Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-22
4 QUESTION or JUSTICE.
The People Have Put the Seal of Cor
domination on Protection as in Esseni


radical reform Of the tariff wllsomehow
be iuggled with and evaded by the
politicians overlook the most impressive
demand. 1t is that great public wrong
be rightcd. The economic argument
against protection Is conclusive, but il
was nc mere argument Of any kind
which led to the peaceful resolution of
this years Presidential election. Pro.
lection went down not simply ormainly
because 1t was preccvca to be economi-
cally unsound, but because 1t was per-
ceived to be politically unjust A great
deal Of righteous indignation found
voice in the sweeping anti-proteation
maiorities. II was not always clearly
defined in the minds Of those who felt ii
and acted on it, but it was powerful
force, il grew more and more intense MS
discussion showed how thoroughly il
was justified, and it is certain to become
still more rescntGul as the question is
further debated, and unappeasahle by
anything except removal Of its just
causes. In short, we believe that an
oppressive and unfair and uncivilzcd
tariff has at last aroused a sense of moral
outrage among the people which is sure
to override the intriguing OF politicians.
1t is no doubt true that the movement
for the reform OF tariff abuses which
came TO its triumph this year had It's
immediate origin as pure question Of
finance. The puzzle set before President
Cleveland was what TO do with the
growing and menacing surplus in the
treasury. Led to study the methods of
taxation, with view to discovering
where reductions might be made in the
peoples burdens and the locking up Of
the peoples money be stopped, he came
upon the essential vice OF the protective
system, and smote il in his message of
1887. In this there was u resonant moral
note, and, indeed, surprising anticira-
ton OF the way the mind of the common
people, unskilied in the technicalities 0f
economics, was to come TO regard the
whole question five years later; but the
main emphasis was upon the necessity
of relieving the plethora in the treasury.
When the triumphant Republicans came
in, they went busily to work TO remove
the only ground Of objection to the
tariff, as they We're partly justified in
viewing the matter, and got rid Of the
surplus with a celebrity and efficiency
beyond cavil, But in the very process
| they made the righteousness of protec-
ton per Sc SO apparent and so odiOus
that tAeir method OF saving the tarlll
turned out 70 ne INC swlitest means Of
us destruction. 80 lar as the argument
| from the condition OF the treasury and
the puollc revenues went IN the last
campaign, IL was Ill favor OF continuing
the high tariff; but the people had got
beyond that preliminary stage, and put
| their seal oil condemnation on protec'
non as IN essence an intolcrabie public
Injustice.
NOW, THIS aroused public sentiment
Is going TO give close and Jealous
! scrutiny 10 the pfelenslon OF particular
industries that they must not be dis
turbed. IL Is already apparent that
the great body OF legitimate manulac.
turing Is III no danger from lowered
tarlh. Those manufacturers OF iron and
cotton and leather who are on sound
basis now, know and admit that their
business cannot be injured by reduc-
tons Of duty. II Is true, too, that some
industries, manufacturing Of wooden
goods, for example, have much to hope
and nothing to fear from tariff changes.
But there are some industries, of the
order Of horse-leeches, that the tariff has
fastened Oh the people, which ought to
be violently disturbed, and the sooner
the disturbing process begins, the better.
There is the 400 per-cent-p pearl button
industry, there are shoddy mills, there
are monopolies buttressCd by the tariff.
A severe shock to their business would
be It most salutary proGeeding-w would
be, in fact, just what the people voted
should be given. And whoever is going
to be hurt by laws which enable the
poor man to get better clothing cheaper
or the scholar and the scientist to get
books and instruments without being
forced TO pay unnecessary and outrage.
Gus taxes thereon, must not expect IL
arouse sympathy by displaying his
bruises IN public. He will thereby
simply advertise himself as precisely the
man whom the voters meant 10 hit, and
whom they are in the mood to chastisC
again il need be.
II is idle for such men to resort to the
, specious plea that they have "vested in
tercsts" and - business now "adjusad'
) to the Mckinley bill, which il would be
unjust to "dsturb." The real dstugbel.
! are the original deviaers Of such adjust
; ments and those who profit by them. ii
! the role of injured innocence they ire
I sistlbly call 10 mind wicked King Ahab
+ 1t will be remembered that when hi
snug little. monopolies Of vice and lad
/ justmrnts" TO the doctrines Of l}ac wcr,
1 endangered by tho prophet Elijah, ht