The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-09-10
TARIFF REFORM.

into very short paragraphs. Ilere are
several small plugs of wisdom found I'M
der one head in recent issue OF that
sound Tariff Reform journal:
We Judge from the platforms which
the Democrats have indorsed in State
conventions that the protective victory Of
last autumn has not demoralized them in
the slightest.
They-it may be as we'll to say We
were most Internationally whipped at
that time, but it hasn't changed our con-
viction that we were right.
The common sense of the people may
be blinded for time and panic may be
created-an old trick of politcs-by
which the wrong candidate gets the of
fee.
But in the long run the people make
the crooked things straight again, and
that "long run " will terminate in 1892,
when tariff reform will become an estab-
lished fact
The Democratic half of our ten million
voters have been consistent believers in
the genius and enterprise of American
manufacturers and determined defenders
of their rights.
The home market never has and never
will satisfy their demands. We have the
skilled labor, we have the machnery-or
if we haven't the latter we can make it.
We have the resources of magnificent
country to draw from; unsurpassed mill
sites; an immense laboring population
with brains in their fingers, who can pro-
duce larger results in ten hours day
than the same class in other countries can
produce in twelve or fifteen.
We have, therefore, a right to be rep
resented IN every quarter of the globe
and to carry our wares without let or him
drance to every country where purchasers
are likely to be found.
A tariff which limits our activity and
constrlcts our efforts is, therefore, hostile
to our national ambition. 1t ties our
in the grand fight for wealth The party
which adopts it as policy represents an
economical blunder.
During the last five months great
many Republican business men have
come to see this. They have learned the
lesson by hard luck, by diminishing prof
its and threatened bankruptcy.
The tide Of opinion has turned, and if
the elections Of last year had been post
pOned to this November the Democrats
would have been elected by a large and
decisive majority.
1t is matter of dollars and cents.
The manufacturer favors the party which
gives him the best chance to make
money, and the wage Garner throws his
influence on that side which insures the
steadiest and the largest income
Governor Ames voted for Mr.. Harrison.
He made mistake. Mr.. Harrison's par
ty is pledged to make raw materials dear.
The Governor says plainly that unless he
can buy raw materials at cheaper rate he
can see nothing but disaster in the future
for his business.
Many of the woollen men in New Eng
land voted for higher tariff They were
persuaded that protection would save
them. Now they say that it will ruin
them. and they are clamoring for free
wool.
All right. There is nothing like expert
ence to teach the principles of political
economy. 1t. is a pity that the experience
should be so dearly bought, but that is one
ofthe laws of progress. Men who don't see
what is for their goodare aptto have their
eyes opened with a staggering blow.
An old farmer lost the Inch pin of his
wagon once on time He thought to
supply its place with a bit of tough
wood. He put his finger into the hole to
ascertain its size. Just then the horses
started. He lost his finger. When de-
scribing the accident he said, "The mo-
ment the team started | saw that had
made mistake"
Likewise the manufacturers, who are
suffering for want of raw materials. The
moment Harrison's policy began to work