St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-04
4"TARIFF DOCTRINE"
As Expounded by Republican Or
gans. OF the Northwest.


To the Editor OF the Globe.
Your contemporary, the Pioneer
Press, devotes nearly column to-day TO
an editorial called forth by an inquiry
OF Rev. ID: Morgan, the gist of which it
quotes at the head of its remarks. In
brief, Mr.. Morgan asks an explanation
OF certain palpable Inconsistencies"
upon which the late president of the
United States, among other illustrious
statesmen based strenuous attempt
to reform the existing so-called protec-
tive system. Mr.. Morgan states incl
dentaliy that he did not believe in the
existence of these Inconsistencies I'M
I'll he found it proved to his satisfaction
by observations in free trade manufae-
turing. countries. The explanation"
given by this organ to the Republican
party is in the following words,
amongst many others to the same pur-
port:
"The only mystery about the subject
is that the friends of protective tariff,
in stating their case, have tried to make
it too strong by the use of arguments
thatare Invalid. This is especially true
as to wages"
Yes, this is a sweetly simple way of
putting it. but will the Pioneer Press
will any intelligent Republican-dream
OF denying that it was on Just this ''in-
valid" argument as to the effect of the
tariff upon wages that the Republican
party stakei its chief claim to rec0gni-
ton IN the last campaign. and that it is
the lnsidiOus use of this "fallaciOus ar
gument' alone that that party owes its
return to power? But let US. quote
further:
His (Mr. Morgan's) principal stumb-
ling block will be removed by remem-
bering the proposition, so often re-
peated in these columns, that, as far as
can be learned, protective tariff has
labor"
have failed to notice, by the way,
any very remarkable reiteratiOn Of these
views i'll the columns of the Pioneer
Press since the pro rctive' fraud be-
came an unequivOcal plank in the Re-
publican platform i'll the campaign of
1888.
ut ought to have been clear long
age" the Pioneer Press proceeds, ''that
IL tine tariff, does not affect wages in
general, simply because it cannot"
well, what in common sense does 1t
AFFECT. then? 1t doesn't affect prices the
Pioneer Press believes" and in fact it
tectlve system has been founded on the
stock arguments about prices, and
wages, they, (that is. his faith). are
pretty sure to become unsettled when
he begins to look at facts and study
their relations"
Yes. should think so; which, [ sup
pose, was the reason the Pioneer Press
SO suddenly dropped its discussion OF
tracts, and their relation TO the tariff"
when, toward the close of the campaign
referred to, il saw that by these stock
arguments" alone could the Republican
party hope to obtain the barest majority
over its predecessor in power.
The tariff may" we are further told
DY this leading Republican m0uthpiece
In the Northwest, accomplish other
beneficial results; but the wages of
labor, are almost, if not absolutely, in
dependent of it. There are arguments
+ TO he adduced in favor of protective
system, but the argument from wages
is one wholly falacious." =
Yes. but why doesn't your eontem-
porary tell US what are a few of these
''benefcent reSults'' which it ma -
(but probably will n0t). accomplish? is
it possible that this is the best apology
the Republican party can find for tile
policy upon which it went into office?
MI. Morgan having asserted. and The
Pioneer Press, i'll three-quarters of a
column. having failed to deny-nay,
rather, having ably curroborated his
statement in every particular-that the
tariff will net, and cannot, do what the
Republican party maintained, above all
things that the tariff could do-pro-
missed above all things that 1t. the G. o.
T.. would do-aS one seeking cnlIghten-
ment, i am constrained to ask, what. in
the opinion of the Pioneer Press, is the
tariff meant for? As child would ask
when shown an ingenious, but appar-
emily useless machine, "W hat is it f0rp''
And what is the Republican party
for?
J. HORNBY BUTCHER.
Rice Lake, Wis. Dec. so, 1889.