New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-23
MR.. INGALLS'S MISTIhES.

Ex-senator ingalls,. if correctly reported IN
an interview just published, thinks that last
crn coniemptuous criticism OF Western hnahclai
plans must be stopped, or the West ana South
will unite regardless Of Eastern interests. Ills
observations do not seem credltable IN 4 plbIIc
man who has been much hCnored by representa-
| tiyes Of Eastern opinion, but set aside by the
people of his own state. IL is possible that he
nav not so appreciate the disposition OF the
| Western people generally, but he certainly does
Injustice 10 the Republicans Of the East. In
| stead of contemptuous criticism and domineer-
ing resistance to Western wishes, nearly the
entire body of Republicans has shown an ear
nest desire TO 20 as far as 1t was safe 10 go
in meeting and satisfying the desires for cur
rcncy expansion and for reduction OF the tarri'
Mr.. ingalls, seems To forget that the silver
Act Of last year was framed in precisely the
spirit here described. Many Eastern people felt
sure that it would do no good, ana might m
yolve risk. But it was the prevailing desire to
devise a plan which would supply "A monetary
use for all the silver produced by American
mines, if possible, without disturbing the sound
ness of the currency. The bill to purchase
"a. 0OO, 900 ounces each year, and TO issue sill
! yer notes against the whole Of that bullion at
q presumably increased and possibly fictitious
| value, was by many not accounted SO safe or
wise as the plan which had TO be recommended
by Secretary Window, himself a Western man.
But the Republicans were anxious to Ind a plan
| which would satisfy the silver men, and they
accepted this measure. Senator ingalls, cannot
suppose that it would ever have passed. had is
| been imagined that within q few months these
same silver men would be clamollng Tor I'M
limited silver coinage.
Neither should Mr.. ingalls, forget that the
prevailing spirit in all the successive tariff re-
| visions down to that Of last year has been to
satisfy objections heard at the West that tho
tariff was too high. Year after year measures
of reduction were offered, a multitude Of arti-
| clcs were added TO the free list. Duties on
many manufactured products were cut down,
and finally in 1888 the country went so far in
that direction that several important industries
were seriously affected. Then the farmers be-
Gan to see that their industry ought to receive
| better protection, and forwarded thousands OF
| %pctitions to that effect, while in Ohio and other
| states wool growers made known by votes their
| dissatisfaction at the reduction OF duties. 1t
| WIS with the guidance of such appeals and such
| experience that last years revision was made,
| increasing the duty Oh some products where
| there has been too great a reduction or no ade-
ouate protection, and yet IN this same Mckinley
| hill there were more reductions than advances
of duty, so great was still the desire to remove
or lower duties wherever il could be done safely.
It may well DO doubted whether Mr.. ingalls,
understands what the Western people as a whole
| really desire. lie comes from a State which
has been in exceptional circumstances, and does
not seem to know that in most of the Western
States, if not in Kansas, the majority of farmers
heartily uphold the Republican policy. Nor can
he be assumed accurately tc represent the wishes
of those who have defeated him, and if Senator
PETER and Representative Simpson are right,
the Alliance wants measures regarding trans
p~ortation and loans of money on land which Mr..
ingalls, would disapprove and oppose as earnest
ly as any Eastern man. The fact is that the
line of division is not sectional. II does not
run between the West and the East, but between
men who are and others who are not conserya-
tive, prudent and ready to seek the welfare OF
the whole country rather than supposed advan-
tageS for a particular section or interest. Thou
sands of Western men began appealing to Con-
gress against the Free Coinage bill when the
Senate had voted for that measure. Thousands
of Western farmers realized that the land-loan-
ing and Sub-Trcasury schemes OF the Alliance
are dangerous to farmers and dangerous to the
country. 1t would be well just now to strength
en- and encourage these conservative elements.