Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-02-21
REAL TARIFF REVISION.
Why the Leaders of the Democratic Party
Are Opposed to 1t.

Why the Leaders of the Democratic Party
Are Opposed to 1t.
The insincerity of the Democrats in
Congress in regard to tariff revision
and a reduction of the surplus is now
as clear as the sun. 1t is long step
toward free trade which they want
that or nothing. There has never been
in our legislative history bill reported
in Congress which was as thorough
and as fair a revision as the one which
has just passed the Senate with the
opposition of every Democratic vote.
On the House side the same situation
prevails, and the Democratic mana
gers al seen to be busily engaged in
devising the surest means of killing a
bill which largely reduces taxation.
This is the end of the movement to
which Mr.. Cleveland, with such
flourish, summoned the Fiftieth Con-
gress. He announced that an appall-
ing crisis was upon the land. So great
was the danger which he saw from the
fast swelling surplus that he dropped
every other interest of the country
and called the attention of Con-
gress to the tariff evil alone.
He besought his followers to act with
promptness 10 avert this impending
calamity. The Nation began to give
close attention to the methods which
he proposed, and the measures which
were reported by those in his conf
dence to carry them into effect 1t was
at once seen by all intelligent men that
his positions were those of foreign
free-traders, and that the logical re-
suit of all he recommended would be
to lead the country into their camp.
When this was charged, and its legiti-
mate effect upon the Democratic cam
paign became known, there was the
stoutest possible denial from the White
House, from the Democrats in Con-
gress and from every editorial free
trader and stump orator of the Texas
school. With one accord the shout
went up that neither the President nor
any of his followers were in any sense
free-traders, but they were one and all
for tariff revision.
At length. however, the test has
come The Republicans of the Senate
have. as already remarked, after long,
careful and able study. presented the
most complete and the fairest revision
of the tariff ever presented in our his
tory. 1t accomplishes the reduction of
our taxation and of the surplus, which
the President declared to be absolutely
necessary to the public welfare. 1t
does this without endangering any in
dustry, without putting the interests of
labor in jeopardy and without risk of
business arrangement.
The varied industrial and CONNER
cial interests of the country have
given more general and favorable re-
Spouse to its provisions than in the
case of any previous tariff measure.
More than this, these interests are
urgent in their demands, that uncer-
tainties shall cease, and that business
in its multifarious branches shall be
allowed to settle into quiet again.
But the Democratic leaders fatty re-
fuse. This bill, which accomplishes
what the President pointed out as nee
essary, is not to be allowed to pass.
The reason is clear. 1t would, if en-
acted, of necessity settle the tariff ques-
tfon for some years to come. No party
could afford to undertake its overthrow
before it had been tried long enough
for business to adjust itself to its new
provisions. This, as is clear, would
make a further stride toward free
trade impossible for any near future.
The controlling Democratic influences
have already decreed that the Mills
bill or something even more radical
shall be revived as the issue of the
next Presidential campaign. Consid-
ering the result in November, this
may seem strange. But it is fully I'M
derstood among Republicans in Wash
ington. For this reason real tariff
revision is to be defeated and the
issue of free trade made possible for
another National campaign. Cincin-
natl Commereial-Gazette.