Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-27
HERE is A SPEECH
That Knocks Democratic So
phistry
INTO A veRIrA8LE CONFUSION
sen>tor Aldrich SPEAKS 10 the Subject Of
the TaTld and Fires q Broad
side Of Facts.

WIN TIC bcAi iPffShAfe i1h5i"k c-t~Nh
so 10 100. passed the whole day IN dis
cussing the tariff. Mr.. Aldrieh Of
Rhode Island, chairman OF the sub
committee which has been investIgat-
ing tns effect Of the Mckinley ball on
the necesssries Of hfe. made al elabo-
rate protection speech. He was replied
to Ia part by Mr.. Vest os Missouri and
. further reply MAS promised FROM Mr..
Carlisle OF Kentucky. Tue senate took
40 important step IN the direction OF
adjournment by adopting the report OF
It's conferrees on the deficiency tlii,
leaving only the snndry civil ball TO De
disposed Of. Anti-opiion was sheived
Cor the day, but u expected that to-
morrow vote will De taken on the
wolcott resolution 10 postpone that
question tlll next December. Mr..
Aldrich of Rhode Island took the
foor 20 deliver hs promised address
on the subject of the tariff and lts
effect. Ia opening ms speech he as-
serted that the tariff question Is 10 be-
come by common consent the leading
issue In the approaching presidential
campaign. The radical declarations of
the democratic platform adopted st
Chicago. and the equally radical utter
ances OF leading representatives, OF the
party insure this result. At 40 time IN
the history ot the country have the
lines betweeo the two great parties
upon this question been so clearly de-
lined.
Great Casaor Apparent.
The party platforms Of 1892 declare
with mnch greater candor than
10 customary IN papers OF this
kind the doctrines of their re-
speetivs parties. The republicans
enter upon the campaign distinctly
fav0ring the present protective policy
and announcing definitely the prin-
clples which should control tariff legis-
lation. while the democrats denounce
protection as a fraud, declare the un-
constitutlousiity Of protective tariff
duties and make q special and vicious
attack upon the tariff act Of 1890 az
the eliminating strocity of tariff leg
islAti N. Tue democratic platform is
IN many res9ects a radical departure
from any OF the previons official utter
anees of the party. At no time IN the
history of the country. except in the
course OF the movement os nulIifica-
ton. has an attempt heretofore oeen
made tn make the doctrine Of the un-
constituticnahty of protective duties
the essential element of a political
creed. The steps nv which the drmoc-
rscy have reached the radical position
they now. .occupy have been very
gradual.
D,.gu,sss Throwa On.
The democratic platform of 1894 and
1888 we're so constructed ss to secure
the approval If large number of incl
dental protectlonists who then held
place, nominaliy At least. in the demo-
cratic ranks. but IN the plstform OF
1892 di<gu see are thrown off and FIR the
first time the party IL arrayed IN en-
pnstic antagonism To tariff rates winch
contain any element of protection.
TINS clear alignment of parties greatly
slmpllties the discussion OF the Quss-
tion. 10 removes all opp rtunity for
possible differences of opinion in re-
gard To the republican plan of CAM
paIgn. The friends OF protection will
wage aggressive warfare npon the revo-
lutiOnsry doctrines which, although
long secretly cherished by democratic
leaders, are now for the first time
openly svowed. The attack upon the
indefensihle position must be vigorous
and persistent.
Psfs~ Dcmecratie Predictions
"ft 10 dlfticuit to- see how the results
OF the investigation OF the sub commit
tee on finance could be a surprise to
anyone. unless be should be profess
sionsl tariff reformer. IL has. | be-
lleve. been for many months apparent
to the great mass of the people of the
United States that none OK the demo-
cratic predictions m regard to higher
prices and greater cost OF living. as the
result Of tariff legislation of 1890, has
been fulfilled. The decline IN the cost
OF living from June. 1899, TO May. lsg2,
a. shown by the report of the finance
committee, VAS 30 per cent. The ad-
vance IN wages, "a shown bv the same
report. was rs OF per cent. TINS
makes an average increase IN the pur-
chssug power of wages OF tl5 per
cent. Assuming $500 as the averge IN
come Of the families OF the country tF4s
would be equivs!ent TO say s2s per
family. or an aggregate saving for 49,
600 900 families Of fs25, 900 900 for each
year. The addition of tins vszt sum
annually 10 the national earnings and
wealth - an achievement which SPEAKS
With Q voice of thunder. During this
time the incsesss IN living VA England
hss been il9 per cent. II the conji-
tions had been reversed our democratic
friends would have insisted that Il was
IN. direct and logical resul OF the rlvsl
revenue systems.
ar~as Am-ricas Esrs,rgs
T am curious 10 <re what explanation
they will now maker Al no tiafe m our
history nave the earnings of American
people been ss great. measured hy their
power to purchase the comforts and
uecesssries of lite ss they are today.
Measured by the same standard they
are vastly greater than those OF any
period before.
Tue RUE that should apply IN fixIng
the rates of protective duties . that
they should ia all eSses equal the ,tif-
ference between tne eost of production
and distr sution and the normai con
ditlons ot the article ~ question IA our
own aud "A that competing country
where the cost OF production = lowest.
rhis Vas tne rule which wss followed
IA the preparation of the act OF 1900
sna Of tne tariff bill of 1883 which
formed the hasss Of this measure. Pro-
tecsve duties ievied IN this manner
nave bus oue purpose and can rave
but one effect. that - 10 protecs
Arserican fsfor and Go MAINTAIN the
esstios hsgn level of wsges and earn
inxs Of Asnefican woFkmsn. When
such detes srr removed or reduced
below the protective point lsbor re-
eelves The hsls force Of the blow-
r.-s4 -..t W.~~.