New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-02
TRUE INDEPENDENCE.

Senator Allison is rdiculcd by Mugwump
organs for a very manly speech. Discussing
the tariff he said that h. was not Il slave OF
party, but counted himself H. independent Is
any other Senator. that he thought the duties
on some classes of wool too hgh, but had
decided To vote for them because the tariff
had become a party measure. 10 some men
these two statements appear contradictory.
but they are not. Senator Allison exercises
his independent Judgment i'll determining.
which of two parties At any given time II Is
for the good of the country 10 Uphold. AT
this Tine that party is the Republican. sound
reason assures him. H. exercises his indie
pendent judgment again regarding the larN
bill as a whole and each provision II il. IL"
Iaca,urc as whole he approves certain dr-
tail, h. docs not. l'ui independent judgment
tells him that il is infinitely better tor N
country to pass a measure which i good II u
thousand provision, than - defeat II because
it seems to him not good III Oh. II t"I'> him
that it is infinitely better for thc cIt.I'ry =
support a measure upon which the unity. har-
mony and power of the Republican part! mly
depend than 10 run an! r>k OF defeating that
party, and sacrificing the lfarr of th" cI,n-
try by insisting upon Il difference OF opinion
about details. That is. Mr.. Allison is Il states
man. and his critic j. Il Nu.wuini'.
With Mr.. .Nli>un> declaration >anl>h"> the
last hope Of the Free Trad r. that the ps"-
posed wool duty can be b'i"al"'l. They had
counted much ulEn him, and acr"rncly b.
rate him savagc!y because h" doe, not hnd 1t
necessary 10 bc 4 donkey i'll "''i". t. he uGi!
iudcpcndcnt Mr.. Allison Shows his own
iarg"ncs, Of mind III admitting that the 'Aa'i
Ell cci Of chang of duties may not Ice c.I-
rcciiy estimated hy himself. IL II may not hy
others H. deliberately chor>o>. - II "n"
detail TO rely upon tn" judgment Of tn gi'ai
bod, IF bis a,>",iltc>. 1t i only the pali.c.
uarIy shallow Mdcwump vino i:na-ii"> ihat
all human wisdom and purity are i"i@rd i'll h.
own person. In matters an'nt which tn"
ahc>t and w;sr:t men are the ill.,, (" admit
tha, they may err i'll judgment i; j. not ~,
wise man bat the fool who imagine, ii Unh"-
coming Ia accept the concurrent opinion If
ma.y others, and who insists that Er onl i
iniallibr.
All nov know that a ga, mi>'ahr WAS made
IN he tain revision oi ls>3. c>pc,ia,lN in lc-
gard T. the dG,"> on wool and W.'"l,rn>. tn
douhtcdIy with sincere and patriotic purpose Il
majority in the ~cilaic voted for lpvcr duties
than had bean prup,>r'l. and I, Macy senators
il was an aSt"li!,hncni H. Ind that. IN trying
70 help the wool manuiactur" hy lower duties
on materials, they LaI den" git'a, harm to tn"
Manufacture and also To- III" wool growers.
With that mistake in mind it j. not surprising
that any senator of true II: Ilinc>> h">a'
AGAIN 10 take ii for granted that lower duti",
must prove beneficial. The natural fruit Of
the unfortunate experience Of 1Ss3 is Il return
to substantially the measure of protection
which was afforded by the tariff I'll IsG7
under which the wool growers an. wool man-
ufactur"rS both proSpc"d. and that interest
made greater progress than ii had ever mad"
! in any other period in this county, or in any
period in any otter country.
The bill aS it now stands is the fruit of
prolonged, anxious and careful examination
and comparison of opinions by thousands of
men in all parts OF the country who know
most about the subject. Manufacturers. grow
ers experts and economic students have dit-
fcred long and widely, and yet have finally
agreed upon the adjustment proposed with u
degree of unanimity which has surprised al
most everybody. There is strong reason t.
bopc that a conclusion thus reached. and az
proved by the Judgment of almost every Sen
ator and Representative who believes in the
protective policy, will be found a great i'm
prOvomcnt upon the existing law In accept
ing that conclusion Scnat ,r AiliS) IN has shown
once more that he belongs to the number of
Statesmen, and deserves the confidence of the
public.