The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-12
DEMOCRACY AND THE TARIFF

The strict party papers of the strongly
Democratic section of the Union, that is
| the solid south, seem bent upon having
the party's pledges regarding the tariff
lived up to, and to that end would have
the last vestige of protection wiped out
| and in the stead establish the partv's
theory of tariff for revenue only.
There is disposition on the part of
northern Democratic statesmen, headed
by the president, to so reform the tariff
as to give incidental protection to Amer
lean interests and industries; but this
cannot be made to work without caus-
ing trouble III the Democratic ranks and
alternating the sympathy and support of
that wing of the party without whose
votes the Democracy could never win a
national victory.
Certain Republican papers, taking
note of the character of the men
who have received appointments
at the hands of President
Cleveland, jump to the conclusion that
the administration proposes to stand by
its free trade plank. That the pressure
brought to bear in that connection gives
color TO the apprehension will not be
denied; still, later developments may
change the aspect altogether, Mr..
Cleveland has not felt called upon as
yet to openly declare himself. but that
he will in due time there is no doubt.
and what he says will go.
The situation may be summed I'D like
this: The south is for free trade and
cheap labor, the north is for protection
and American wages for free, American
laborerS. To yield to the demands of
the south would be to disrupt the Demo
cratic party, and that is one reason why
we think the president and party in
congress will "crawfish' on the tariff
question. And however much the south
may protest and threaten to revolt, it
will fall into line and submit.
Whether or not the south is heartily
sincere injts free trade advocacy-there
are many who think it is not, but is held
to the doctrine through party bias-it
cannot be said that that section is not
with its professions in at
tempting to live up to the party's pledg- |
es. This is evidenced by the following
excerpt from the Atlanta Constitution.
the leading paper of the South and one
that probably comes nearest expressing
the sentiments of the people for whom
1t speaks. The Constitution saws:
The tariff plank on which Mr.. Cleveland |
was elected needs no light shed on it by |
the doctrinaIres. 1t is its own illumin- |
ator, its own interpreter. 1t denounces |
protection as robbery of the people lndi- |
vldual Democrats may differ in their |
views ms to the amount of protection ne |
cessary TO give American industries an |
advantage over those of Europe but when |
he party comes to carry out the pledges !
Of the platform there will be no question |
Of protection. \ tariff for revenue only |
IS the kind of tariff that Great Britain has |
and there is no protection in it, The Re. |
publican who thinks he can get incidental /
ont of tariff for revenue only |
is welcome TO all he gets.
Republicans could wish for nothing
better than for the Democratic party to
stand squarely on that declaration; but,
As indicated above, the "interests Of the
party will no doubt force it into a DO
'itlOn OF compromise.