keep the  sections discriminated against from rising in revolt against the whole tariff system. That such prominent New England protectionists as Governor Ames are coming to realize this is en couraging in the hope it gives rise te that the republican party may yet be forced into granting the needed conces sions to this section of the country.
 The idea of tariff reform which Pres ident Cleveland planted, and which has been watered by the experience of man ufacturing districts within the pas year, is growing with the days, and il needs no prophets gaze to discern tka it must be adopted by the party whicf hopes to win in the national election three years hence. Tariff reform is ir the air, and no amount of free trade believing by the republican organs car stay its progress. The eyes of the people are open. The campaign of education goes bravely and continuously on.