St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-22
SHADOW OR SUBSTANCES


Is it the shadow or the substance of
tariff reform that our Minnesota farmers
want? This question Is all the more
pertinent because it will depend upon
how they go about it which they will
get, and it is time they were considering
the matter. The sentiment in favor OF
tariff reform is so overwhelming among
our Minnesota farmers that the politi-
clans cannot fail to observe and recog-
nize it; and yet for all practical pur-
poses, SO tar as the farming interests
are concerned, the sentiment might just
as well have been as strong in the other
direction. There will be state cleo
ton this fall, and with it an election OF
congressman and Il state legislature. SO
far as the election of the state executive
officers is concerned the tariff question
doesn't cut any figure. 1t practically
makes but little difference whether the
governor and other state officers are
hide-bound protectioniSts or whether
they are sincere tariff reformers, be-
cause they are not III position to exert
any influence in determining this ques-
ton. But it makes mighty difference
when it comes to electing congressman
and members of the state legislature.
The latter will have to perform the duty
of electing United States senator, who
will have something to say in the matter
of reforming the tariff.
If it is only the shadow the farmers
want, they will probably continue to
vote for the Republican candidates on
the usual ''off-year'' platform, declar-
ing in favor of tariff revision and tax re-
duction.
If it is the substance they are after,
they will change their tactics and give
the politicians the slip, by electing men
to congress and to the state legislature
who are not time-servers and eXpedi-
ency dodgers. but who are honest and
earnest III their professions.
We invite the attention of the farmers
to this matter now, because it is not a
great ways off until the primaries and
conventions will be held, and the poll
ticians will be getting in their work
under the guiSe Of catering to the tariff
reform sentiment of the state. Gov.
MERRIAM's tariff flop will be used as
an argument to hold the farmers in
line in support Of the Republican ticket;
when, as matter of fact, it does not
make particle of difference what the
governor thinks or doesn't think of the
tariff question. AS an individual his
opinions are to be respected, but as
governor he can do nothing to promote
or to hinder tariff reform. Four years
ago Gov. MCGILL was elected on
sound tariff reform platform, but his
election didn't help the farmers of the
state particle. Not one burthen of
the tariff tax has been removed, nor is
there one representative from Mime
sofa in either branch of the national
congress who would to-day turn his
finger over to secure tariff reform.
Since Gov. MCGILL was elected, four
years ago, on his tariff reform platform,
two senators have been chosen by the
legislature, and both of them are as
ardent supporters of the protection sYs-
TEN as the EXTREMIST New England rep
resentative.
This is what we call getting the
shadow of tariff reform, and it does
seem that the Minnesota farmers ought
to be surfeited with it by this time.
If it is the substance they want, and
we believe they do, they must reform
their methods of going at it. In the
first place, they must get out from under
the influence Of the party machine, and
must refuse to be led by the machine
bosses.
In the second place, they must be wary
of the expediency lodges resorted to by
the party managers and the party press.
Instead of being deluded into false
sense of security by platform pledges
and by the soft talk of candidates who
if elected would have no influence on
the tariff, they must get right down to
the root of the whole business by refus-
ing to support any man for an Office
whom they do not know to be as honest
as he is earnest in his protestations of
devotion to the tariff reform idea.
The farmers themselves have been
fooled so often Oh this tariff issu e, it is
about time they were foOling somebody
else on it.
Therefore. we say to them, aband on
pursuit of the shadow and seize the
substance.