New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-27
WHATTHE TARIFF HAS DONE
MIR. ALDRICH'S GREAT SPEECH.
DEMOCRATIC CRITICS OF THE MCKINLEY
LAW ANSWERED.
MR.. VESTS SPEECHES OF LAST JUNE DIssECTED
AND his ERRORS EXP0sED-FACTS AND
FIGURES FROM THE SENATE CON-
MrTTEE's REPORT USED WITH
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBUSE.l
TELLING EFFECT.

WashinQton, July Ex-senator Aldrich maze
his longexpected reply to-day to the criticisms
NJ The tariff law of 1890 embodied in Mr.. VESTS
two speeches Of June and June 28 and no re-
ply could have been more crushing or more con-
cT7isive Mr. Vest had been put forward by 'he
Democratic managers 10 outline the attack 10 pe
made this year on the Mckinley law ana IN the
course Of his speeches he had charged that Id"
with responsibility for all manner oil evil results
r. had. the Missouri Senator asserted, largely III
creased the cost of living in this country IL had
lowered wages; caused an increase OF strikes anu
labor troubles: narrowed and hindered foreign
commerce: depressed agriculture, and fostered
and encouraged trusts.
All these charges, and many minor ONES, "ere
taken ND in turn by Senator Aldrich ana eacn
WAS rcfutcd with ease and completeness. Inc
Rhode Island Senator is, more than any other hiah
in public fe master Of the intricate anu puA-
zlTng problems Of tariff legislation. and MS ac-
ciiate knowledge and power OF luciu ahaiS si'
enable him to detect and expose at glance the
most n,ausible and catching of misrepresentation
about the tariff which the ingenuity or us critics
can devise.
After his patient and elaborate unravellln8 OF
the nnumerable blunders and errors into when
Mr.. Vest had fa len in his statement OF thc
effects o. the Mckinley law, that fiery but Ill
informed and venturcsome assailant ot the pro-
rcctive system must have felt that he had scar
ccly fact left TO stand on. by use, among
other authorities, OF the recent non-partlsah re-
port OF the Senate Finance Committee on wages
and prices for the twenty-eieht months just Oe
fore and after the passing of the Mckinley law,
Mr.. Aldrich was able to confute, triumphapfly,
every one OF Mr. Vests assertions about the
effects Of the tariff Of 1890.
The Mckinley law, he showed by unimpeach-
able evidence, had not increaeed the cost OF
living in this country. On the contrary, the
cost Of living had fallen since that law had
gone into operation. Under the new tarin, on
the other hand, wages had increased slightly.
strikes had been less numerous, foreign commerce
had enlarged and expanded. The prices OF
agricultural products had been advanced, ana
general prosperity had been in every way more
marked and decided.
Mr.. AlIrch's speech when printed in full will
cover twenty or thirty pages of The Con-
ercsslonal Record and will include many new
and important tables showing the working Of the
Tarin law in various branches OF industry IL
will also have an appnndiX, 100 or more let
tcis from leading manufacturers and experts In
this country in support of the conclusions en-
bodied in the speech itself Mr.. Aldrich occu-
pied about two hours in speaking, and was
listened TO with great interest and attention Tor,
although the supJect matter was 'eoi"uo", AZ
was Of great political interest, involving the pre-
sentatiOn in an authentic and official way, OF the
Republican answer ~ the Democratic campaign
OF criticism Sr the Mckinley law.
Mr.. Adrich's speech will be used the chief
Republican document the tariff question IN
the approaching canvass: or. rather, IL Will FUR
nish material for many documents dealing win
single branches OF the subject. The synopsis or
She speech given below aims 10 give the general
line and drift Of the reply, and TO show something
Of its remarkable force and completeness Alter
Mr. AldrCh had finished, there was a general
exchange Of views participated in BY MeSsrs. Vest
Allison Hale and others.