New-York tribune., 1890-08-05
PLEDGE NOT YET REDEEMED

The first week in August has come. and the
Tariff bill which passed the House III May is
still far from action in the Senate The Finance
Committee reported the bill promptly, and
thongh some of its amendments are objection
able it deserves credit for industry and prompt
ness. and for many amendments that arc OF
value. But since the bill went into the Sen
ate. bow has tha. body treated this most ini-
pOrtant Of all measures? Is 1t not the tfulh
that hostile Senate, if determined 10 Kill the
bill and yet afraid lest it might pass on dl-
rect vote, would have done about Is the Kc-
pubIican majority in the Senate has dcner
Senators have no right TO find fault if they arc
iudgcd by their acts. Men who treat vital
party measure as Senators have treated this
bill are not often believed 10 be acting in go0d
faith toward their party associates Yet the
popular question regarding the Senators III this
case does not concern so much their good iaith
as thciy. fidelity to public duty.
Measures which do not dc-Crvc, in COM
parison with this, single moments attention
late in long and crowded session have been
allowed to block the way Other measures
which are interesting because they have money
in them for some people are thrust 10 the
them the preference Earnest efforts to secure
some restriction OF mere waste OF TINE are
thwartcd By the passionate devotion OF few
Senators to old customs. Day att"r day Is
wasted over petty details, which men who re
alizc the feeling or the needs Of The people
would not permit tO hinder the passage OF tIe
bill for aI hour. 1t really seems 10 be the
Oyini0n of Some Senator's that the people care
nothing about this measure. Happy it will be
for them if they never have occasion 70 realize
how greatly they arc mistaken.
lt is almost two wears since one Of the most
exciting Of all political campaigns was in prog
lcss. Have Senators forgotten that roary al
the voters on both sides were more profoundly
interested in the tariff question than II any
other? Do they not know that Republican
voters were everywhere tod tlat a Republican
victory would be followed by an amended and
revised tariff. which would give better pro-
lection TO industries that needed il? farmers
and wo0l-growcTs, operatives i'll woolrn mills
and steel works and great armies Of workers
in all parts Of the country, were striving night
and day for the triumph Of the party which had
promised 70 defend their industries. How Is
the Senate keeping these pledges? Surely the
tnc has como 10 pat aside all minor matters
and questions and to concentrate the best en-
deavors of every sincere Republican upon the
Tariff bill. II few amendments are plainly
necessary. let them be framed Immediately.
considered in caucus if need be, and then pn
through without delay But all amendments
which are moi clearly indispensable, ali amend
mcnts upon which the Republican Senators
cannot be substantially united, ought ~ BE-
put aside promptly aS too late for consideration
if this important party measure is to be carried
at all. With the bill thus completed. senators
I who insist that no change OF rules is desirable
should be prepared in juSticc T. their prin-
ciples and party, to sit up night after night, If
| it be required. in order TO bring the bill t. q
speedy vote Those who will not or cannot
! face fatigue have no right to stand in tho way
of such changes of rules as shall render early
action possible.
Let il not be forgotten by Senators that SONG
Of the largest departments OF industry and
! trado have been looking for the pasSag? OF this
| bill so long and with so much reason that fail
! IRE would involve serious loss and risk. The
! business world has become accustomed 10 sec
the Republican party keep its pledges. That
party cannot afford to bring disaster upon in
dustrics which employ millions OF workers,
either by needless delay or by failure t. make
good the confidence OF the country in Rcpul-
lican fidelity and Republican craftsmanship.