New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-25

majority OF the machinery II the United States.
gre satished with the existing tariff law. They
eliminating in the Act OF 500, they are entitled
to period of rest, and now respectfully petition
to be let alone, that they may prosecute their
industry IN peace ana with Reasonable degree
Of confidence
Who then is demanding the repeal Of this law
and the placing of wool the free list? Ger
tainly not the men who consume so much wool
Most surely the men who grow wool. the men
who own and raise sheep. are mai. lg no sach de-
mand
1t cannot be the people who buy and wear
woolen goods. They are getting them cheaper
now than ever before.
No people who are vitality interested in this
subject are asking for this new legislation 1t is
simply the trick of few willy politicians, few
men who lack The brains and the industry TO
formulate a tariff bill in accordance with free
trade notions. They have adopted this pieccmeal
plan. Mr. Springer claims that this plan is adopted
because of the utter inability of passing general
tariff law through the United States Senate
UNAwED BY THE FATE OF CLEVELAND
1t is very fortunate for the believers in Pro-
lection that Mr.. Springer has selected wool and
woollen goods as the first point in his nibbng
method of attack. II there was any one thing
more than another which aided in the defeat of
Grover Cleveland in 1855 it the foolish talk in
his celebrated message with reference to wool and
woOllen goods. Does any one suppose for moment
that the Republican Senate of the United States
will join in this kind of crusade against the
great system of protection to American Industries
If one will look over the list of articles which
Mr.. Springer proposes to attack by his oncartice
at-a-time plan he will see that the list includes
wool, coal. iron, lumber, SALT paper and paper
pulp, indeed, about all the leading industries
which make up the great business of the United
States. Such plan can certainly deceive no one.
1t will meet with favor from no genuine Repub-
lican, and ! predict that in Mr.. Springers own
party his method of attack will be found very
far from popular. Large numbers of Democrats
who believe in "a tariff for revenue only will never
consent to this cowardy method of dealing with
a great question.
The wool growers of the United States are
scattered in large numbers all over this Republic.
Their fight heretofore against the anti-Amcrican
teachers of free trade has been a bitter one. The
sheep industry for years has not developed as il
should have done. The farmers have all the time
been insisting that the duty was too low TO give
them any real protection. The Mckinley bill
was made satisfactory to the farmers who raise
sheep. There was general impression at that
time that the men who own ana run woolieh
mills not satisfied with the new adjustment.
These men have now wheeled into line and state
in so many words that they are well pleased with
the workings of the new law Why not then
give these gentlemen a chance to show what can
be done? FlOcks of sheep can be increased some
in one year, but to learn the permanent effect
OF such a measure at least five years is needed
Time alone can test the wisdom Of tariff legisla-
| ton. At the end OF five years if the number OF
| sheep in the United States shall have increased
enormously; if the wOoen mills shall be running
prosperOusly, and if AT the same time the peo-
pie who wear woollen goods shall be getting them
cheaper than ever before, then. If these three
things shall follow, | submit there will he little
need OF theorizng upon this question any longer
The facts will have settled the dispute II, on
the other hand. disaster follows the raising of
sheep, the working up of wool into fabrics. and
if the price of woollen goods shall be increased
then the facts will settle the question against the
trainers Of the new wool schedule.
For one, ! am perfectly willing TO leave the
result TO he determined by the facts. The authors
of this memorial tell that, up 10 date, the facts
are all in favor of the present law. ! defy Mr..
! Springer and his free-trade coadjutors To deny
| their statement, and dare MIN and them 10 a
| decision Of this question by the logic Of coming
events. r. G. HORR