The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-07
rur pRrsrprNr,s MESSAGE.

t.,ra,ion during the past year, with the
salient points of which the puo'ic are
already familiar.
The most interesting feature Of the en-
,,re document Is the discussion of the
Protective Tariff system. Mr.. Harrison
frankly admits that the American peo-
ple have most emphatically reversed that
policv. although he carefully omits men
t,oning the fact that the verdict OF the
noonie given on the Sth OF November,
/ was only a repetition OF the verdict OF
two years ago. only that this time IL
WAS uttered in such decided tones as TO
leave no possible hope that they would
ever change their minds. at least until
the policy OF tariff reform had been
fairly tried and found wanting.
Strangely enough. the President bases
all he has 10 say on the subject OF Protec-
ton being beneficial to the masses Of the
country upon the report Of Lobor Com
missioner Peck, OF New York, published
during the campaign in the hope Of in
turing Mr. Cleveland. That he had 10 re-
| sort to such a document-which had been
proven to be absolutely worthless and
without foundation. by the offer freely
made, but never claimed, to give any
| man a handsome money present VINO
could show in the State Of New York
that his wages had been really raised
by the Mckinley law-for arguments in
favor Of the Protective system shows
how absolutely weak his position is.
Another important fact in this con-
nection is that-also ignored by Mr. Har-
rison-of the Homestead troubles. There
was case right before his eyes where
on the very eve of the election, concern
as highly favored as any other IN
the country by Protection, and
one which, perhaps more than
any other, had waxed enormously rich
on that system, reduced the wages OF
its employees most numerically. If Pro-
lection keeps up wages there was no
establishment in the United Stats where
it should have had that effect more de-
cdedly than in the Carnegie mills, and
if 1t did not act as was claimed for 1t
| there, it could not be expected to so act
elsewhere. One such instance as Home
stead is sufficient 10 belle whole volumes
of such campaign documents as that
issued by Peck.
There is slight evidence, however, that
Mr.. Harrison is amenable to the right.
The most important part Of his message
is in realty but a forced argument for
Protection, but he emits a CLEAN of the
light of reason. He winds up that por-
ton of his message in which he treats
of this subject as follows:
Those who have advocated a Pro-
tective Tariff can we'll afford TO have
their disastrous forecasts of a change
of policy disappointed. If system Of
customs duties can be framed that VIII
set the idle wheels and looms of Europe
I'm motion and crowd our warehouses
with foreign made goods, and at the
same time keep our mills busy, that Will
give us an increased participation in the
markets of the world Of greater value
than the home market We surrender;
that will give increased work TO foreign
workmen upon products to be consumed
by our people without diminishing the
amount to be done here; that will enable
the American manufacturer TO pay to
his workmen from 80 to a 100 per cent.
more in wages than is paid in the for
eign mill and yet to compete in our mar
ket and foreign markets with the foreign
producter, that will further reduce the
cost Of articles Of wear and food without
reducing the wages Of those who produce
them; that can be celebrated after its
effects have been realized as its eXpecta-
haar In EuTOnaaO well In
American cities, the authors and pro-
motors of it will be entitled to the highest
praise
Here he asserts that there is a posi-
bility that a tariff law can be framed
which will, while increasing the COM
merce Of the country. also substantially
benefit American industries and the
American workman. 1t is just such tariff
law as this that the Democrats propose to
enact, and if they succeed they will
receive, as Mr.. Harrison says they should,
the highest praise from the entire coun-
try.
The rest of the message, as we
have already said, deals merely with
matters of n routine character and really
reveals nothing new or specially inter-
esting. The whole document, however,
is an exhaustive review Of the state Of
public affairs as it exists at present,
and is, therefore, we'll worthy Of peru
sal. We leave it to our readers to form
their own judgment about the excel
lenoe OF the document as a state paper,
and as medium of valuable instruction.