New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-21
A REASONABLE TEST.

4 singular and vet an entirely logical reason
was recently given by an ardent tarill relofni-
or who supported Mr.. Cleveland with great
zeal four years ago, for his determination "
support President Harrison this year. Ills
reason might well have weight with many
others who have been opposed to the Repub-
ican marty on the tariff question. new
tariff has been enacted" this gentleman SAID
"but has not vet been in force long enough to
show what its effects will be. If my cOnyic'
tions are right. this new tariff will do 50 much
mischief and work such harm to the people
that. after they can realize its effects, they
will never permit the enactment OF another
biob Protective Tariff The test i'll that case
will settle the tariff question for all time to
como At least so far that this country Will
thereafter move, not toward greater Protec-
tion. but toward freer trade. Now | want that
test made fully and fairly, so that everybody
NAV be convinced regarding the results. 1t
would be great misfortune, in my judgment,
to throw away the opportunity OF securing a
definite and complete reversal OF the National
policy through the conviction Of people that
the policy pursued by the Republican party Is
erroneous
1t was on this ground that the gentleman
declared that he should support President llaf-
rison and do what he could to secure the re-
election of the President. He reasoned that
if Mr.. Cleveland should be elected new tariii
agitation would begin at once. In all prop
ability the law would be changed, at least IN
important respects, before the people could
become convinced regarding its consequences.
Even if no change should be made in the law.
there would inevitably be great change In the
confidence of capitalists respecting investments
in new works. so that the supporters OF the
Republican policy would believe, with Auch
appearance of truth that the measure had not
been fairly tested, and would have worked
much better and attained far more desirable
results if it had not been thus interrupted.
But with President liarrisonS reelection there
would be no prospect of radical change OF the
law during the next four years, and the people
would come to know just what Protection means
and what it costs.
Then this gentleman was asked: Do you
not realize that the results of the new tarn
NAV be quite different from what You expect ?
It may produce such results Is will confirm
the people in the conviction that it is wise
measure" To this the tariff reformer made
manly and creditable reply: {" recognize
that possibility also My beliefs may be in
error as | think yours are. But if it is so,
want that proved also by fair test. want
the whole country to know, and want to know
myself. by actual experience under the sort Of
tariff protectionsts have now given us. whether
they are right or we are. What we all ought
to seek above every thing is the prosperity OF
our country, and if my opinions do not prove
best adapted to secure that prosperity, the soon
er we know it the better
If all tariff reformcrs had as much good sense
and patriotic feeling as this one there would
be less room for dispute. Even as this gentle
man reasons. the tariff question is mainly one
Of facts, and the teachings of actual experience
ought to be Loyalty acknowledged and accepted
by men of all parties. But the test must be
full and fair; otherwise the minds of inteli-
gent men will not be convinced. 1t would not
be just test of the Mckinley bill to break
down at several points its defences against
foreign importations, as Mr.. Springers bills
would have done, before the effects of the
measure as a whole could be ascertained. IT
would not be just test, by the election of a
hostile President, to arrest the investment Of
ton of the bill, so that the people would fail
to secure the desired development of their in
dustres while compelled to bear real or imagi-
nary burdens involved by the law. Thus far
in the belief of Protectionists the act is serving
the country well. 1t has caused the establish
mcnt of many new works, in which additional
employment is given to thousands of American
workers, and thus has increased the demand
for American labor, while it has not rendered
manufactured products generally more costly
to consumers.
But the test has been too short for the salts
faction of many opponents of Protection. They
still reason that the full effect of the new tariff
in enhancing the cost of production and OF
articles to consumers has not been felt The
existing policy ought to be maintained without
interruption, at least long enough to show
whether the beliefs of its supporters or Of its