Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-10-16
A Grand Work.

1t has been the custom to represent the
Republican party as torh with internal
dissensions. enervated by corruption, and
dying or about to die. But no living
party, in the plentitude of its highest ytg-
or and might has ever overcome greater
obstacles, achieving thereby greater bene-
tits for the Nation, than the Republican
party in the enactment of the new tariff
IL had to overcome rules adrotly devised
for years to enable a desperate minority
to defeat legislation, with a scanty major
Ity IN the House, and in spite of exception
ally numerous deaths and sicknesses and
that hahitual ahsenteeiSm which has be-
come crying evil. Ii had to meet a labor
iously manufactured outcry for reduction
OF protective duties, yociferous demand
hy part of the manufacturers for free wool
and by others in New England for free
iron and other materials, and at the West
farmers movement, too often engineer
ed by Democrats to help Free Traders,
which threatened Republicans with de
feat in several States. More than all, il
had to overcome the unpatriOtic greed Of
many who demanded excessive favors, the
craze of producers to organize trusts and
similar combinations, the conflicting inter
ests of hundreds who were entitled to re-
gard. and the artful endeayor of opponents
to kindle jealousy between leaders In the
two houses. Finally Secretary Baiue's
zeal for reciprocity was made to appear
auta@onistic to the tariff bill until 1t was
shown that it related to revenue duties
only.
The men who have overcome such a
mountain Of difficulties, framed and pass
ed the most courageous tariff bill Amrri-
cans have ever seen, and concentrated for
1t nearly every Republican vote, deserve To
rank high in the role OF practical states
men. Honor is primarily due To all the
Republicans of the House and Senate who
have manfully waived individual prefer
ences in devotion to the public good. Yet
the task OF maturing and passing the bill
has been tremendous one. The great
leaders Of the war period had at no time
equal difficulties to overcome, and the
craftsmanship of Clay and Webster never
gave TO the country measure so consist
emily and broadly protective. Contrasted
with the timid compromises upon which
some of the greatest regulations rest, or
with the resoiute but not always well
adjusted measures which intense excite
ment or stern necessity dictated during the
war period, the work of this Congress
ilolilHtllt. ilt tlllltullltS WOulI
have been much diminished had not cir
cumstances compelled Congress to con
slider at the same time two widely different
measures, over which there was sectional
feeling OF the most overmastering inten-
sity Both the Silver bill and the Election
bill were at times used, almost with effect,
to prevent the success of wise tariff
without a surrender of convictions lmpo>si-
hla fnr ~ a fTba frpit Of ar,n
ness and idelity is that safe Silver act
has been passed and strong Election bill
waits action In the Senate and neverthe-
less the work of tariff revision has neither
been defeated nor seriously marred Tn
less this measure fails to stand the test Of
experience, a. its ablest advocates believe
it will, its passage will make ever memora-
bic in American history the names of
Messrs. Reed and Mckinley in the House,
and Aldrich, HiscoCk and Allison in the
Senate, and others whose ability, untiring
industry, consummate tact and unwavering
fidelity have made the great achievement
possible
he new tarlf opens new era OF Amerl-
can history In the war tariffs, reveaue
was the primary necessity and protection
a secondary aim. RevisiOns since the war
have been primarily for the purpose of re-
ducing duties, in more or less timid CON
ces-ion to the false idea that lower duties
mean lighter burdens. But for the first
time the whole Nation has been brought
by President Cleyeland's onslaught to eX-
anime and decide upon the issue OF pro
lection. The result is a deliberate advance
Of certain duties for the purpose of cut
ting of revenues where the development
of new industries can be expected. Other
duties are removed, and Others still, in
number far more than the public yet re-
allies, have been lowered, but in that res
pect this tariff resembles other revisions
which have preceded. Its Distinguishing
characteristic is the deliberate advance of
duty on agricultural products, and on GER
tain other articles, in order to afford better
defence to great Industries in progressive
development and diversiication. After
the manufacture of coarser cottons has
been established, there comes adequate de
fence for the manufacture of finer cottons
and linens. After the cheaper woolens
and carpets comes the production of the
lighter and finer fabrics. After steel rails
come tin plates. Higher diversihcation,
greater advance of industry, larger EN-
ployment of American labor, are the OBJ
jects unhestatingly ayowed.
The tariff of 1890 comes at an auspicious
moment when the admission of six new
States gives assurance that a reversal Of
policy cannot be expected, in the Senate
at least, until the new measure has been
fairly tried. For at least six years
no change hostile to the protective pur-
pose is to be feared, unless the results of
the tariff shall greatly dsappoint its advo-
Gates. If industries cheaper products,
build up new employments for labor, and
broaden the home market for agriculture
and the mechanic arts, a grander future
than the country has yet imagined will
confront those who may hereafter attempt
to overthrow the protective policy.-N
Y. Tribune.