Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-08-21
HOW THE PEOPLE STAND.

New York Tribune.
Extraordinary pains have been takeI
for months by opponents of Protection
to create the impression that there has
been a decided movement of public
opinion in the direction of lower duties
1t is not strange that some intelligent
men have been impressed thereby, for
nothing has been done to correct this
impression. Resting in conviction that
the deliberate decision of the people,
after the full years discussion which
ended in 1888, was complete answer
to the ceaseless stories of overwhelming
revolution against Protection which had
filled the air up to that time, Pro-
tectionistS have been content to wait
for the revision of the tariff which the
Republican party in Congress has
promised. They have unabated conf
dence that the fulfillment of this pledge
will be sustained by the peoples votes
on the next occasion.
But now the tardiness of the Senate is
used as evidence by opponents of Pro-
lection. 1t shows, they say, that Re-
publican Senators are profoundly i'm
pressed by change in public sentiment
of which they are assumed to have
knowledge. Because the people no
longer sustain Protection, it Is claimed,
Senators do not dare to vote again for
substantially the bill which they PASSED
year ago. 1t makes no difference that
this pretence is wholly without founda-
tion. The unreadiness of the Senate to
act upon great party measure, which
embodies the pledges of more complete
defence for home industry upon which
the last Presidential election was carried,
seems to many unaccountable unless the
Free Traders explanation is correct
Public opinion in this country is never
a stagnant pool, but always a boiling
pot, with constant movement in every
conceivable direction. Individuals can
at any time be found whose shifting
or interests move those to
oppose a tariff to-day who favored 1t
and he who picks out such
cases alone may deceive himself and
others with the notion that the move
ment is all one way. But it Is not. The |
hope of definite and long desired changes
for the benefit of important industries |
has strongly impressed the minds of |
great multitudes of Democrats as well |
as Republicans, and of Southern and |
Western as well as Northern and East |
ern men. The Republican party has
achieved all its victories by bravely |
doing the thing which was for the
National welfare, trusting that if some
were repelled more would be won by
that course. 1t has no other path to
victory to-day.
1t is idle to say that the pledges given
in the last Presidential campaig. are no
Onger binding because Free Traders
pretend that the people have changed.
The men who say this now are those
who were certain that Free Trade and
Cleveland would triumph in 1888.
Delay has indeed given and every day
gives new organizations greater hold
lpon disappointed farmers in some
ocalities. But Senators are utterly
Iowerless to arrest such movement by
'orsaking pledges and abjuring their
,ast record. There is only one path of
afety-to do what is right, and then to
rust the people. Nothing can be more
die than to say that the Presidential
election decided nothing. The people
lad before them the lower duties bill
ramed by Mr.. Mills and approved by
President Cleveland, and also the bill
ramed by Republican Senators, for the
express purpose of showing how the
,arty would make the defence of home
Industries more complete and salts
actory. They chose the Republican
'olicy, and knew which way it tended
md what they were doing. When Sen
tors realize that 1t is too late by far to !
hange the issue, and that they must ;
riumph with the pledges given in 1888
r go down with them, perhaps they
nay find reason to put aside all other
matters, and make the Tariff bill their
ole business until it has been passed. : ,
'he one thing absolutely certain is that
hirking of duty wins no battles. =,