New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-28
THE LYING ISSUE.

II NAV be observed that DemOCratic Jourh"i'
are still affirming. as they have been Tor years
mast. that the Republicans in Congress do noo
intend TO pass any Tariff bill whatever. 1t Is
their desire, these journals say, to keep tho
question open until after the Presidential cleo
ton of 1892. n They will frame bills, no douot,
and will have much discussion about them ana
Ia the end will fail to agree or fail TO secure
majority in one house or the other, so that the
question NAV not be definitely settled until
after the next election. This Is an ingenious
theory. but it will not bear much examination
ANY action that it is possible for the Repub-
leans in Congress to take will OF necessity ohiy
render the tariff question more sharply dehncd
and keep it alive. For the Republican mem
bcrs of Congress, il they act on this question ao
all will necessarily act in harmony with pro-
tectiye principles, and for the purpose OF max
ing the protective duties moro efficient. Inc
line of policy outlined in the bill which passed
the Senate at the last session, the line OF policy
which the Republican members OF the Commit
too of Ways and Means have seemed disposed
to adopt. would by no means settle the tanii
question. or remove it from the arena OF politl-
cal discussion. On the contrary, any such
action would only have the effect of increasing
Traders. and of all those who have believed
that the existing tariff was framed on wrong
principles These persons, in ana out Oh eoh-
gross would believe themselves all the stronger
in any appeals to the people because OF the
action of Congress in making the duties on
sundrv imported articles higher or moro Ell
fective.
That il has been, and is now, the belief OF
the Republicans in Congress that tho people
are disposed to maintain and uphold the pro-
tectiye policy, is unquestionably true. 1t Is
also true that tho policy of the Repubhcan
party has been and still is to appeal to the pco-
ple with confidence for their support in main
taining and carrying out such a pohcy. III
there is any person, calling himself Kepuo-
lican. who desires to get rid OF the tarlH queS-
ton by 50 far reducing the duties that there
shall be no serious controversy about thcm DC
tween him and the extreme Free Traders, lie
has mistaken his political place and name, does
not belong in the Republican party and mas
no Good reason to call himself Republican.
Between the people who do uphold the essen
tal features of the Republican policy as re-
spects the tariff question, and those who are
opposed to that policy, there is definite and
irreconcilablc antagonism, which it Is not at
all the desire of Republicans to remove or to
diminish. They welcome the opposition OF
those who think that American industries ought
TO lie sacrificed or impcrillcd for the sake OF
inviting larger importations of foreign goods.
Hence it is that no action which the KcpuD-
licans in Congress can by any possibility take
or which any considerable number OF them wish
to take, will lessen in the slightest degree the
existing controversy on the tariff question: cA-
CeptinG as the experience OF the Naton ullder
a wise policy tends to render opposition to that
policy every year weaker and more futile.
II is the expectation of the Republican voters
| in all parts of the country that this Congress-
| having been elected largely by reason OF pop
Mar approyal Of the Republican system, VIII
| do what it can to uphold and to perfect that
system. 1t is expected that the tariff will be
strengthened wherever it has been found in
practice defective; that duties will be raised
wherever experience has proved that they fail
| IN defend a growing or promising American in
| dustry. IL is expected, especially, that the
duties devised for tho purpose Of defending the
| farming industry from injurious competition
i will be strengthened, so that this greatest OF
all industries may no longer have fair reason
| for complaint. When the House Committee
has framed a bill in this spirit, has cured the
defects OF careless or mistaken legislation
hitherto, and has provided for the more thor
ough defence of industries in view OF the
changes which the last seven years have
brought in modes of manufacture and in cost
of materials and products, it is expected that
Republican members will with great unanmty
support such measure. That the Democrats
will untedy oppose it is also expected and the
old issue between tho protective policy and
the policy of free trade will then be submitted
to the people in more definite form than at any
previous time.