Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-06-19
The Tariff Bill.


+ House on the Mckinley Tariff Bill.
/ / therefore repeat ii, is a theory that
confronts Us not a condition" Ali
hope Of tariff REVISION in a Congress
where the two Houses were Of opposite
political faith had therefore to he aban-
9oned and the only remaining recourse
was an appeal to the country by a fresh
+ election TO determine the controversy.
That appeal was taken. Ia the cam
/ paign Of 1888 the two theories 50 form
ulated in these measures were presented
to the American people, and, after full
and exhaustive debate on platform and
b the press, q verdict was rendered il
favor Of the Republican theory of tax
ation-a verdict 50 pronounced as TO
wrest the Executive and the popular
branch Of Congress from the control Of
the Democratic party and confer upon
the Republican party the whole legisla-
tive power of the Government.
The real controversy. primarily. IS
over the class Of imported articles on
which duties should be imposed-what
articles should come in free and what
should be dutiable; and, secondly. the
rate OF duty the taxed articles should
bear These are the only questions At
issue, and their determination involves
tine conflicting theories Of the two part
les as to whether duties should be levied
for revenue only or for the double pur-
pose Of revenue and protection. II is
possible to frame two schedules Of duties
which would produce an equal amount
OF revenue; yet one would protect Amer
lean industries and the other utterly
destroy them.
The Democratic party declares IN
favor Of a tariff for revenue only, while
the Republican party i, equally pro-
nounced in favor Of tariff for revenue
and protection no, incidental. nor ac-
cidental but intentional protection
These are the two irreconcilable theories
confronting us. by one or the other of
which the tariii problem is 10 DC solved.
The Republican party does not blieyu
il a tariff for revenue only We DO
not believe imposing 9 du.y on articles
Of foreign production. the like of which
are not and can not protitably be pro-
duced in this country, but all such pro-
duets We would admit free of duty, that
The purchaser may secure them as cheap
Is as possible in the markets of the
world Upon this principle we have
materially enlarged the free-list in our
bill. and if we have failed to place on
the free-list single article of foreign
production which is not and can not be
produced at home, it is an error which
the majority Of the committee will d
prompt to pectify.
Ii there Is any article on the free.Hst /
in this bill. the like Of which by fair and I
adequate protection, could be produced I
in this country in sufficient quantities to
meet the demand. it is an oversight on
the part Of the majority Of the commit
tee, and. if it can be pointed out. we will
move that it be transferred to the duti-
able list and given such protection as
will insure its production in this country.
1t there Is an article on the dutiable
list, where the duty is so low as to ex-
pose the ike domestic industry to a
ruinous foreign competition and thus
endanger its permanently has but 10 be
indicated to secure such measure of pro-
lection AZ will insure its safety.
II the proposed rate Of duty on any
articles On the dutiable list is in excess
Of what Is required to give fair and adj
equate protection to the competing
domestic industry, none will be more
ready than the majority Of your com
mittee to reduce the rate to the level Of
such requirement.
Upon this theory the bill Is construct
ed, and we present it to the House and +
the country, not with the assurance that F
tits perfect in all its details, but with +
confidence that il, general frame work /
is in harmony with the spirit and policy /
Of the Republican party
tits conceded that we arc not producing /
q pound Of tin-pIatein the United States.
aud the Democratic party would 30 leg
islate as to make its production here an
impossibility for all time to come. and
thus not only continue our dependence
on foreign country Tor supply of this
article Of prime necessity. but make Cur
tbraIdom complete and perpetual
We propose. on the contrary. b1 a
guaranty OF ample protection 10 invite
American capital to enter q new field
Of investment and lay the foundations
for the production Of our own tin.,,fot.s