The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-12-07

since 1883 the Republican party
will be in power in all the depart
ments Of the government Executive,
Legislative and Judicial, The Dem
ocrats wrested the House from the
Republican administration of Arthur
in 1882, and in 1884 they won the
PRESIDENT, thus leaving the Repub-
licans powerless to shape the policy
of the nation. With political power
thus divided in the chief departments
of the government, no direct respon-
sibility attached to either party for
public measures, but now the Re-
publican party is again vested with
supreme authority and it will be held
to strict accountability for the pol
icy Of the administration on every
public question.
The leaders of the majority party
generally appreciate the magnitude
and the delicacy of the responsible
ties the party must now accept. For
all that Congress- shall do, and for
all that Congress shall fail to do,
there will be distinct praise or censure
for the party Of power, and the graver
questions which are to be considered
are of such pressing character that
evasion is impossible. The tariff
must be revised-so say all parties;
and a refusal or failure to frame and
pass a new tariff bill would be a ia
tai confession of deceit or cowardice
A new tariff must be passedi need
less taxes must be reduced and these
measures, which are demanded by
every political faith and every sec
ton, and which have been promised
by all, must be fulfilled by enact
ments-not by confused efforts and
deceitful failure.
If the party that is to assume
absolute control of the government
to-day had been honest with the
people in the battles fought to win
authority, there would not be serious
complications to embarrass its lead
ers now; but unfortunately for both
the party and the country, campaign
promises were deceitfully made to
conflicting interests and tribute ex
torted from all, and now all claim
the fulillment of the bond.
One of the first important petitions
that will be presented to the new
Congress will come from Republican
New England, headed by the Repub-
lican Governor of Massachusetts and
signed by the representative manu-
facturers of that Republican strong
hold, demanding free wool, free iron
ore, free scrap iron and free raw ma
terials generally; and the reason
given for the earnest appeal to Con-
gress is that without free raw ma
terials the Industries of New Eng
land, now languishing and many on
the verge ofbankruptcy, must perish.
This memorial is not dictated by
political considerations. On the
contrary, it is dictated by the stern
est necessity, and it must be respec-
ted or next year will not show sin
gle Republican State in New Eng
land outside of Vermont. 1t is not
a theory but condition that makes
New England Republicans demand
thorough tariff reform, and that de-
mand must be respected or the New
England industries will respect them
selves even at the cost of their long
accepted political faith.
The demand of the New England
manufacturers is in entire accord
with. the true protective policy of the
nation and Of the world, as we stand
alone among all the protective gov
ernments of the earth in taxing raw
materials; and it would be an easy
problem to solve but for the prom
Uses made and the party tribute ex-
acted from the wool-growers and
iron ore producers. The Senate
tariff bill, carefully prepared as a
campaign document and as basis
of Campaign extortion upon all inter-
ests, is now the fly in the Republican
ointment. 1t well nigh cost Senator
Allison, its author, the Legislature
of his State along with the Governor,
and it may cost him his seat in the
Senate; and the election of a Demo
cratic Governor who had voted for
free wool, in the great wool growing
State of Ohio, emphasizes the adj
monition of the people of the West
against oppressive taxes upon the
necessaries of life and of industry.
The ool-growers of the far West
and Northwest were distinctly prom
Used increased tariff taxes on wool
by the Senate bill, and they paid
their tribute on the distinct faith of
the bill solemnly passed by the Sen
ate. They paid spot cash for high
er taxes on wool, and they demand
that the contract shall be fulfilled to
the letter. Here is the gravest CON-
plication that confronts the new Con-
gress, and even the most consummate
skill in political leadership cannot
give free or cheaper wool to save the
manufacturers from bankruptcy and
maintain present or give increased
protection to wool-growers. There
is middle ground in most issues on
which an embarrassed party may
take refuge, but there is no middle
ground between the policy of free
raw materials and increased taxes
on wool; and with wooden failures
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