Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-29
LIGHT BREAKING ON THE TARIFF
QUESTION

publicanism of which no one can question,
has the courage to say that while 1t is
barely possible if that great mistake, the
Mckinley bill, had passed six months
earlier, the Republican party would not
have been so roughly handled on the 4th
instant, yet there is reason to believe
<'that more prolonged discussion of GER
tain features of the measure would have
Increased the number of worms in our let
tuce."
The Globe-Demecrat is profoundly wise
IN that suggestion, though cautiously ex-
pressing itself Our idea is that it was
well the storm broke when it did-had it
been more aged the catastrophe would
have been irretrievable. The truth is there
is no use whatever in laboriously defend
ing the Mckinley bill on the ground that
1t had no immediate legitimate effect on
prices to raise them that really in the fu-
ture it would have lowered them. The
fact remains that prices did advance, and
with rush that people did not misjudge.
They believe that, if all excuses are ad-
mitted in defense of the measure, the
domestic competition" as the friends of
the bill term it, tended to create raised
prices without any guarantee that 1t would
lower them. One OF the best evidences Of
the soundness of this judgment of the peo-
pile is found in the fact that Republican
congressman are already formulating
amendments and palliatives; and some are
preparing remedies ITO correct" as they
put it, the rise in prices that was inevitable
If the bill was to retain at all the charac-
ter of high-tariff measure. That is to
say, the very domestic competition" that
the party was led to believe the bill would
stimulate, and which was the most lauded
virtue of the Act, is now to be corrected"
The only corrective that can be
applied, and not destroy the protective
principle wholly. nor yet go over to the
extreme of free trade, is reciprocity.
And to this temper the American people
are coming. The Council Bluffs Nonparea,
one of the stiffest of Republican papers in
the West, declares that in its section the
intelligence of the voters is upon high
plane; it is a district of voters of strong
independence and calm thinking In that
district Judge Reed, who was elected to
Congress two years ago by an immense ma
jority, and who is personally popular with
the people and highly esteemed by men
of all parties, on the 4th inst. was over
whelmingly defeated because of his en-
thusiastic support Of the Mckinley bill.
Says our contemporary, the nature and
cause of this defeat admits of no manner
of doubt This is testimony that might
be repeated in scores of districts. and ac-
centuates sharply the judgment of the
people as a whole, that the tariff bill was
huge bluuder, that Mr.. Blaine realized
it, and threw himself into the breach to
save the situation, but too late.
The reciprocity doctrine, however,
which he unwisely sought to limit to in
terchange with the Latin-American States
only, will be taken up by the Republican
party whether its leaders in Congress wish
it or not, and viii be applied to the whole
line of commerce, no matter what the ma
ton with which we deal. This, because a
reciprocal policy is a protective policy,
for by it We protect our export trade by
the relation we maintain that will give
us the best showing in their markets. We
want the very best for our money, and We
will trade with nations that give our pro-
ducts and manufactures the best advan-
tage, in exchange for similar advantage
granted them in our market for products
we do not produce to the best advantage.