Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-11-07
EoR PUBLIC BENEFIT.
Ths Line On Which the Republican Part
VIII Revise the TsriR


VIII Revise the Tariff.
There is no man in the country who
has better right than John Sherman
to speak upon the tariff and to define
the Republican doctrine of protection.
He is his party's foremost represent
Rtive in that respect Nobody will
venture to question either his ability
or his sincerity; and his declarations
therefore have surprising interest
and significance. His latest speech,
delivered in Ohio, is a plea. not only
for the maintenance of the protective
system, but also for revision of the
tariff laws. He does not claim. and
no Republican authority has ever
claimed. that the present adjustment
of duties is perfect and beyond neces-
sity of change. On the contrary, he
says, as all Republicans say, that GER
tain notifications are desirable 1T
is not revision of the tariff that [ OBJ
ject to-" he plainly observes. ''but
revision of the tariff in the line of free
trade" This is equivalent to assert
ing that the Republican party is will
ing to make all the changes that the
conditions require, but that it insists
upon making them in such a way as
to avoid forfeiting any of the advan-
tages of protection.
The primary object of protective
tariff, he goes On to say. is to invite
and promote the fullest competition
in domestic production. If by reason
of protection any corporation or in
terest is enabled to repress fair COM
petition, and advance the price Of
domestic product, he says he would
without moments hesitation reduce
the duty in order to break down the
combination. The Democrats will
charge that this is inconsistent; but
the answer is that the tariff is mat
ter of business, and not of ethics. Pro-
lection does not imply right on the
part of any favored class to prevent
home competition and arbitrarily in
crease the price Of a given article
When that is done, the right to pro-
lection ceases, and it should be with
drawn. 1t is the practical effect of a
certain duty that is to be considered.
The most radical prOtectionist does
not insist that duties shall be placed
upon every thing, or that particular
duty shall be retained simply be-
cause it has been established.
1t is undeniable that free COM
petition tends to reduce prices, and
that is what the Republicans seek to
bring about all over the country anG
in all kinds of products. II combina-
tions of individuals or corporations
succeed in evading and defeating such
competition, then it is not less logical
than it is right and expedient to take
away the protection and let foreign
producers come in to regulate the mat
ter. This does not signify an aban-
donment of the principle of protection;
it only means judicious application of
a policy, with a view to insuring
proper results. The Republican party
is not so bigoted and inconsiderate as
to contend that a duty once levied
must be Indefinitely continued, no mat
ter what its effect may be, or what
advantage may be taken of it by un-
scrupulOus spectators. Whenever it
is discovered that duty is causing in
justice, either to producers or con-
sumers, it ought to be promptly dis
pensed with. That is the position of
Senator Sherman. and all good Repub-
licans will heartily indorse it-St
Louis Globe-Democrat.