New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-14
THE TAHIFF PROSPECT.

Five million workers Iii lniS CouIiVi! "iN
especially interested to know what the Demo
cratic party will do about the tariff. Many OF
them voted with that party in the belief that
il would not do what it had promised. Inc
nlatform if had adopted Al Chicago meant moth
ing. they reasoned because the candidate had
modified that declaration by his letter OF ac
ceptance With equal reason others concluded
that .his statements meant nothing because
they were contrary to the platform he accepted.
Yet to thousands of voters it is matter OF
grave personal consc Quence whether the party
will do what it promised or what It's candidate
promised, or something else.
The uncertainty about industries upon which
many depend for their livelihood cannot be
beneficial Yet it must continue until the next
Congress has acted. No change can come until
March 4. when the next President will make
oath TO enforce existing laws. On account OF
differences regarding this and other questions. 1t
is by some expected that he may not be as
posed to call an extra session OF Congress, ana
unless he does the laws now In force must
stand for more than year. Hence shrc"d
Democ: ats already advise an extra session ana
speedy decision. There are hundreds ol
works which have been brought into operation
by the new tariff, and the prospect of a change
will lead owners of these to prepare for the
removal of duties which have made their eX-
istence possible Many hundred others have
been adapted during the last two years to the
production of goods which could not proiltaoi!
be made here if present duties were abolished
or much reduced What may be done III all
these establishments to prepare for irturc
change can only be conjectured though there
is little reason to expect that establishments
will expand their business.
1t is therefore likely that if Congress docs
not meet until December, 1898, it will meet
after a year of unpleasant and costly uncer-
tainty Its first and perhaps its most difficult
task whenever it meets, will be to decide upon
a policy. The Democrats who believe In sweep
ing away protective duties altogether In ac-
cordance with the declaration of the Chicago
platform, will be supported bv the opinions and
prejudices Of great majority OF Democratic
soters. especially in the Southern States, upon
which the party depends for more than hall
it's strength in Congress or in the election OF
President Others will resist praying FOR
more cautious and tentative course, but they
will no longer be able to say, as they said IN
Congress last year or at the convention In June
that Democratic success in one or two Eastern
States is necessary. The victory OF the party
in great Western States on an extreme plat
form must tend powerfully to strengthen those
who urge a general reconstruction Of the tarf
according TO the declaration made ct Chicago.
History teaches that the worst tariff the coun-
try ever had was the compromise measure OF
March 2. 1888, providing for slow and grad
ual reduction Of duties extending over ten
year. The prostlation Of industries and OF
business which resulted was then without prcce-
dent and has never since been equaled. Actual
reduction Of duties at once far enough u open
works to severe competition, with prospect OF
further reduction after year or two, closing
establishments one by one and forcing prices
downward oontnualy would probably do more
harm than any sharp and radical change, how
ever bitter its immediate consequences The
danger is that the strife of Democratic factions
for the mastery within the party, and the con-
| tinuing uncertainty how far the dominant fac
ton may venture to 60 at the next session OF
Congress, may bring upon the country condi-
tons even worse, as respects the tariff, than
those created by the gradual but definite reduc-
|
more constructive craftsmanship than Demo
Gratis appeared TO possess in the last Congress
TO meet these difficulties with any measure OF
succhss, and the sooner they take hold Of the
task the better for the country.
If the Democratic party can so modify the
tariff, by any process whatever, rs to give the
country greater progress and prosperity than il
has realized, TIE TRIBUNE wants TO- see that
! done with the least possible delay. The whole
world has been learning by experience, and
Republicans are extremely willing to learn il
the lesson brings greater prosperity. But il
the Democratic party is unable to make any
beneficial change, or when it acts at all is Ger
tain TO disturb and PROSTATE industries, the
sooner that is known to the people who have
intrusted it with power the better for all, for
the sooner they can prepare to correct their
mistake.