New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-06

ten and trade would follow, and will not be
lieve Nat what is SO plain to them can be hidden
from our own people.
THE AMERICAN DOCTRINE OF PROTECTION.
The, declaration of the platform in favor o.
the American doctrine Of Protection meets my
most hearty approval. The convention ola no'
adopt a schedule, but principle that is to con
troll all tariff schedules. There may DE uii
ferences of opinion among Protectionists as u
the rate upon particular articles necessary to
effect an equalization between wages abroad ana
at home In some not remote National cam
paigns the issue has been-or. more correctiy' hae
been made TO appear to be-between high Ill"
q low protective tariif-both parties expressing
soms solicitous regard for the wages OF our
working pcople and for the prosperity OF our
domestic industries. But, under more
COURAGEOUS leadership. the Democratic party
has now practically declared that. IL given
mower. IL will enact tariff law without any re-
gard ITO its effect upon wages or upon the capl'ai
invested In our great industries.
The majority report of the Committee on
Platform to the Democratic National Convention
1t Chicago contained this clause That when
Custom House taxation Is levied upon articles
Of any kind produced in this country, the diff
abroad, when such a difference exists, fully
measures any possible benefits to labor and the
enormous additional impositions Of the existing
tariff fall with crushing force upon our farmers
and workingmen."
Here we have distinct admission OF the Re
publican contention that American workmen are
advantaged by tariff rate equal TO the dif-
ference between home and foreign wages, ana
o declaration only against the alleged additional
impositions" of the existing Tariff law.
Again, this majority report further declared :
" But In making a reduction In taxes, 1t Is not
proposed to injure any domestic Industries, Dut
rather to promote their healthy growth. More
over, many industries have come TO rely upon
Legislation for successful continuance, so that any
change of law must be at every step rcgardful
of the labor and the capital thus involved
Herr We have an admission that many OF our
industries depend upon protective duties Tor
their successful continuance" and declaration
that tariff changes should be resardfnl OF the
worknen in such industries and of the invested
capital
DEMOCRATIC WARFARE on PRoTE-T1oN.
The overwhelming rejection Of these PROPOSE
tiens. which had before received the sanction OF
Democratic National conventions, was not more
Indicative of the new and more courageous leader
ship to which the party has now committed IL
self than the substitute which was adopted.
This substitute declares that protective duties
are unconsttutiona-bigh protection, low pro-
lection, all unconstitutional. Democratic Ioh-
sress holding this view cannot enact. nor a Demo
cratic President approve. any tariff schcdue' 'ne
purpose or effect of which is 10 limit importa-
tons or to give any advantage 70 an American
workman or producer A bounty might, judge
be lriven 10 the importer under this view Of the
Constitution, in order to increase importations
and so The revenue for "revenue only Is the
limitation. Reciprocity OF course falls under
this denunciation, for its object and effect are
not revenue but the promotion OF commercial
exchanges, the profits, Of which 60 wholly to our
producers.
This destructive un-American doctrine was not
held or taught by the historic Democratic states
men whose fame as American patriots has reacheu
this generation-certaihly not by Jefferson or JACK
SON This mad crusade against American SHOPS
the bitter cpithcts applied 10 American manu-
faoturers the persistent disbelief Of every re-
mort of the opening Of tn-plate mill or OF an
increase Of our foreign trade by reciprocity, are
as surprising they are discrcditable There Is
not a thoughtful business man in the country
who does not know that the enactment into ia"
of the declaration of the Chicago Convention on
the country into a business convusion such as it
has never seen: and there is not thoughtful
workingman who does not know that 1t would
at once enormously reduce the amount of work
TO be done in this country by the increase OF
importatons that would follow, and nccessitate
a reduction of his wages TO the European standard
IL any one suggests that this radical policy
will not he executed if the Democratic party
attains power, what shall be thought Of party
that is capable of thus trifing with great in
terests? The threat Of such legislation would be
only less hurtful than the fact. A distinguished
Democrat rightly described this movement ,as
challenge TO the protected industries TO a fight
Of determination. and another such rightly en-
pressed the logic Of the situation when he inter
preted the Chicago platform TO be an invitation
to all Democrats holding even the most mod
crate protection views to go into the Republican
party.
COST OF LIVING REDUCED UNDER THE TARIFF.
And now few words in regard 10 the existing
Tariff law. We are fortunately able to Judge
Of ito influence upon production and prices by the
market reports. The day of the prophet of
calamity has been succeeded by that Of tlfe
trade reporter. An examination into the effect
Of the law upon the prices Of protected products
and Of the cost of such articles enter into the
living of people Of small means has been made
by Senate committee. composed of leaiing Sena-
tors Of both parties, with the aid OF the lest sttis
ticians, and the report signed by all the members
Of the committee has been given TO the public |
Ne such wide and careful inquiry has ever be- |
fore been made. These facts appear from the |
report:
Frst-The cost Of articles entering into the |
use Of those earnings less than 81, 900 per annum
has decreased up TO May, 1892, "a per cent |
while in farm products there has been an increase
in prices, owing in part to an increased foreign
demand and the opening Of new markets In |
England during the period the cost of |