New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-02
TIE NEW TARIFF.

The general Tariff act has only partially gone
into operation. some of It's important provisions
being limited 70 take effect az dates Yet III the
future The general provisions of the law have
been in force loss than sixty days. Its permanent
effects upon trade and prices still largely stand
in conjecture. II is curious 10 note that tA'
advance i'm the prices Of articles wholly unaffected
by the Iarin act was hy many hastily ascribcd
to that act Notice not taken of the fact
that the general tendency of the markets was
inward from influences wholly apart from thu
recent tariff legislation. The enlargement Of our
currency 10y the Silver bill undoubtedly gave an
upward tendency TO trade, and had u marked
effect on prices but this natural and desired
effect of the silver legislation was by many
enormously attributed to the Tariff act
There is neither wisdom nor justice in the
suggestion that the subject Of tariff revision shall
he again opened before this law has had fair
trial 1t is quite true that every trin schedule
| i, subject 10 objections No bill was cNpr framed.
suppose. that in all Of It's rates and cIasSications
had the full approval even of a party caucus.
Such legislation is always and necessarily the
product of compromise rs 10 details. and The
present law is no exception. But in lis general
scope and effect think it will Justify the support
| Of those who believe that Anne gan legislation
should conserve and defend American trade and
the wages Of American wor',mcn
Tho mislnfornrtioa as TO the terms of the
act which has been 50 widely disseminated nj
home and abroad. will be corrected by eNper
cncc, and the evil aGGurIcs rs to IFS results con
founded by the market reports, the savings banks
international trade balances, and the general pros
pcrity of our people. Already We begin to heal
from abroad and from our custom houses that The
prohibitory effect upon importati6Ts imputed t'
the act is not justified The imports at the Por
! Of Ncw-lork tor the first three weeks of NoNcm
Der were nearly : per cent greater than FOR 'h'
same period in 1850 and 20 per cent greater than
! in the same period of 1855. And. 50 far from
being an act to limit exports, confidently believe
that under it we shall secure n larger and NOR
profitable participation in foreign trade than w
have ever enjoyed and that we Shall recover
proporionate participation in the occan-carry!n.
trade of the world.
The criticisms Of the bill that have come 4
MS from foreign sources may well be rejected 10
lepugnancy. If these critics really believe tina
the adoption by of frcc-tradc policy. or u
tariff rates having reference solely to revenue
would diminish the participation of their owl
countries in the commerce of the world. their al
vocacy and promotion by speech and other form
Of organized effort of this movement among on
peoplc is a rare exhibition of unScliShncss II
trade And, on the other hand, il they sincerely
believe that the adoption of protcctive-tarlt
policy by this country inurcs to their profit ant
our hurt it is noticcaby strange that they shonl'
lead the cutlery against the authors of a polic'
50 helpful to their cOuntNmcn, and crown VIII
their favor those who would snatch from them
substantial share Of trade with other lands al
ready inadequate 10 their necessities
RECIPROCITY.
There is no disposition among any of our p"opI
TO pro!nnt. prohlbitory or rctalatorN legislation
Our policies adopted not to the hurt of Others
| but 20 secure for ourselves those advantages tina