Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-07
TWADDLE AGAINST THE TARIFF.

The comments of the London and Paris
papers upon the significance of Tuesdays
election in relation to the tariff are scarcely
more superficial and unintelligent than
some we are hearing nearer home. The
master mind of the London Times main
tains itself easily first in its grotesque mis-
conception of American politics when 1t
points TO the defeat of Delamater as evil
denee OF revulsion against the protection
policy among the voters Of Pennsylvania.
But almost as absurd is the claim by some
Democratic papers that not only was the
tariff the main cause OF the general Repub-
lican defeat i'll other States, but that this
verdict is to be taken as permanent. we
think very slight consideration of essen
tial facts will prove the utterly deceptive
quality of this conclusion.
The first and most vital fact which oper-
ates against this argument is that the much
obiurgated Mckinley bill has actually not
vet been tested. True, it has been in oper-
alton for about 80 days; but every sensible
man knows that its legitimate and ultimate
effect upon the industries of the country,
upon the markets and upon the pockets of
the people, cannot even have begun to be
felt within so brief period We may easily
conce6e that a Fictitious and temporary ef-
feet has been produced 3y eagerness almost
amounting to ranaciiy on the part OF many
merchants in various parts of the country to
anticipate high prices as a necessary Incl
dent of the Law. Advantage has been taken
right and left Of the passage of the Mekin-
ley bill to extort as much as possible out OF
the purchasing public, on the pretext that
higher prices Tor everything must neces-
sariIy come. That this caused widespread
irritation and immediate public prejudice
against the Mckinley bill is undoubted;
and this irritation coming right upon the
eve of the Congressional elections no doubt
helped on rapidly the; Republican disasters.
But it is by its actual and full operation
that the Mckinley bill must ultimately be
judged-not by the Fictitious and ill-favored
incidents which happened to attend its in
PRODUCTION.
1t is an easier thing for stump orators and
street-eorner critics, or, for that matter, for
the profound economists of the London or
the Paris press, to denounce in round set
measures a tariff law OF the thousands of
whose details they practically know little or
nothing than to single out from these details
those which are going to retard the pros
perity of the country. If critics of the
protective system say that the United States
no longer wants that system they are talking
not only without warrant, but in the face Of
decisions the other way. 1t is only two
years ago that the country recorded its ver-
dict in favor of protection. The issue was
then squarely made. II they say it is the
Mckinley bill which is finally condemned,
they will have to wait until that bill is
tested by actual operation before any judg-
ment that can stand is rendered upon it.
Much of the prejudice against the bill is
notoriouslY based upon the extortions which
have been attempted in its uame. In the
very nature of things such extortions cannot
last long. The forces of competition, always
active, will soon assert themselves, and the
real trial of the Mckinley tariff law has to
come when these get into full operation.
Whether the Mckinley bill is a failure
or a success will be shown only by its prac-
tlcal workings. These workings, if favor
able. can upset any quantity of clap-traps
now, and puncture the bubbles of hasty con-
clusion. The condemnation, which is
hasty and unintelligent, cannot stand unless
the facts chance a;terward to warrant it.
But the facts in this case are simply not yet
known. Until they are, much that is writ
ten about the Mckinley bill will be the
n,erest twaddle of EMMY assumntion and
bald guess work.