The Iola register., 1891-01-23
a DEFINITION NEEDED.
Tariff Reform from q Republican Pbin
nf iYieM.

Tariff Reform from q Republican Point
ofyiew.
We are assured by Mr-Cleveland and
other Democratic leaders that their
party is pledged to tariff reform; but
they do not define tariff reform for US
in distinct and harmonious way. One
says it means one thing, and another
says it means another thing. Hardly
any two of them, in fact, are entirely
agreed upon the subject. They talk
about it in beautifully large and or
nate style without telling US how its
promised blessings are to be secured.
There is nothing exact and specific in
their long andi tiresome messages.
Generally speaking, they look forward
to the time when we shall have free
trade; but meanwhile, they admit, we
must have revenue to support the Gov
ernment. and the easiest and best way
to obtain it is, that of imposing duties
on imports. When, they are asked to
state just where and how these neces-
sary duties should be levied, they give
as many answers as there were tongues
at the feast of the tabernacles. Each
one has some product or interest, in
his locality for which he desires the
protection afforded by the presenttar.
iff; and so, taking them all together;
they indorse practically the whole list
of existing duties. They demand tariff
reform in the abstract, but they never
present the methods by which they pro-
pose to accomplish the desired object.
1t is a well-known fact that the duties
have been reducedby the McKinleylav
to point where no more can be spared
without incurring the danger of deficit.
How. then. are further reductions to be
made? Does tariff reform, from the
Democratic point of view. imply that
some of these duties should be reim-
posed. and others diminished or abol-
ished? There was a time when the
tariff brought us a large annual sur
plus, but there is not likely to be any
surplus in the next two years. It is
all very well 10 proclaim that reform is
good thing, and that we ought to
have as much of it as we. can, get;: but
reform is a term that may easily be
made to conceal rather than to, ex-
press thought Mr. Cleveland's latest
speech is striking illustration of this
fact. 1t does not contain: a single
coherent and definite statement with
regard to the policy that is, to be pur-
sued by his party. A great victory has
been won for tariff reform. he de-
elares, but he does not say how the
fruits of that victory are to be applied
and secured The Mills bill was the
Democratic platform in 1888, but it can
not be made the Democratic platform
in 1892. We are facing new situation
The legislation of the last session of
Congress has created a set of facts that
differs absolutely from that which pre-
vailed when Harrison was elected; and
yet Mr. Cleveland talks as if no change
had ensued. 1t is folly for him to say
that the problem remains as ID was
when he wrote his celebrated and fatal
message. The question Is; What does
he Democratic party intend to do under
the new conditions that have inter
vened? In other words, what does
tariff reform mean at the present time?
This is the point of real Importance;
and Mr.. Cleveland, in common with all
the other Democratic leaders, carefully
evades the task of furnishing plain
and satisfactory defnition--St. Louis
Globe-Democrat.