The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-07-28

and is Independent in its UieaDs on Gu
local questions.
Senator Mcpherson and the McKin-
ley Bill.
Senator McPherson's earnest and
aggressive Campaign against the Nc
Kinley bill is evidently a bitter sur
prise to the Republicans of the State.
The Senator has from time to time
shown strong leanfngs toward protec-
tion-indeed, he is doubtless a strong
protectionist still; but whatthe frantic
extremists who advocate this measure
cannot understand is that his protec-
tion tendencies have q common sense
limit, and that he is as radically OPP
posed to a scheme which must result in
the ruin of our trade and Incomplete
overturning of commercial system
as even a free trader could be.
The Senator's present position is
that in which the late Samuel J.
Randall would have stood were he
still aiive-the position of a consistent
protectionist, not a wild fanatic. a
position not far removed from that
which James G.. Blaine and the wisest
of the Republican leaders occupy at
this very day.
With Senator McPherson's protec-
ZIONIST ideas, or with those of the
Pennsylvania leader, WI have no
direct sympathy. We believe in radi-
cal tariff reform on a liberal basis for
the present, and a future policy grad
ually tending towards free trade on a
basis of reciprocity. But we are able
to respect the opinions of others
when they are held with consist
ency. honesty, and moderation.
The True american thinks it in good
taste and judgment this morning to
twit Senator Mcpherson on his for
mer protectionist leanings. We AN
not see the propriety of thus assailing
him. 1t seems to us that as a protec-
ZIONIST he is a more formidable leader
for the opposition to this monstrous
extravaganza than If he had a life
long record as a free trader at his
back.
To borrow an analogy from another
field. the assaults of ~infidelity have
little effect in checking morbid re-
ligious fanaticisms in comparison with
the conservative opposition of those
who hold fixed religious principles of
a reasonable kind. So we think the
conservative opposition of moderate
believers in protection will do more to
check the career of tariff fanatics than
the brilliant aggressiveness of avowed
radical reformers of the type of Sena-
tor Carlisle.
At any rate, Senator Mcpherson
has been placed in the lead of Demo
cratic forces against the Mckinley
bill, and it seems to us that both State
pride and party fidelity would curb
the propensity Of certain Democratic
papers to bicker at him. AS for the
rawlings of Republican organs like the
State Gazette, the Senator will be jus
titled in regarding them as the high
est compliments. since they show the
formidable character of the fight he
is making for the cause he has taker
up.
The Next State Campaign-Is Thil
an "Off Year?'
The tendency which some people
show to treat the current one as al
'soff year, in State politics, is an ex
ceedingly dangerous one. From Ger
tain points Of view, indeed, the com
ing campaign may be regarded al
more important even than that TO,
the Governorship last fall. Not t.
speak of its direct bearing on tn,
next election of a United States Sen
ator-all the Senators elected thi
year will vote in that contest-th
issues involved may prove to be Q
the highest consequence.
II the Republican party, for in