New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-16
YES QUICKLY; IF At ALL.

or course. THE TRIBUNE prints the joyful
news that many manufacturing establishments
are resuming work. Not even the Mugwump
uress can rejoice more heartily at such tldlngs
for il means that as yet the industries OF our
country have not been subjected to the de-
st,1lctive foreign competition which the Demo-
cratic policy threatens. If such tariff as thau
Marty promises wore about to 90 INTO cHecU
thorc would be small chance OF recovery 1or
American industries. To all who care Tor inc
pro.pcr:ty of the pcO2lc it is good news thAt
works employing thousands of men and women
are able even if only for a time, to find work
and wages for them without sacrifice
"What thou doest. that do quickly" was the
bu,dcn of TIE TEIBUNEs advice to the Dem
ocrat.c party before the Inauguration. IL
hand that President Cleveland would see lIt
fl give the country definite and settled pol
icy. whether good or bad, as soon as possible
Had he called an extra SESSION OF congress Ill
March il is tolerably clear that frantic anxiety
abo,t the monetary future would not have
disturbed the minds Of men as much as 1t has
done since Nav 1, and meanwhile the party
N newer would have had an infinitely better
il intended to d. about the tariff without
hesitation or reserve, the appeal for speedy
decision on the tariff question may even now
b, approved. Decision, because Congress ana
the President ought ut this time To. see 'hac
= roconstruoti-n of the tariff under existing
conditions, with more than half the IRON works
Of tho country idle, and more than ha!f uhe
vpocn works and large share OF the eStao-
lishncnts in other industries, could not pos
siblv result in public benefit. and therefore
would not be a fair test of the policy when
Democrat, with t. adopt. If they consider
the question from purely partisan pont OF
view. they may well decide to defer any seri-
ous change Ct the tariff until the Industries OF
the county arc in more satisfactory condition.
But decision without delay that the crcm-
stances now render tariff revision lmprac-
ticablo unwi,e and unjust, would do more to
start tho silent works and give wages to the
idle hands than all possible appeals regarding
the silver question.
But if tie Demccrat:c Congress- being :" left
70 itself" i, destined to do some mischief. 1T
NAV rs well do that mischief without delay.
Business il bad. and while ii could be much
worse. ana mas ~ InDtpH> p''HNhN VI IN
proven. n, it is nevertheless liable to hesitate
and staggCr in uncertainty until Congress
clearly make, known its intention. Almost
ANYTHING would be bett,r in the long run than
continuance Of existing doubts and fc1lS.
IF half the manufacturing works of the coun-
try are 10 be 81 ppcd for years - come by
changes cf the tariff. such a. the Democratic
rarty hrs proposed, the sooner the fact be-
comes known both t. manufacturers and to
working men the better They will waste less
time and money in hoping for different de-
ci>on and they can at least set themselves, in
that ca.c. with stnCt purpose b an over
throw If the party hostile to home industry.
Meanwhile the losses which prolonged un-
certainty must bring to all may be in some
measure avoided by a prompt decision. Con-
grcs, ought to decide quickly that it will not
PROSTATE industries any further. But if it in
tends 10 make war on home industries at all,
the sooner its exact purpose is disclosed the
bCtt fir all parties concerned.