The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-18


Itp mus in al roscs sr,,d s'oHptor MatpWpose
!
! Tho Question of nu Extra Session.
4 The programme for tariff revision APP
proved by many Of the most conspicuous
revenue reformcts represented i'll lnurnn'-
eism is for beginning on March >. 1898, with nm
Extra session ~ Congress. In the cas-" OF
Fthe critics who look upon the late election
rs an anti-taiiN triumph primarily
and their PARTY standing and impor-
tance entities them to 30 needed the
spnso uf moral obligation tn previous
professions is the leading motive; and
certainly from their point " carncstncss
for notwithstanding our economic systcm
rblh logic prcsr,.t, an unanswcrublc nrgu-
mcrt In their favor. The canvass To nomi-
nate Mr.. CLEVELAND and the platform on
which To WINS nominated We're heated with
fury uuusiial in ordinary campaigns against
The n'rocty uf protection. Protection was
robbery and outrage. nproiucf of the devil.
the root Of cur wirtchrdncss and poverty.
n,d ~ concentrated wealth. l; was II
lnIbi,' crime. II was to be swept ont OF
III" rational policy. If the multiplication
feeling is rs vehement IA its public utter
nnrcs ira,lirg ny to Mr.. CLEvELA&nS nomi-
J. tion. the statesman who, IN order To con-
tnuc the uudisturbrd delight Of ""ntrm-
plating victory, or in II pUsil!animous spirit
Of compromises. would daily in the task of
nnnhilnting protection is not only cow
nrd. hu, d"cciver. lie would permit u
hiShwaymnn to contiEu" to pi!laEc unmo-
Tested. lie would compromise with fcl"ns.
lie would go to sleep with the helpless still
suffering in the robbers hands.
This is tho moral side Of the argument.
On tho other hand. and We prcsrn: the
facts ms thcy are apparent to the
simplest understanding. appeals of the de-
frat"d and anxious agree with til" cries of
these enthusiastic Nrtors Tho Industries
expecting 10 suffer ask thnt If the pi"tcr-
two system must be abolished. let that DO
done now II tho nxn is destined to fail.
let It not hang in indccision any longer than
is necessary. II the interlorking interests
Of commerce and manufactures are To be
taken apart and fitted together again in
now forms. let the Encouragement be
brought about now before the blight of
prolonged uncertainty can work its incvi-
table injury. The economic change
proposed by the foremost advocates Of
the policy which supplied the force to
nominate the Prcsident-clect is colossal.
Logically 1t cannot stop with nero
pairing off Of duties 1t must be applied
to every line Of tho tariff with tho
thoroughness with which WILLIAM Nc
KINLEY formulated the revision Of $780,
and eventually 1t must eradicate every
element OF the principle by which tho
. statesmen OF hundred years. including
MCKINLEY, have been guided. This
IFS tho goal which the more radical reform
ers would reach sooner or later: and.
II 1t Is destiny, who. either from among
\ those who must suffer from tho conse-
] quences or those who aro demanding this
revolution as n natural right. will not say
the sooner the better?
But neither politics nor. when 1t comes to
practical application, political economy.
is governed by syllosisms. Their sense Of
moral victory will so q great way toward
appeasing the wrath OF the tariff
reformers. The applicability OF impotence
will largely give way to the elaboration OF
opportunity. A conqueror rarely feels his
old intensity OF anger against captive.
The motives which melted the latter to COM
bat become more Ineligible and excusable
when the combat is over. Tho friendship
that survives war is worth double
tho anlmosity that led up to It,
He who would spare no energy In
affirming principle may easily slide into
compromise with his overthrowu opponent
Human nature is as peaceful in peace as it
Is warlike In war. MIR. CLEVELAND. like.
wise. interpreted the Chicago platform in a
way to leave tho task OF tariff reform to
tho sober judgment OF party council
! rather than to the unbending demand OF
abstract theory. SO. taking oil these
considerations together. it Is reasonable to
expect no extraordinary he tc in Demo.
cratic revision OF tho tariff. and. from the
widespread willingness to delay it until the
natural assembling OF Congress in the win.
ter OF 1893. wo may also look for policy
that will neither strike disastrously into the
tariffs existing provisions nor seek to rig.
idly oblteratc the principle OF protection.
Such is tho outlook at present. And it is
/ full OF promise for general happiness and
b national prosperity.