Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-06-03
lgME talk ON TARIFF.
sTAx MskfNLHY Law GAINING
GROUND.

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Here are some items OF fact and sng.
eestion from the New York Tribune
that deserve attention and study:
Casual remarks often disclose very
correctly the drift Of public opinion. In
m elevated car . few days ago . bust
9 d man remarked to his Republican
acquaintance: This tariff is going to
pull NJ through the election next fall, |
verify believe" Probably he did not
then remember. Q his friend, that he
vas one Of those who publicly and hotly
denounced this new tariff eighteen
months ago az tone which ought to bury
the party" In his first rush Of misin-
formation and prejudice be thought
badly of MAJ. Mckinley, but has since
seen something of the workings of the
tariff.
Next came a Democratic working
man, discussing the nomination with
his friend. Il thought hat tariff qncs-
ton would elect him, but it didn't, and
TO- ! don't believe in nominating q
beaten man" This Democrat was evil
IDENTIFY referring TO Mr.. Cleveland, and
he presently added: Maybe it taxes
other folks; cant find where this new
tariff taxes me anything, or any other
man | know" One thing he does
know; what he pays for sugar.
When the new tariff was completed
the Tribune spoke warmly Of its wis
dom, aud called it the brayest tariff
over framed. Some thought that re-
mark rather laughable. But it takes
NOT . little courage to do the right
thing when it is certain to be misunder-
stood by friends and lied about by foes,
and to excite a storm of prejudice
which nothing but years Of experience
can remove. Men there are by the
hundred thousand in this country who
really believed eighteen months ago
that they were going to be Obliged to
pay q great deal more for their wooden
clothing, their tin pals and pans, and
for nearly everything else. They have
learned that free.trade newspapers and
politicians do not always tell the truth.
If the new tariff has anywhere added Il
cent 10 their burden they cannot detect
It, but they do know right well that it
has made some things cheaper.
A ~ W66 UBLOuIbutuk Au LIlC AhISoI phTb
Of 1880 how many business men there
dustries which owe their existence to
protection, who thought that the new
tariff chad gone too tar" and "would
make materials and living more costly"
and vas mot according to the prom
ises of the party" Allowance must be
made for these men, for they have
lived twenty years in an atmosphere OF
Misrepresentation and misunderstand-
ing, and clanior for reduction OF
Duties" until they had become to i'm
agine that reducing duties would always
make things cheaper and Was always
good, but rising duties would always
make things dearer and always bad.
When practical experience under the
Mckinley bill began to educate them
their eyes we're opened to such things
~ these:
Immediately after the new duties
went into effect agents of German man
uiacturers were offering worsted and
woollen goods here ut exactly the same
prices as before, the foreign manufac-
turers paying the entire increase in
duty out of their profits.
English cutlery was reduced in price,
many kinds at once, 30 that it was Of
Tered here at no higher prices than be-
fore the duties were raised. American
makers sold better goods at the old
prices, and seized the market.
At retail, tinware, clothing and other
articles almost innumerable, which
we're expected to advance largely, re-
manned at exactly the same price.
Then men learned that wholesale prices
often had little or nothing to do with
A. $1,000 r.xn1l, -ntl H.,
1t takes courage for men who foresee
such things calmly to face personal de.
feat at elections close at hand, because
the change made is the right thing for
the country. The men who framed
and passed the new tariff staked every.
| thing on their faith that the people
| would learn the truth before long.
How fast they have been learning il
Senator Aldrich and Gov. Mckinley
can explain, but the votes next fall will
answer more fully.