The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-09-24
ing always the same effects.

q piece of tariff legislation SO compli-
Gated as the Mckinley act is, favors one
industrial interest ut the expense of
others, and those interests which are nut
at disadvantage are sure to ask for an
increase of the duties protecting them,
to make the system more harmonious and
symmmetrical. There is another cir
cumstance working in the same iirec-
tion. Senator MORRILL,, the father of the
famous MORRILL, tariff, said in one of his
speeches defending the manufacturers
against the charge Of constantly asking
| for more protection: Experienced mar
ufactnrers are always moderate in their
demands. Only those nnskilled, or work
Ing with inferior machinery. clamor for
extravagant protection. Prudent men
know that large protection nurses a host
OF Wild and reckless competitors, who
go down with a crash, carrying with
them even those whose more prudent
| management deserved success. This is u
admirably true picture. Nothing can be
more certain than that the MCKINLEY
tariff, promising the manufacturers ex-
traordinary profits, has drawn and will
draw into Industrial enterprise great
many adventurous spirits with little
skill and experience who will flourish
for day." and then, drifting into en-
barassments, rush to Congress, clamor-
sng for higher duties to help them out OF
their troubles. A third class Of business
men will do the same thing. They are
the sagacious men who see clearly
enough that even If the Republican party
successful again this time, the days OF
this high protective system are GeYerthe-
less numbered, and who therefore wish
to make the best of their opportunities
in the shape Of the highest possible profits
while they have party in power that
will help them in doing 50,
All these interests will, in case Of Re-
publican success, impetuously demand
higher duties, and Republican Con-
gress will not refuse legislative favors
asked by those whose financial aid has
done so much to keep the Republican
party in power. Republican success
would therefore not mean a period Of
stability in our economic policy, but
constant tariff tinkcriug in the direction
OF higher protective rates. with all the
economic unrest which such a nolicy
brings IN its train.
To prognosticate the action of the DEM
ocrats with regard to the tariff in case
they succeed in the national election is
hardly more difficult. 1t must have
struck every unpredjudiced observer dur
ing Mr. CLEvELAND's Presidency that the
Democrats then the administration
party. conducted themselves. OH the
whole, asa very conservative body of
men. Likewise during .be last session
OF Congress, when they had an enormous
and somewhat motley majority in the
House OF Representatives, that majority
having been elected as distinct and
emphatic protest against the MCKINLEY
act, the Democrats dealt with the tariff
question, perhaps not in the wisest, but
certainly not in wild and reckless man
ner. They rather approached the subject
with certain hating timidity. The
Democrats made no exception to the old
experience that the responsibility attach
ing to che exercise of great political
power is apt to tusn flaming radical
into cautious conservative. Moreover
the ordinary member Of Congress is no
hero i'll the point of moral courage. How
ever loud his professions of principle
may be, compromise is his most congcn-
ial element, and he is always inclined to
pay too much rather than too little re-
gard to the private interests among his
constituents that they may urge them
selves upon his attention.
We risk little in expressing the opinion,
therefore, that Democratic success in the
national election will not be followed by
a precipitate sweeping away of the whole
tariff, such as the Republicans SO dole
fully predict; not, perhaps, because the
Republican Senate will be there to pre-
vent 1t, but because the Democrats will
not be energetic enough in attacking
the ma 'ifo!d abuses Of our high protect
lue system. They will probably not 20
further than to put the articles that are
commonly designated as raw materials
upon the free list, to reduce the duties on
the manufactured articles correspond
lhgly. and to prevent by proper removal
Of duties the formation or continuance |
Of oppressive trusts. This will not be I
free trade: 1t will not be tariff for rev.
enue only; but it will be a step in the
right direction, and gradually lead to
The adoption of a rational sys.em.-Har-
per's Weekly.