The Colfax chronicle., 1890-11-15

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in the popular idea should 90 tc
the victors. The borderers have
been routed but as they scampel
from the field they carry with them
much booty. The Republicans have
lost the fight but they keep the
tariff. The people have rebuked
the oppressors, but the 'heavy bur-
dens grievous to be borne" are still
on their shoulders. The people
have won the battle, but the mill
owners, stockholders, trusts and
combines keep their plunder and
snap their fingers in the faces of
the triumphant majority. Con-
gress has so securely fastened the
high tariff that the robber crew
may gather in their millions of
plunder in defiance of popular muir
muir and remonstrance. The farm
ers may growl and swear and turn
out the high tariff members, but
they are too late. They must con-
tribute half their surplus to pay
duties or high prices or protected
necessaries. The producing classes
have voted their condemnation, but
they must for years keep on pay
ing the tribute demanded by the
freebooters.
1t is not reasonable to hope that
Democrats will be able, or Repub-
licans willing, to modify the tariff
swindle during the next session.
Rather may it be expected that re-
pudiated representatives. will show
their disgust and malice at their
defeat than contritlon and repent
ance for what caused their defeat.
They will impute their downfall to
everything but the true cause.
They will rejoice over the return
of their few successful partizans as
evidence of approval, while they
deny the true cause for the failure
of others. In every conceivable
way they will try to show that the
adverse verdict Of the people was
not a disapproval of protection,
even in the outrageous form of the
Mckinley swindle. The party is
prolific in resources, and as to |
pleading guilty after being con-
demned, nothing is further from
its habit.
Can the Fifty-Second Congress |
do anything to relieve the country |
of the execrable tariff of 1890? Is
there any reason, whatever, to hope |
that the Republicans of the Senate
viii assent to material changes in
the present law? If the Demo-
cratic majority join with a few re-
pentant Republicans in the House
to pass amendments to the tariff, /
can it be thought possible that any
Of the forty odd Republican SEN
tors will concur in such legislation?
They know the Importance of the
fund for '92, and they are
by far too cunning to release the
mill owners from their pledges. /
Aldrich, Morill, Plat, Cameron,
Evarts, Ingalls,, Davis, and the rest
are not addicted to any sentimental
regard for popular opinion. The
presidential election is at hand re-
luiring few millions in contri-
buttons, which must come from the
protected industries if at all. ut
8 money that makes the mare to
20" and in order that money may
how up in the summer of '92 they
must keep faith with those who I
lave promised it. Even Senators
epresenting States whose people
AVE just revolted against Repub-
lean policy and methods will show ]
"stalwart" front against public
pinion.
When another Democratic House
} elected with Cleveland two years ]
ence, there will still be no GER !
sinty of immediate return to q :
Bvenue tariff otherwise than by ;
commercial treaties r
'hich the Republicans have COLI J
lived as mechanism for corrupt 2
lfiuences. A few Republican q
enators may be willing to admit
lat the new tariff q mistake and a,
ssent to reform measures. Unless 9
,me such come to the relief of the :, =
oppressed country the prospect is "a
lat the will of the people will not u
scome the law of the land until E, =
ter weary years of endurance. G.
But the change will come at last. 70 {,
be perpetual robbery of the tariff v ',
Ill be an always present and u
tive reminder and stiinulant to p p
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